Wellness & Nutrition
5405 Wellness and Nutrition
Regulation Info: 5405-R |
The Board of Education recognizes that healthy eating patterns, physical activity, and respect for differences in body-size are essential for the well-being and lifelong health of students. Additionally, these standards assist in the physical and mental growth of students, while helping them to reach their full academic potential. In order to promote student well-being and academic achievement and provide for quality nutrition and physical activity as part of the learning environment, the Board of Education hereby adopts rules and regulations for the guidance of students, teachers, and parents.
Purpose
Beekmantown Central School District shall promote student well-being and academic achievement by supporting quality nutrition and physical activity as part of the learning environment. Schools are more effective in preventing long-term health problems when they work together with students, parents, school personnel, community leaders, and health professionals to facilitate communication, efficiently use resources, and provide consistency in decision making.
Definition
The Federal Government has issued a mandate, through the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004, to establish standards for diet, health, and physical activity in our nation’s schools. This process calls for each school district to form a Wellness Committee and establish procedures to address the quality of all food served at school, regularity of physical education, and instruction connected to diet and health.
Organizational Procedures
The administrator at each school shall ensure compliance with all federal, state, and local regulations pertaining to the Wellness Policy. Guidelines for reimbursable school meals shall not be less restrictive than those issued by the Secretary of Agriculture. A District Wellness Committee will be established to assess the implementation and review of the Wellness Policy. The school fitness center coordinator will be responsible for initiating and coordinating community meetings.
Wellness Committee
Membership includes at a minimum: school lunch manager, school nurse, parent and student representative, teacher, school board member, PE/health teacher, family and consumer science teacher, and various community members. The committee shall report annually to the school board on the progress toward meeting policy goals. The committee shall meet a minimum of once a year to assess the policy implementation progress and adjust goals as needed. New committee members will be transitioned in each academic year.
Nutrition Education
Students in grades K-12 will receive behavior-focused nutrition education that meets or exceeds State and Federal standards. The curriculum will be interactive and teach the knowledge, attitudes, skills and behaviors needed to adopt healthy and enjoyable eating habits. In addition, nutrition education will be integrated into the core curriculum. Staff will be adequately prepared and trained to effectively deliver an accurate nutrition education program. The school cafeteria will serve as a learning resource and link to lessons learned in the classroom. The school district will build awareness through consistent nutrition messages underlining the importance of nutrition, physical activity and body-size acceptance to obtain academic success and lifelong wellness.
Physical Activity
Students in grades K-12 will receive behavior-focused physical education that meets or exceeds State standards. The curriculum will actively engage all youth, regardless of skill level. Students will learn to adopt behaviors and attitude that is needed to enjoy a physically active lifestyle. Staff will be adequately prepared and trained to effectively deliver an effective physical activity program. All physical education classes will meet appropriate student/teacher ratios.
School Meals
The school district shall use the USDA School Meal Program requirements to assure that school meals meet State and Federal guidelines to promote healthy living and are economically, developmentally and culturally appropriate choices.
Vending/School Store/Concession/A la Carte
Foods offered during contractual school hours (until 30 minutes after the school day) shall meet USDA Smart Snack Standards as stated in E.1 - Exhibit A.
Fundraising
While foods are not prohibited from fundraising, organizations engaged in fundraising are encouraged to seek non-food based fundraising opportunities and to include fundraisers that involve physical activity (E.2 - Exhibit B). Exclusive sales of candy are prohibited, foods are not prohibited.
Celebrations and Classroom Snacks
Healthy snack choices are recommended for classroom snack and celebrations. Information will be provided to teachers and parents to assist in choosing food options (E.3 Exhibit - C).
Use of School Grounds and Facilities
All district meetings held on school grounds will adhere to the NYSDOH Meeting Healthy Guidelines. School facilities are available to community agencies and organizations offering physical education programs. School safety policies will apply at all times.
5405-R
Basic Principles
Beekmantown Central School District shall promote student well-being and academic achievement by supporting quality nutrition and physical activity as part of the learning environment. It is a goal of the District to develop a health-conscious approach to student exercise, nutrition and hygiene. Healthy eating patterns, physical activity, and respect for differences in body-size are essential for the well-being and lifelong health of students. The following procedures will assist students in physical and mental growth, while helping them to reach their full academic potential.
A. Curriculum
All students will receive behavior-focused nutrition education and physical activity. This curriculum is interactive and teaches the knowledge, attitudes, skills, and behaviors needed to adopt healthy living and good physical condition. The curriculum must meet or exceed State and Federal standards and all staff involved must receive adequate training.
1. Nutrition Education
a. Integrated into the core curriculum (e.g., math, science, language arts, and social studies).
b. Linked to the lessons learned in the classroom with the practice of making health-promoting food choices.
c. Communicate a consistent nutrition message throughout the school, classroom, cafeteria, home, community and local media.
d. Build awareness among staff about the importance of nutrition, physical activity and body-size acceptance to academic success and lifelong wellness.
e. Encourage parents, teachers, school personnel, and students to serve as role models in practicing healthy eating and being physically active.
f. Beekmantown Central School District food service staff will take part in training on a regular basis according to current professional development standards.
g. Nutritional information including Smart Snacks Calculator will be located on the BCSD website.
h. Nutrition education will be provided to families via handouts, newsletters, postings on the school web-site, presentations and workshops. The school menu will be posted online.
2. Physical Education
All K-5 students currently receive 70 minutes of physical education on a six day cycle. The aspirational goal of the district is to provide physical education at the following levels:
· Grades K-3 receive 2.5 days of physical education in a 6 day cycle.
· Grades 4-6 receive 3 days per week of physical education with 120 minutes per week.
· Grades 7-12 receive 126 minutes of physical education on a six day cycle for the entire school year.
Physical Education will be standards-based, using national and state-developed standards. Physical education classes will be sequential, building from year to year, and content will include motor skills, concepts and strategies, engagement in physical activity, physical fitness, responsible behavior and benefits of physical activity. Physical education programs will meet the needs of all students, including those who are not athletically gifted, and actively teach cooperation, fair play, and responsible participation. Students will be able to demonstrate competency through application of skills.
After school intramural sports should be offered for grades K-12.
Physical education classes may count towards graduation.
Programs are carried out in environments that exhibit respect for body-size differences and varying skill levels.
The school discourages the use of physical activity and withholding of physical education class and other forms of physical activity as a punishment.
The PE teachers will conduct annual fitness testing. PE teachers and students will set goals for improvement.
Additional activities for grades 6-12 will be considered during the school day (lunch period/study hall).
Classroom Based Physical Activity
All students will have opportunities for physical activity beyond physical education class on a daily basis. Classroom health education will reinforce the knowledge and skills needed to maintain a physically active lifestyle. Students will be encouraged to reduce sedentary time, and will not be required to engage in sedentary activities for more than two hours without an opportunity to stretch and move around. Short (3-5 minute) “energy release” physical activity breaks are encouraged between classes in elementary school, for example, programs such as Brain Gym, Wiggle Room, ABC for Fitness will be used to incorporate short activity breaks into the day. Refer to the following website: http://www.fns.usda.gov/tn/discover-myplate-teachers-guide
Teachers are encouraged to incorporate opportunities for physical activity in the classroom whenever possible.
Recess
All elementary school students will be provided with the opportunity for at least 20 minutes a day of supervised recess during which moderate to vigorous physical activity will be encouraged. Outdoor recess will only be withheld in the event of poor weather as defined by the district. In the event that recess must be held indoors, teachers and staff will encourage physical activity for part of the time by stretching, walking the halls, etc.
3. Meal Time
a. Dining room supervisory staff shall receive training in how to maintain a safe, clean, and pleasant eating environment.
b. Lunch periods are scheduled as near the middle of the day as possible.
c. Students shall have adequate time to eat, relax, and socialize including the ability to eat a healthy breakfast and lunch.
d. Adequate space is provided in serving areas to ensure student access to school meals with a minimum of wait time.
4. Other School-Based Activities
a. Convenient access to facilities for hand washing shall be available.
b. Safe drinking water will be available throughout the school day.
c. Fundraising efforts are supportive of healthy eating and physical activity.
d. The school will arrange bus schedules and utilize methods that encourage breakfast participation.
e. Implement Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) guidelines.
f. School based meetings and parties must follow recommendations for healthier eating (E.3 – Exhibit C).
f. Use of Facilities outside of school hours is available to community agencies and organizations offering physical education programs.
h. School safety policies always apply.
B. Promotion and Education
1. Wellness Committee
a. Membership includes at a minimum: school lunch manager, school nurse, parent and student representative, teacher, school board member, PE/health teacher, family and consumer science teacher, and various community members.
b. Will inform education leaders, administrators, staff and parents about the importance of school physical activity and nutrition programs and policies.
c. Will develop strategies for students, parents, staff, food service professionals, and community members to serve as positive role models.
d. Shall report annually to the school board on the progress toward meeting policy goals.
e. Meet a minimum of once a year to assess the policy implementation progress and adjust goals as needed.
f. New members will be transitioned in each academic year.
2. Staff & Community
a. The administrator at each school shall ensure compliance with all federal, state, and local regulations.
b. Parents and teachers are encouraged to model healthy eating habits while on school property.
3. Publications & Media
a. Promotion of healthier food choices through advertising, special pricing, taste-testing and other opportunities.
b. Advertising messages are consistent and reinforce the objectives of the education and nutrition environment goals of the school.
c. Promotion of healthy eating and enjoyable physical activity events, newsletters, and health fairs throughout the school year.
C. Nutrition
1. School Meals
a. All meals will adhere to the USDA School Meal Program requirements.
b. All meals shall be designed to promote low fat dairy products, increased whole grains and increased fruits and vegetables.
c. All meals will include choices that are economically, developmentally and culturally appropriate.
2. Vending/School Store/Concession/A la Carte
a. Foods offered during contractual school hours (until 30 minutes after the school day) shall meet USDA Smart Snack Standards as stated in Attachment A.
b. Soda is not available during the school hours to purchase.
3. Fundraising
Fundraising involving food should adhere to the USDA Smart Snack Standards for all foods sold in school. Our goal is to instill healthy habits in students and the community.
USDA’s “All Foods Sold in Schools” Standards
The sale of food items that meet nutrition requirements at fundraisers are not limited in any way under the standards.
The standards do not apply during non-school hours, on weekends and at off-campus fundraising events.
4. Celebrations and Classroom Snacks
a. Classroom snacks/celebrations provided by parents/guardians or school staff should follow the school nutrition policy and USDA Smart Snack Standards. Snacks sent to school by families for the whole class will follow food safety guidelines and instructions from teachers on classroom food allergies. Although this policy recommends that teachers follow examples of healthy food items, the wellness committee recognizes that special occasions occur in classrooms.
b. Information is provided to teachers and parents to assist in choosing healthy food options (E.1 – Exhibit A).
c. Due to the high prevalence of food allergies, it is highly recommended to label food brought from home. Because of the need for compliance with state and local food safety regulations, it is recommended to discourage home prepared classroom snacks.
d. School staff should use food as a reward sparingly, and should choose foods from the USDA Smart Snack Standards. Whenever possible, alternatives to food as a reward should be used.
5. Meetings held on school grounds
a. Will follow guidelines in accordance with NYSDOH Meeting Healthy Guidelines.
5404-e.1 wellness and nutrition exhibit a school snack and beverage standards
5405-e 3 wellness and nutrition exhibit c
5405 e. 2 wellenss and nutrition exhibit b - creative school fundraising ideas