2006                                                        5661        

Non-Instructional/Business

Operations

SUBJECT:     DISTRICT WELLNESS POLICY

            The Pine Plains Central School 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.  This district has established a Wellness Committee, under the auspices of the district's Health Advisory Committee, to develop the district's proposed local Wellness Policy, making such policy recommendations for review and adoption by the Board of Education.  The district's Wellness Committee includes, but is not limited to, a representative 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 policies; and provide mechanisms for implementation, evaluation, revision and updating of the policy.  The Wellness Committee is established to represent the local communities' perspective in developing the Wellness Policy for the district.

Goals to Promote Student Wellness

            Taking into account the district's academic programs, annual budget and available facilities, and as well as the community in which the district is located, the Wellness Committee recommends the following district goals relating to nutrition education, physical activity and other school based activities:

Nutrition Education, Physical Activity, and Programs Designed to Promote Student Wellness

The district will provide nutritional education and physical education to foster lifelong habits of healthy eating and physical activity, and will establish linkages between health education and school meal programs, as well as with related community services.  School programs will ensure that students in Kindergarten through Grade 12 receive nutrition education that provides the knowledge they need to adopt healthy lifestyles.  Nutrition education should be well integrated within a comprehensive school health education program and should include instruction that helps students learn more about the importance of various food groups; caloric, sugar and fat intake; healthy cooking methods; the recognition of the role media play in marketing and advertising foods and beverages; and the relationship of a balanced diet and regular exercise to a healthy lifestyle. 

Nutrition concepts will be reinforced by all personnel and integrated into various subject areas.  Nutrition education will include reinforcement of the importance of physical activity and the health risks associated with a sedentary lifestyle.

The district will provide educational information and encourage healthy eating and physical activity for families, both within the home and outside the home.  Family members should be engaged as a critical part of the team responsible for teaching children about health and nutrition.

All students will have the opportunity to engage in physical activity in addition to those opportunities provided through the school physical education and interscholastic sports programs.  Project Adventure programs, aerobics and dance experiences are some examples of the opportunities to be provided.  District facilities, such as the fitness room, gyms and playing fields will be utilized, as available.   

Our schools will ensure that every student from Kindergarten through Grade 12 receives regular, age appropriate quality physical education.  All physical education classes will be taught by certified physical education teachers.  Physical education will be designed to build interest and proficiency in the skills, knowledge and attitudes essential to a lifelong physically active lifestyle.  Physical education will include providing information, fostering a positive atmosphere, encouraging self-discipline, developing motor skills, and promoting activities that can be carried out over the course of students' lives.

The physical education curriculum will be coordinated with the health education curriculum, and will provide safe and satisfying physical education activity for all students, including those with special needs.

The district's after-school programs will provide supervised, age appropriate physical activities that appeal to a variety of interests. 

Nutrition Guidelines

The district's food service department will actively promote healthy eating practices while meeting all the United States Department of Agriculture and New York State Guidelines.  Foods and beverages offered in the course of a school week will have a high degree of nutrients, including whole grain products and fiber rich fruits and vegetables to provide students a variety of choices to maintain a balanced diet.  The foods and beverages will be served at the proper temperature and will minimize the use of trans and saturated fats, sodium and sugar as defined by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.  Portions will be modest and age appropriate for elementary, middle and high school students respectively.  Any a la carte foods will carry a variety of choices of nutritious foods, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low fat or non-fat dairy foods.  Nutrition information for products offered in snack bars, a la carte, vending and school store should be readily available at the product display.

Sweetened carbonated beverages should not be available to elementary school students during the school day and should only be available at middle and high schools at limited times during the day where a full array of milks, juices, water and other products are available.  Snacks served during the school day, at after-school enrichment programs and at holiday and other celebrations, should make a positive contribution to children's diet and health.  To support students' health and school nutrition efforts, school fund raising activities should be consistent with the nutritional wellness goals of the district.

The School Lunch Manager and others administering the school meal program will receive continuing professional development, including appropriate certification and/or training in the management of school meal program in accordance with all federal and state guidelines.

Assurance

Guidelines for reimbursable school meals shall not be less restrictive than the 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

The district hereby designates its Health Advisory Council Wellness Committee to promote the above goals and to provide guidance in monitoring, implementing and envisioning nutrition and physical education policies.  The Health Advisory Council Wellness Committee will meet periodically throughout the year to create and support the implementation of a Health Action Plan for the coming year, and will report its progress to the Board of Education at least twice a year.  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.

Assessment 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 years, to help review policy compliance, assess progress, and determine areas in need of improvement. 

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_05/7cfr210_05.html

June 7, 2006

District Wellness Policy (pdf file - 18 KB)

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