District Wellness Policy
The District is committed to providing a school environment that promotes and protects children's health, well-being, and the ability to learn by fostering healthy eating and physical activity. The District has established a District Planning Team (DPT). The DPT will serve as the wellness committee and has been charged with development of the District's proposed local wellness policy, making such policy recommendations for review and adoption by the Board of Education. The District Planning Team includes, but is not limited to, representatives from each of the following groups:
a) Parents;
b) Students;
c) The District's food service program;
d) School administrators; and
e) Members of the public.
The District Wellness Committee will assess current activities, programs and policies available in the District; identify specific areas of need within the District; develop the policy; and provide mechanisms for implementation, evaluation, revision and updating of the policy. The Wellness Committee is established to represent the local community’s perspective in developing the wellness policy for the District.
Goals to Promote Student Wellness
Taking into account the parameters of the School District (academic programs, annual budget, staffing issues, and available facilities) as well as the community in which the District is located (the general economy; socioeconomic status; local tax bases; social cultural and religious influences; geography; and legal, political and social institutions) the Wellness Committee recommends the following District goals relating to nutrition education, physical activity and other school-based activities:
Nutrition Education
The District will provide nutrition education to facilitate the voluntary adoption of healthy eating habits and other nutrition-related behaviors conducive to health and well-being by establishing the following standards for:
a) Classroom teaching:
Classroom instruction should provide a balanced educational approach, based on current research findings, that teaches the positive aspects of food, making healthy choices and living a healthy lifestyle. Classroom topics should include: (a) moderation, (b) portion awareness (c) nutrition, (d) food pyramid/food groups, (d) food product labels, (e) health issues related to foods –i.e. food allergy education, dietary restrictions, etc. and (f) the importance of engaging in regular physical exercise. Curriculum should also include age appropriate instruction on healthy body image, weight management and eating disorders.
b) Education, marketing and promotion links outside the classroom:
The district should promote nutrition education outside of the classroom by linkingclassroom education to the larger school community through parent awareness (i.e. newsletters, forums, curriculum nights, classroom flyers).
c) Fundraising activities:
When fund raising activities involve food-related items, consideration should be given to healthy food choices. Food selections at school-sponsored activities (i.e. dances, roller skating parties, athletic events, etc.) should offer healthy food alternatives.
d) Teacher training:
The district will offer on-going professional development activities to support the implementation on the components of the district wellness policy.
Physical Activity
The District will provide opportunities for every student to develop the knowledge and skills for specific physical activities, to maintain physical fitness, to regularly participate in physical activity, and to understand the short-term and long-term benefits of a physically active and healthy lifestyle.
The Wellness Committee has determined that the following standards are necessary to achieve this goal:
a) Physical education graduation requirements:
Presently, students are required to acquire two Carnegie units for graduation.
b) Physical education class requirements:
The school district will follow the New York State requirements for physical education. Instruction will follow the New York State learning standards (i.e. daily instruction in grades pre-first to grade three, and a minimum of 120 minutes per week).
c) Staff training/certification for physical education:
The district will employ highly qualified physical education instructors and certified coaches.
d) Physical activity outside physical education classes:
The district will encourage the integration of physical activity into the instructional program for all students.
Other School-based Activities
The District wishes to establish a school environment that presents consistent wellness messages and is conducive to healthy eating and physical activity for all. In order to present a coordinated school approach where District decision-making related to nutrition and physical activity encompasses all aspects of the school, the Wellness Committee has determined that the following standards are necessary to achieve this goal:
a) Federal School Meal Programs:
The district will participate to the maximum extent practicable in available federal school meal programs (school breakfast program, national school lunch program, etc.).
b) Access to school nutrition programs:
The district will provide access to a copy of the Free and Reduced meal application form to all families in a non-stigmatizing manner. The district will be sensitive to special dietary needs (i.e. food-allergies, caloric intake, etc.).
c) Meal environment:
The district will provide an opportunity for all students and staff to have lunch and breakfast at appropriate times in a conducive environment (recess time, after lunch) within given scheduling constraints.
d) After-school programs for students:
After-school programs will incorporate nutrition related components and/or physical activity in line with school-based philosophy, which supports a healthy lifestyle and good eating, habits.
e) Community access to District facilities for physical activities:
The district provides facility access to students, families, staff, and the community for physical activity and supports staff wellness activities (i.e. walks, runs, rides, weight watchers, etc.).
f) Community involvement:
The District will involve family and/or community members in wellness planning (including suggestions as a Wellness Fair, After-the-Ball committee, site-based teams). The district will publicize the Wellness Policy (through local papers, mailings, website, etc.)
g) Sustainable food practices:
Where financially feasible, the district will address standards for environmentally friendly practices relating to food service in the schools (recycling). Where financially feasible, the district will purchase foods from local vendors.
Nutrition Guidelines
The District Wellness Committee will recommend which nutrition standards will be established for all foods available on school campus during the school day based upon the unique needs of the student body and the community. The goal is to encourage healthy lifelong eating habits by providing foods that are high in nutrients, low in fat and added sugars, and of moderate portion size.
Nutritional Values of Foods and Beverages
Reimbursable school meals served at school will minimally meet the program requirements and nutrition standards of the National School Lunch Program.
Food of minimal nutritional value on the school campus will be replaced with more nutritional options by adhering to the New York State standards.
Nutrition information for products sold on campus will be readily available near the point of purchase.
A la Carte, vending machines, student stores, snack bars, concession stands, parties, celebrations, food-related fundraising, and food rewards/punishments
Promote healthy snacks for classroom consumption and promote alternative choices for birthdays and celebrations (i.e. pencils, fruit, popcorn, coupons, etc.).
Food or Beverage Contracts
Food and beverage contracts should reflect the district wellness policy.
Vending machines, snack bars, school stores, concession stands, and other food outlets
Items in the vending machines should follow the district wellness policy and include healthy alternatives.
Assurance
Guidelines for reimbursable school meals shall not be less restrictive than applicable federal regulations and guidance issued pursuant to the Child Nutrition Act and the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act, as those regulations and guidance apply to schools.
Implementation and Evaluation of the Wellness Policy
In accordance with law, the District's wellness policy must be established by July 1, 2006; and the District will ensure school and community awareness of this policy through various means such as publication in District newsletters and/or the District calendar. Further, professional development activities for staff and student awareness training will be provided, as appropriate, on the goals of the District's wellness program, including activities/programs for the development of healthy eating habits and the incorporation of physical activity as part of a comprehensive healthy lifestyle.
The District shall establish an implementation and evaluation plan for the wellness policy in order to monitor the effectiveness of the policy and the possible need for further modification over time. Accordingly, the Superintendent shall designate one or more staff members within the District or at each school as appropriate to have operational responsibility for ensuring that the District meets the goals and mandates of its local wellness policy. Designated staff members may include, but are not limited to, the following personnel:
a) Administrators;
b) School health personnel including the school nurse and the health and/or physical education teacher; and
c) School Food Service Director.
These designated staff members shall periodically report to the Superintendent on the District's compliance with the wellness policy (or, if done at the building level, to the School Principal) and the Superintendent shall inform the Board of such findings. The Superintendent/designee shall prepare a summary report on District-wide compliance with the District's wellness policy based on input from schools within the District. That report will be provided to the School Board and also distributed to the wellness committee, parent-teacher organizations, Building Principals, and school health services personnel within the District. The report shall also be available to community residents upon request.
These designated school officials will also serve as a liaison with community agencies in providing outside resources to help in the development of nutrition education programs and physical activities.
Evaluation and feedback from interested parties, including an assessment of student, parent, teacher, and administration satisfaction with the wellness policy, is essential to the District's evaluation program. Further, the District shall document the financial impact, if any, to the school food service program, school stores, or vending machine revenues based on the implementation of the wellness policy.
District schools will provide nutrition education and physical education, with an emphasis on establishing lifelong habits of healthy eating and physical activity, and will establish linkages between health education and school meal programs, and with related community services. Communication with and training for teachers, parents, students, and food service personnel will be an integral part of the District's implementation plan.
To the extent practicable, students and parents shall be involved in the development of strategies designed to promote healthy food choices in the school environment; and the school cafeteria will provide a variety of nutritionally sound meal and beverage choices. The school will encourage students' active, age appropriate participation in decisions regarding healthy lifestyles and choices. Positive reinforcement such as letters of recognition and acknowledgment will be utilized as a means to encourage healthy eating patterns among the student population. In addition, the school will share information about the nutritional content of meals with parents and students; such information may be made available on menus, a web site, or such other "point-of-purchase" materials.
Assessments of the District's wellness policy and implementation efforts may be repeated on an annual basis, but it is recommended that such assessment occur no later than every three (3) years, to help review policy compliance, assess progress, and determine areas in need of improvement. The District, and individual schools within the District, will, as necessary, revise the wellness policy and develop work plans to facilitate its implementation.
Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004
Public Law Section 108-265 Section 204
Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act
42 United States Code (USC) Section 1751 et seq.
Child Nutrition Act of 1966
42 United States Code (USC) Section 1771 et seq.
7 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Section 210.10
http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_05/7cfr21 0_05.html
Adoption Date: 6/20/06
