school lunches do, though special events such as sports are exempt. Advertisements, such as those on the front of vending machines, must encourage students to purchase healthier options, like water; and other a la carte foods that do not meet health regulations can be offered on only an “infrequent basis." The TUSD addresses other challenges by recognizing that students will make health decisions based largely on the influence of their role models, like their parents/guardians and teachers. Therefore, the TUSD attempts to communicate with parents and guardians through a variety of channels about the benefits of a healthy lifestyle, and guardians are encouraged to pack lunches that meet USDA suggestions if their students do not purchase food from the school. Newsletters published by the district also contain lists of foods that meet health regulations and would be popular for celebrations, such as birthday parties. Furthermore, the district provides an Employee Wellness Committee, which provides health education to district employees, offers free physical activities for staff to partake in and opportunities for staff to monitor their own health and goals. To meet the physical activity aspect of the mission statement, the TUSD has partnered with the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) to provide standards regarding physical education and recess for younger grades. The NASPE provides physical education teachers with appropriate time ranges that students should be active for, the number of times per week students should participate in physical activity, and suggestions to make physical education more individualized. The TUSD also requires that schools have opportunities for students to be physically active before, during and after school, which incorporates recess, varsity and intramural sports, and open gyms and tracks. As with school lunches, the district also encourages parents and guardians to be physically active with their children and to encourage an overall healthy lifestyle. The TUSD also supports health initiatives made by individual schools. For example, Sam Hughes Elementary School has a community garden and offers culinary classes to its students as part of Michelle Obama's Let's Move! campaign. The "Greening Group" at the school maintains the garden and is funded by the school's Parent Teacher Association. References External links Radio station owned by TUSD "MAS students speak out against TUSD banning their books and classes", The Tucson Citizen, DA Morales, January 15, 2012 School districts in Pima County, Arizona Unified School District 1867 establishments in Arizona Territory