Wilber Clatonia Public Schools Wellness Policy

School Wellness Policy

A mission of Wilber Clatonia Public Schools ("District") is to provide curriculum, instruction, and experiences in a health-promoting school environment to instill habits of lifelong learning and health.  Therefore, the Board adopts the following School Wellness Policy.  The face of school snacks is changing.  With the new USDA regulations, healthful foods are replacing cookies and candy as the snacks available to kids.  But how will this impact our school?

The Guidelines:

School snacks must conform to the USDA guidelines, which include calorie limits, sugar caps, and nutrient requirements.

• Calorie Limits:  All snacks, including extras like butter, cream cheese, must have no more than 200 calories per serving.
• Fat Ceilings:  Fat must make up no more than 35% of the total calorie count, with saturated fat content at less than 10% and trans fat content at 0.
• Sugar Caps:  Only 35% (or less) of the weight in any snack food may come from sugar.
• Nutrient Requirements:  In order to meet the USDA's guidelines, snacks must either be rich in whole grains, contain at least a quarter cup of fruit and/or vegetables, have a fruit, vegetable, protein food, or dairy product as the first ingredient, or contain 10% or  more of the percent daily value of potassium, dietary fiber, vitamin D, or calcium.  
• This means all birthday treats and snacks brought to school must meet the Smart Snacks in Schools regulations.  Schools across the country have worked to implement the Wellness Policies needed to meet federal guidelines, as stated in our policy below.

1.  District Wellness Committee

Committee Role and Membership

The District will convene a representative District Wellness Committee ("DWC") or work within an existing school health committee that meets at least four times per year to establish goals for and oversee school health and safety policies and programs, including development, implementation and periodic review and update of this District wellness policy.

The DWC membership will represent all school levels and include (to the extent possible), but not be limited to:  parents and caregivers, students; representatives of the school nutrition program; physical education teachers; health education teachers; school health professionals or staff; mental health and social services staff; school administrators: school board members; and the general public.  When possible, membership will also include Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education coordinators.  To the extent possible, the DWC will include representatives from each school building and reflect the diversity of the community.  

Leadership

The Superintendent or designee(s) will convene the DWC and facilitate development of and updates to the wellness policy, and will ensure each school's compliance with the policy.  

Each school will designate a school wellness policy coordinator, who will ensure compliance with the policy.

2.  Wellness Policy Implementation, Monitoring, Accountability and Community Engagement

Implementation Plan

The District will develop and maintain a plan for implementation to manage and coordinate the execution of this wellness policy.  The plan delineates roles, responsibilities, actions and timeline specific to each school; and includes information about who will be responsible to make what change, by how much, where and when; as well as specific goals and objectives for nutrition standards for all foods and beverages available on the school campus, food and beverage marketing, nutrition promotion and education, physical activity, physical education and other school-based activities that promote student wellness.  It is recommended that the school use the Health School Program online tools to complete a school-level assessment based on the Centers ro Disease Control and Prevention's School Health Index, create an action plan that fosters implementation and generate an annual progress report. 

This wellness policy and the progress reports can be found at the District's website.  

Recordkeeping

The District will retain records to document compliance with the requirements of the wellness policy at the Superintendent's office and/or on the District's computer network.  Documentation maintained in this location will include but will not be limited to:

• The written wellness policy
• Documentation demonstrating that the policy has been made available to the public;
• Documentation of efforts to review and update the Local Schools Wellness Policy; including an indication of who is involved in the update and methods the District uses to make stakeholders aware of their ability to participate on the DWC;
• Documentation to demonstrate compliance with the annual public notification requirements;
• The m ost recent assessment on the implementation of the local school wellness policy;
• Documentation demonstrating the most recent assessment on the implementation of the Local School Wellness Policy has been made available to the public. 

Annual Notification of the Policy

The District will actively inform families and the public each year of basic information about this policy, including its content, any updates to the policy and implementation status.  The District will make this information available via district-wide communications.  This will include a summary of the District's events or activities related to wellness policy implementation.  Annually, the District will also publicize the name and contact information of the district officials leading and coordinating the committee, as well as information on how the pubic can get involved with the school wellness committee.

Triennial Progress Assessments

At least once every three years, the District will evaluate compliance with the wellness policy to assess the implementation of the policy and include:

• The extent to which the District's schools are in compliance with the wellness policy;
• The extent to which the District's wellness policy compares to a model wellness policy; and
• A description of the progress made in attaining the goals of the District's wellness policy.

The position/person responsible for managing the triennial assessment and contact information is the Superintendent or the Superintendent's designee.

The DWC, in collaboration with individual schools, will monitor schools' compliance with this wellness policy.

The District will notify households/families of the availability of the triennial progress report.

Revisions and Updating the Policy

The DWC will update or modify the wellness policy based on the results of the annual School Health Index and triennial assessments and/or as District priorities change; community needs change; wellness goals are met; new health science; information, and technology emerges; and new Federal or state guidance or standards are issued.  The wellness policy will be assessed and updated as indicated at least every three years, following the triennial assessment.  

Community Involvement, Outreach and Communications

The District will actively communicate ways in which representatives of DWC and others can participate in the development, implementation and periodic review and update of the wellness policy through a variety of means appropriate for that district.  The District will also inform parents of the improvements that have been made to school meals and compliance with school meal standards, availability of child nutrition programs and how to apply, and a description of and compliance with Smart Snacks in School nutrition standards.  The District will use electronic mechanisms, such as email or displaying notices on the District's website, as well as non-electronic mechanisms, such as newsletters, presentations to parents, or sending information home to parents, to ensure that all families are actively notified of the content of, implementation of, and updates to the wellness policy, as well as how to get involved and support the policy.  The District will ensure that communications are culturally and linguistically appropriate to the community, and accomplished through means similar to other ways that the District and individual schools are communicating important school information with parents.

The District will notify the public about the content of or any updates to the wellness policy annually, at a minimum.  The District will also use these mechanisms to inform the community about the availability of the annual and  triennial reports.

3.  Nutrition

School Meals

All schools within the District that participate in USDA child nutrition programs, including the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), the School Breakfast Program (SBP), and any additional Federal child nutrition programs will meet the nutrition requirements of such programs.  The District may also operate additional nutrition-related programs and activities.

Staff Qualifications and Professional Development

All school nutrition program directors, manager and staff will meet or exceed hiring and annual continuing education/training requirements in the USDA porfessional standards for child nutrition professionals.

Water

To promote hydration, free, safe, unflavored drinking water will be available to all students throughout the school day and throughout every school campus ("school campus" and "school day" are defined in glossary)

Competitive Foods and Beverages

The foods and beverages sold and served outside of the school meal programs (e.g., "competitive" foods and beverages) will meet the USDA Smart Snacks in School nutrition standards or, if the state policy is stronger, will meet or exceed state nutrition standards.  These standards will apply in all locations and through all services where foods and beverages are sold, which may include, but are not limited to, a la carte options in cafeterias, vending machines, school stores and snack or food carts. 

Celebrations and Rewards

All foods offered on the school campus will meet or exceed the USDA Smart Snacks in School nutrition standards or, if the state policy is stronger, will meet or exceed state nutrition standards.  Please see Appendix 6 for a complete listing of Smart Snacks.

Fundraising

Foods and beverages that meet or exceed the USDA Smart Snacks in Schools nutrition standards may be sold through fundraisers on the school campus during the school day.  

Nutrition Promotion

The District will promote healthy food and beverage choices for all students throughout the school campus, as well as encourage participation in school meal programs.  

Nutrition Education

The District will teach, model, encourage and support healthy eating by all students.

Essential Healthy Eating Topics in Health Education

The District will include int he health education curriculum a minimum of 12 of the following essential topics on healthy eating:

• Relationship between healthy eating and personal health and disease prevention
• Food guidance from MyPlate
• Reading and using FDA's nutrition fact labels
• Eating a variety of foods every day
• Balancing food intake and physical activity
• Eating more fruits, vegetables and whole grain products
• Choosing foods that are low in fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol and do not contain trans fat
• Choosing foods and beverages with little added sugars
• Eating more calcium-rich foods
• Preparing healthy meals and snacks
• Risks of unhealthy weight control practices
• Accepting body size differences
• Food safety
• Importance of water consumption
• Importance of eating breakfast
• Making healthy choices when eating at restaurants
• Eating disorders
• The Dietary Guidelines for Americans
• Reducing sodium intake
• Social influences on healthy eating, including media, family, peers and culture
• How to find valid information or services related to nutrition and dietary behavior
• How to develop a plan and track progress toward achieving a personal goal to eat healthfully
• Resisting peer pressure related to unhealthy dietary behavior
• Influencing, supporting, or advocating for others' healthy dietary behavior

Food and Beverage Marketing in Schools

Any foods and beverages marketed or promoted to students on the school campus during the school day will meet or exceed the USDA Smart Snacks in School nutrition standards or, if stronger, state nutrition standards, such that only those foods that comply with or exceed those nutrition standards are permitted to be marketed or promoted to students.

Food and beverage marketing is defined as advertising and other promotions in schools.  This term include, but is not limited to the following:

• Brand names, trademarks, logos or tags, except when placed on a physically present food or beverage product or its container
• Displays, such as on vending machine exteriors
• Corporate brand, logo, name or trademark on school equipment, such as marquees, message boards, scoreboards or backboards (Note: immediate replacement of these items are not required; however, districts will replace or update scoreboards or other durable equipment when existing contracts are up for renewal or to the extent that it is financially possible over time so that items are in compliance with the marketing policy.)
• Corporate brand, logo, name or trademark on cups used for beverage dispensing, menu boards, coolers, trash cans and other food service equipment; as well as on posters, book covers, pupil assignment books or school supplies displayed, distributed, offered or sold by the District.
• Advertisements in school publications or school mailings.
• Free product samples, taste tests or coupons of a product, or free samples displaying advertising of a product.

As the District/school nutrition services/Athletics Department/PTA/PTO reviews existing contracts and considers new contracts, equipment and product purchasing (and replacement) decisions should reflect the applicable marketing guidelines established by the District wellness policy.

4.  Physical Activity

Physical activity during the school day (including but not limited to recess, classroom physical activity breaks or physical education) will not be withheld as punishment.  The District will provide teachers and other school staff with a list of ideas or resources for alternative ways to discipline students.

To the extent practicable, the District will ensure that its grounds and facilities are safe and that equipment is available to students to be active.  The District will conduct necessary inspections and repairs.

Physical Education

The District will provide students with physical education, using an age-appropriate, sequential physical education curriculum consistent with national and state standards for physical education.

All students will be provided equal opportunity to participate in physical education classes.  The District will make appropriate accommodations to allow for equitable participation for all students and will adapt physical education classes and equipment as necessary.  

Essential Physical Activity Topics in Health Education

The District will include in the health education curriculum a minimum of 12 of the following essential topics on physical activity:

• The physical, psychological, or social benefits of physical activity
• How physical activity can contribute to a health weight
• How physical activity can contribute to the academic learning process
• How an inactive lifestyle contributes to chronic disease
• Health-related fitness, that is, cardiovascular endurance, muscular endurance, muscular strength, flexibility, and body compositions
• Differences between physical activity, exercise and fitness
• Phases of an exercise session, that is, warm up, workout and cool down
• Overcoming barriers to physical activity
• Decreasing sedentary activities, such as TV watching
• Opportunities for physical activity in the community
• Preventing injury during physical activity
• Weather-related safety, for example, avoiding heat stroke, hypothermia and sunburn while being physically active
• How much physical activity is enough, that is, determining frequency, intensity, time and type of physical activity
• Developing an individualized physical activity and fitness plan
• Monitoring progress toward reaching goals in an individualized physical and activity plan
• Dangers of using performance-enhancing drugs, such as steroids
• Social influences on physical activity, including media, family, peers and culture
• How to find valid information or services related to physical activity and fitness
• How to influence, support, or advocate for others to engage in physical activity
• How to resist peer pressure tha discourages physical activity

Recess (Elementary)

All elementary schools will offer at least 20 minutes of recess on all days during the school year.  Exceptions may be made as appropriate, such as on early dismissal or late arrival days.

Outdoor recess will be offered when weather and other conditions make it feasible for outdoor play.

In the event that recess must be held indoors, teachers and staff will follow th e indoor recess guidelines that promote physical activity for students, to the extent practicable.

Classroom Physical Activity Breaks (Elementary and Secondary)

Students will be offered periodic opportunities to be active or to stretch throughout the day on all or most days during a typical school week

Active Academics

Teachers will incorporate movement and kinesthetic learning approaches into "core" subject instruction when possible (e.g., science, math, language arts, social studies and others)

Before and After School Activities

The District offers opportunities for students to participate in physical activity either before and/or after the school day through a variety of methods.  The District will encourage students to be physically active before and after school by sponsoring or permitting: physical activity clubs and physical activity in aftercare, intramural or interscholastic sports.  

5.  Other Activities that Promote Student Wellness

The District will integrate wellness activities across the entire school setting.

Schools in the District are encouraged to coordinate content across curricular areas that promote student health. 

Community Partnerships

The district will develop, enhance, or continue relationships with community partners (e.g., hospitals, universities/colleges, local businesses, SNAP-Ed providers and coordinators, etc.) in support of this wellness policy's implementation

Community Health Promotion and Family Engagement

The District will promote to parents/caregivers, families, and the general community the benefits of and approaches for healthy eating and physical activity through the school year

Staff Wellness and Health Promotion

Schools in the District will implement strategies to support staff in actively promoting and modeling healthy eating and physical activity behaviors.  The District promotes staff member participation in health promotion programs and will support programs for staff members on healthy eating/weight management that are accessible and free or low-cost.

Professional Learning

When feasible, the District will offer annual professional learning opportunities and resources for staff to increase knowledge and skills about promoting healthy behaviors in the classroom and

Glossary

School Campus:  areas that are owned or leased by the school and used at any time for school related activities, including on the outside of the school building, school buses or other vehicles used to transport students, athletic fieds and stadiums (e.g., on scoreboards, coolers, cups and water bottles), or parking lots.

School Day:  the time between midnight the night before to 30 minutes after the end of the instructional day.

Triennial:  recurring every three years.

Legal Reference:  Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, 42 U.S.C. section 1758b; 7 CFR sections 210.11 and 210.30; National School Lunch Program, 42 U.S.C. sections 1751-1760, 1770; Regulations and Procedures for Accreditation of Schools, NDE Rule 10

Date of Adoption: 8/3/17