WELLNESS POLICY
Federal
Public Law (PL 108.265 Section 204) states that by the first day of the 2006
school year beginning after June 30, 2006 all schools must develop a local wellness
policy that involves parents, students, a representative from the School Food
Authority, school board, school administrators and the public. The Local Education Authority (LEA) will
establish a plan for measuring implementation of the local wellness policy.
The
environment that
enhances learning and development of lifelong wellness
practices.
To accomplish
these goals:
Child Nutrition
Programs comply with federal, state and local requirements.
Child Nutrition
Programs are accessible to all children.
Sequential and
interdisciplinary nutrition education is provided and promoted.
Patterns of
meaningful physical activity connect to students’ lives outside
of physical
education.
All school-based
activities are consistent with local wellness policy goals.
All foods made
available on campus adhere to food safety and security
guidelines.
The school
environment is safe, comfortable, pleasing, and allows ample time
and space for eating
meals.
Review of this policy shall occur every two (2) years, by a committee appointed by the Board, consisting of a representative of the Board, the administration, the foodservice provider, parents, and students. The committee shall provide the Board with any recommended changes to this policy.
I.
NUTRITION EDUCATION AND STANDARDS
1. The
Nutrition Education program meets State standards.
2. Students in grades K through 9 will receive
interactive nutrition education.
Additional high school offerings will be available for grades 10 through
12.
3.
Nutrition education teaches students the skills they need to adopt
healthy eating behaviors.
4.
Nutrition education is culturally sensitive.
5.
Nutrition education is offered in the school dining room as well as in
the classroom and is coordinated between
teachers and foodservice staff.
6.
Students receive consistent nutrition messages throughout the
school,
classroom and cafeteria.
7.
District health education curriculum standards and guidelines
include
nutrition education for an active healthy life
style.
8. Nutrition education is integrated into
the coordinated school health
program and physical education.
9. Nutrition education is integrated into
the core curriculum, including math,
science and language arts.
10.
Staff that provide nutrition education have resources and staff
development opportunities.
11.
Schools will strive to become
USDA Team Nutrition Schools.
12.
Schools conduct nutrition
education activities and promotions that
involve parents, students and
the community.
13.
Family/parent nutrition
education opportunities are provided.
14.
School menus are followed and
analyzed using USDA-approved
software.
15.
School foodservice staff is trained in the appropriate substitution
of
foods
in order to meet the nutritional goals of the program.
16.
Students are offered a variety of milk, including flavored and
unflavored on a daily basis.
17.
Students are offered a variety of meats/poultry, fresh fruits,
vegetables,
and whole grains.
18.
A registered dietitian or other qualified health professional is
consulted
as needed for special diets and Individualized
Education Plan.
Foods
and Beverages Sold Individually (i.e., foods sold outside of reimbursable
school meals, such as through vending machines, cafeteria
a
la carte [snack] lines, fundraisers, school stores, etc.)
Elementary
Schools. The school food service program will
approve and provide all food and beverage sales to students in elementary
schools. Given young children’s limited
nutrition skills, food in elementary schools should be sold as balanced meals
and a la carte items that have nutritional value.
Middle/Junior
High and High Schools. In middle/junior high and
high schools, all foods and beverages sold individually outside the
reimbursable school meal programs (including those sold through a la carte
[snack] lines, vending machines, student stores or fundraising activities)
during the school day, or through programs for students after the school day
will meet the following nutrition standards.
This does not include concession stands operated by booster
organizations.
v No vending machines, food or
beverage are to be available to students until after the school day ends. This includes the time before the school day
begins.
v Allowed: water or seltzer water without added caloric
sweeteners; fruit and vegetable juices and fruit-based drinks that contain at
least 50% fruit juice and that do not contain additional caloric sweeteners;
unflavored or flavored low-fat or fat-free fluid milk and
nutritionally-equivalent nondairy beverages (to be defined by USDA);
v Any soft drinks containing
caloric sweeteners: sports drinks, iced
teas;
fruit-based drinks that contain less than 50% real
fruit juice or that contain additional caloric sweeteners; beverages containing
caffeine, excluding low-fat or fat-free chocolate milk (which contains trivial
amounts of caffeine) may not exceed a 12 ounce serving size. All vending machines may not contain more
than 50% of this type of beverage.
v There must be healthy
options in all food vending machines.
Fundraising
Activities. Schools will encourage fundraising
activities that promote positive nutritional choices and physical
activity. The school district will make
available a list of ideas for acceptable fundraising activities.
Snacks. Snacks served during the school day or in the
after-school care or enrichment programs will make a positive contribution to
children’s diets and health, with an emphasis on serving fruits and vegetables
as the primary snacks and water as the primary beverage.
The
district will disseminate a list of healthful snack items to teachers,
after-school program personnel, and parents.
Rewards. Schools will use foods or beverages that meet the nutrition standards
for foods and beverages sold individually (above), as rewards for academic
performance or good behavior.
Celebrations. Schools should limit celebrations that involve food during the school
day. Each party should include no more
than one food or beverage that does not meet nutrition standards for foods and
beverages sold individually (above). For
safety concerns, parents/caregivers are encouraged to provide individually
packaged commercially prepared products.
The district will disseminate a list of healthy party ideas to parents
and teachers.
II.
OTHER SCHOOL BASED ACTIVITIES
1. School dining areas have sufficient space
for students to sit and
consume meals.
2. School dining areas are clean, safe and
pleasant environments that
reflect the value of
the social aspects of eating.
3.
Enough serving areas are provided to ensure student access to
school
meals with
a minimum of wait time.
4.
Meal times are scheduled near the middle of the day.
5.
Students are given adequate time to enjoy eating healthy meals
with friends.
6.
Food or physical activity is encouraged not to be used as a reward or
punishment.
7. Pouring-rights contracts soft drink
companies are not allowed.
8. Fundraising efforts are supportive of
healthy eating.
9. All in-school advertising and marketing
send positive healthy foods
and physical activity
messages.
10. On-going professional training and development
is available for
foodservice staff and teachers in areas of nutrition and
physical
education.
11.
Students have access to physical activity facilities outside of
school hours.
12.
Recess for elementary grade students is encouraged before lunch
so
students are less distracted and ready to eat.
III. PHYSICAL ACTIVITY OPPORTUNITIES AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION
1.
District requires physical education at all grade levels (K-8) with
class time allotted for it.
2.
Students are assessed for attainment of physical education levels.
3.
Qualified teachers are hired to teach physical education and supervise
physical activities in the district.
4.
Resources are readily available for students and teachers about
physical education.
5.
District policy for physical education is consistent with State policy
or guidelines.
6.
Students are provided many choices of physical activity, including
cooperative and competitive games.
7.
Students are provided with physical activity choices that take into
account the gender and cultural differences among children.
8.
District encourages physical activity outside of the school day.
9.
District encourages teachers and other adults in the school setting to
serve as role models for students.
10.
Recess will be encouraged to occur before meal periods.
11.
Recreational facilities are safe, clean and accessible for all
students.
12.
Marked areas are developed at each building and will be used for
recreational walking.
13.
The walking track at the