Code: JL
WELLNESS POLICY
The Board of Directors of M.S.A.D. # 41 believes
that schools play a critical role in creating a healthy school environment. The
Board recognizes the importance of good
nutrition, and physical activity in a student’s ability to learn
effectively and achieve high standards
in school. The Board of Directors also understands that healthy staff can perform
more effectively in their assigned duties. All school personnel are encouraged
to model appropriate wellness behaviors for students. Healthy habits that
students develop in childhood will affect their health throughout their life.
Nutrition Standards
The school unit will ensure that meals provided by
its Food Services Program meet the nutrition standards established by federal
regulations.’ Sales of foods and beverages that compete with the school lunch
program (and/or school breakfast program.) must be in compliance with the
Board’s policy EFE Competitive Food Sales/Sales in Competition with the School
Food Services Program.
Assurance
This policy serves as assurance2 that
school unit guidelines for reimbursable meals are not less restrictive than
regulations and guidance issued by the Secretary of Agriculture pursuant to the
National School Lunch Act and the Child Nutrition Act.
Nutrition Education
The Board of Directors supports good nutrition as
part of a school environment that contributes to student health and encourages
positive food choices and eating habits. They believe that nutrition influences
a student’s ability to take full advantage of the school system’s educational
program. Nutrition education will be integrated into the instructional program
through the health education program and the curriculum as aligned with the
content standards of the Maine Learning Results. Nutrition education should
focus on skills students need to adopt and maintain healthy eating behaviors.
Students should receive consistent nutrition messages throughout the schools,
including classrooms. cafeteria and school-home communications.
Physical Activity
The school unit will strive to provide all students
developmentally appropriate opportunities for physical activity through
physical. education classes, recess periods for elementary school students, and
extracurricular activities (clubs, intramural and interscholastic athletics).
School programs are intended to build and maintain physical fitness and to
promote healthy lifestyles. The schools should encourage parents to support
their children’s participation in physical activities, including available
before- and after-school programs.
1Title 7-U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Chapter II-Food and Nutrition Service, Department of Agriculture,
Part 210-National School Lunch Program (
2 See 42 U.S.C. § 175 1(a)(2).
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Code:
JL
Other School-Based
Wellness Activities
The schools, with prior approval of the
Superintendent/designee, may implement other appropriate programs that support
consistent wellness messages and promote healthy eating and physical activity.
The Board may approve policies, regulations or
guidelines for refreshments served at parties or celebrations during the school
day or for food as rewards, or may delegate the responsibility for such
regulations or guidelines to administrators at the district or school level.
The school unit may develop programs that encourage
staff to learn and engage in healthy lifestyle practices.
Wellness Committee
The
Board of Directors recognizes the importance of promoting and maintaining a
healthy lifestyle for students and
staff. The Board shall appoint a district-wide Wellness Committee comprised of
at least one of each of the following:
• Board member
• School administrator
• Food Services Director/designee
• Student representative
• Parent representative
• Community representative
The Wellness Committee may also include:
• School nurse
• Teacher(s)
• Guidance counselor
• Social worker
• Community organization or agency
representative
• Other staff, as designated by the Board
• Other persons as designated by the Board
The Wellness Committee shall serve as an advisory
committee in regard to student wellness issues and will be responsible for
making recommendations related to the wellness policy, wellness goals,
administrative or school regulations and practices, or raising awareness of
student health issues.
With the prior approval of the
Superintendent/designee, the Wellness Committee may survey parents, students
and the community and/or conduct focus groups or community forums.
The Wellness Committee shall provide periodic
reports to the Superintendent/designee and, as requested, to the Board.
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Code: JL
Implementation and Monitoring
The Superintendent/designee shall be responsible for
the implementation or the wellness policy, for monitoring efforts to meet the
intent of this policy, and for reporting to the Board on an annual basis.
Monitoring may include surveys or solicitation of input
from students, parents, staff, and school administrators.
Reports may include, but are not limited to:
• The status of the school environment in
regard to student wellness issues
• Evaluation of the school food services
program and compliance with nutrition guidelines
• Summary of wellness programs and activities
in the schools
• Feedback from students, parents, staff,
school administrators and wellness committee
• Recommendations for policy, program or
curriculum revisions
Wellness
Goals
The Board has identified the following goals
associated with student wellness:
A.
Education
Goals
1. Health / Physical Education
Health and Physical Education class expectations
shall be consistent with the district’s adopted Health and Physical Education
curriculum in the content areas.
2. Health Education
The Board of Directors believes that health
education can provide the foundation for lifelong healthy living. Students will
acquire the knowledge, habits, and skills necessary for life-long wellness.
3. Nutrition Education
Nutrition education will focus on the skills
students need to adopt and maintain healthy eating behaviors. Nutrition
education will be provided in a sequential, comprehensive health education
program aligned with the content standards of the Maine Learning Results.
Nutrition education will be integrated into other subjects as appropriate to
complement, not replace, the health education program.
4. Physical Education
The Board of Directors recognizes that the physical
education program is an integral and crucial part of a student’s education. The
schools will provide a comprehensive physical activity program, which
encompasses a variety of opportunities for students to be physically active.
Students will develop the knowledge and skills to increase and maintain their
physical activity levels and understand the short and long-term benefits of a
physically active and healthy lifestyle.
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Code: JL
B. Nutrition
Goals
• The school unit will provide foods that meet or exceed the
federal nutrition standards, adequate time for students to obtain food and eat,
lunch scheduled at appropriate hours of the day (OR: as close to the middle of
the school day as possible), adequate space to eat, and a clean and safe meal
environment.
• Food Services will offer a variety of fresh fruit and
vegetables, promote serving whole grain food and promote the use of local farm
products when possible
• The food service staff shall work cooperatively to integrate
experience in the cafeteria with classroom teachings.
• The school will provide introductory and continuing
professional development for all nutrition professionals in schools.
• Foods and/or beverages marketing techniques including logos,
vending machines, books, curricula, textbook covers, school supplies,
scoreboards, sports equipment, incentive programs, free samples, coupons will
promote healthy options and prohibit marketing of low nutrition foods and
beverages.
• Administrators and staff will be encouraged to model
nutritious food choices and eating habits.
Competitive Foods Sales During the School Day
– see Policy EFE
C.
Physical
Activity Goals
The Board of Directors recognizes that a
comprehensive physical activity program encompasses a variety of opportunities
for students to be physically active, such as: physical education, recess,
walk-to school programs, after-school physical activity programs, and physical
activity breaks within regular classrooms.
• Schools will promote a broad range of physical activities
that meet the needs, interests and abilities of all students within our
community.
• The Physical Education curriculum will be aligned with the
content standards of the Maine Learning Results.
• Schools shall encourage periods of physical activity daily
such as recess and stretch breaks.
• Schools will promote efforts to provide opportunities for
students to engage in age appropriate activities on most days of the week in
both school and community settings.
• Appropriate professional development will be provided for
physical education staff and other staff involved in the delivery of such
programs.
• The schools will provide a physical and social environment
that encourages safe and enjoyable physical activity and fosters the
development of a positive attitude toward health and fitness.
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Code: JL
D. Goals
for Other School-Based Activities
Goals of the wellness policy will be considered when
planning school or classroom parties, celebrations or events.
Parents will be encouraged to provide nutritionally
sound snacks from home and food for classroom parties or events.
Schools will encourage maximum participation in
school meal programs.
Schools will encourage parents and students to take
advantage of developmentally appropriate community-based after-school programs
that emphasize physical activity.
The schools will encourage parents to support their
children’s participation in physical activity, to be physically active role
models, and to include physical activity in family events.
As feasible, school physical activity facilities
will be made available after school hours for student, parent and community use
to encourage participation in physical activity in accordance with the Board’s
Facilities Use Policy.
School administrators, staff, parents, students and
community members will be encouraged to serve as role models in practicing
healthy eating and being physically active, both in the school environment and
at home.
Student organizations will be encouraged to engage
in fundraising projects that are supportive of healthy eating and student
wellness.
School-based marketing of foods and beverages, such
as through advertisements in school publications, school buildings, athletic
fields, and other areas accessible to students should support the goals of the
wellness policy.
The schools are encouraged to cooperate with
agencies and community organizations to support programs that contribute to
good nutrition and physical activity.
Legal reference: 42
U.S.C. § 1751
First Reading: July 5, 2006
Adopted: September 6, 2006
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