East Alton District 13 Wellness Policy Guidelines
by Jill Miller/Title I Coordinator
EAST ALTON DISTRICT 13 WELLNESS POLICY GUIDELINE
BELIEF STATEMENT
The Board of Education of East Alton School District 13 is committed to providing a learning environment that supports and promotes wellness, good nutrition, and an active lifestyle and recognizes the positive relationship between good nutrition, physical activity and the capacity of students to develop and learn. The entire school environment shall be aligned with healthy school goals to positively influence students’ beliefs and habits and promote health and wellness, good nutrition and regular physical activity. In addition, school staff shall be encouraged to model healthy eating and physical activity as a valuable part of daily life.
INTENT
The purpose of this policy is to ensure a total school environment that promotes and supports student health and wellness, helps to reduce childhood obesity and meets the requirements of the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004 and the Illinois School Code, including, without limitation, goals for nutrition education, physical activity and other school-based activities designed to promote student wellness; nutrition guidelines for all foods available during the school day; a plan for measuring implementation including designating one or more persons charged with operational responsibility; and involving parents, students, school food service providers, the school board, school administrators, and the public in developing this policy.2
RATIONALE
A disturbing number of children are inactive and do not eat well. The result is an alarming 16 percent of children and adolescents are overweight – a three-fold increase since 1980. Congress passed the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004 on June 30, 2004. Recognizing the role schools can play in health promotion; this law requires local education agencies participating in a program authorized by the National School Lunch Act or the Child Nutrition Act of 1966to develop a local wellness policy. The objectives of the wellness policy are to improve the school nutrition environment, promote student health and reduce childhood obesity. In addition, Public Act 094-0199 amends the Illinois School Code, requiring the Illinois State Board of Education to establish a state goal that all districts have a wellness policy.
The link between nutrition and learning is well documented. Healthy eating patterns are essential for students to achieve their full academic potential, full physical and mental growth and lifelong health and well being. Healthy eating is demonstrably linked to reduced risk for mortality and development of many chronic diseases. Schools and school communities have a responsibility to help students acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to establish and maintain lifelong healthy eating patterns. Well-planned and well-implemented wellness programs have been shown to positively influence children’s health.
Schools also have a responsibility to help students establish and maintain lifelong habits of being physically active. According to the U.S. Surgeon General, regular physical activity is one of the most important things people can do to maintain and improve their physical health, mental health, and overall well-being. Regular physical activity reduces the risk of premature death in general and of heart disease, high blood pressure, colon cancer, and diabetes.
GOALS FOR NUTRITION EDUCATION
• Students in the East Alton School District 13 preschool through grade 8 shall receive nutrition education as part of a sequential program that is coordinated within a comprehensive health education curriculum. The program shall be designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to adopt healthy eating behaviors and aimed at influencing students’ knowledge, attitudes and eating habits. Special emphasis should be placed on nutrition education in preschool through primary grades as eating habits are established at a young age. The curriculum shall be consistent with and incorporate relevant Illinois Learning Standards.
• To maximize classroom time and to achieve positive changes in the East Alton School District 13 students’ eating behaviors, nutrition education shall be integrated into the standards-based lesson plans of other school subjects like math, science, language arts, physical education, health, family and consumer science and social sciences.
• To achieve positive changes in the East Alton School District 13 students’ eating behaviors, it is recommended that a unit of nutrition education be provided to students each year. Nutrition education may include a combination of classroom instruction; nutrition education provided in the cafeteria; or health fairs, field trips and assemblies providing nutrition education.
• The East Alton School District 13 nutrition education program shall include enjoyable interactive activities such as contests, promotions, taste testing, and field trips.
GOALS FOR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
• East Alton School District 13 students in preschool through grade 8 shall participate in daily physical education that enables them to achieve and maintain a high level of personal fitness; emphasizes self-management skills including energy balance (calories in minus calories out); is consistent with state/district’s standards/guidelines/framework; and is coordinated within a comprehensive health education curriculum. The curriculum shall be consistent with and incorporate relevant Illinois Learning Standards.
• East Alton School District 13 students will participate in physical education/movement for a minimum of 120 minutes per week, and middle and high school students participate for 225 minutes per week (National Association for Sport & Physical Education recommendations). Special emphasis will be placed on promoting an active lifestyle in preschool through primary grades as health habits are established at a young age. Accommodations shall be made for students with disabilities, 504 plans, and other limitations.
• East Alton School District 13 shall provide a daily-supervised recess period to elementary students.
• East Alton School District 13 students shall be provided opportunities for physical activity through a range of before- and after-school programs including intramurals, interscholastic athletics, and physical activity clubs.
• Because students should engage in an average of 45 minutes of physical activity a day, the East Alton School District 13 physical education program shall actively engage families as partners in providing physical activity beyond the school day. East Alton District # 13 will continue to work with Keasler Recreation Center and other community organization to disburse information to families regarding all activities that promote physical activity.
GOALS FOR OTHER SCHOOL-BASED ACTIVITIES DESIGNED TO PROMOTE STUDENT WELLNESS
Parent Partnerships
• East Alton School District 13 schools shall support parents’ efforts to provide a healthy diet and daily physical activity for their children. This support shall begin in pre-school and continue through middle and high school.
• Upon request, East Alton School District 13 parents will be provided information to help them incorporate healthy eating and physical activity into their student’s lives. This information may be provided in the form of handouts, newsletters, (Nurse’s Corner) postings on the school/district website, information provided in school/district newsletters, presentations that focus on nutrition and healthy lifestyles and any other appropriate means available for reaching parents.
Consistent School Activities and Environment – Healthy Eating
• Upon request, East Alton School District 13 Food Service Director, will share information about the nutritional content of school meals and/or individually sold foods with students, family and school staff. Please contact Food Service Area Director for further information. (433-2204)
• East Alton School District 13 school meals shall be served in clean, safe and pleasant settings with adequate time provided for students to eat, at a minimum, in accordance with state and federal standards and guidelines. The National Association of State Boards of Education recommends that students have adequate time to eat, relax and socialize: at least 10 minutes after sitting down for breakfast and 20 minutes after sitting down for lunch.
• All food service personnel of the East Alton School District 13 shall have adequate pre-service training and regularly participate in professional development activities that provide strategies for providing tasty, appealing and healthy school meals; nutrition education strategies including coordination of classroom and cafeteria activities; and effective promotional techniques to encourage healthy eating habits.
• East Alton School District 13 food staff shall involve students and other school personnel in choosing nutritious food and beverage selections for the East Alton School District 13 schools through surveys, committees, taste-testing and similar activities designed to provide input into the decision-making process.
• East Alton School District 13 food providers shall work with suppliers to obtain foods and beverages that meet the nutrition requirements of school meals and nutrition standards for those sold individually.
• East Alton School District 13 food providers shall work closely with school instructional staff to reinforce nutrition instruction and foster an environment where students can learn about and practice healthy eating.
• East Alton School District 13 food providers shall take every measure to ensure that student access to foods and beverages on school campuses meets federal, state and local laws and guidelines.
• East Alton School District 13 students, parents, school staff and community members bringing foods and beverages to school for parties/celebrations/meetings shall be encouraged to provide healthful snacks. (See Attachment B for suggestions)
• East Alton School District 13 school-based organizations shall be encouraged to raise funds through the sale of items other than food. (Attachment C).
• East Alton School District 13 will meet wellness objectives, by recommending that any commercial advertising relationships involve only foods and beverages that meet nutrition standards (Attachment A).
• East Alton School District 13 shall take efforts to promote nutritious food and beverage choices consistent with the current Dietary Guidelines for Americans and Food Guidance System (MyPyramid) such as fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy foods and whole grain products.
• Trained and well-supported staff with adequate pre-service and in-service training shall provide nutrition education. A pre-service course in nutrition and a minimum of one hour of nutrition education in-service training will be provided per school year. Preparation and professional development shall provide basic knowledge of nutrition along with activities, instructional techniques and strategies designed to change students’ attitudes and behavior.
• All foods and beverages made available in the East Alton School District 13 cafeterias shall comply with the federal, state and local food safety and sanitation regulations.
• For the safety and security of food, access to any East Alton School District 13 area involved in storage, preparation or service of food on the school campus shall be limited to authorized personnel.
Consistent School Activities and Environment –Physical Activity
• The East Alton School District 13 physical education shall be provided by trained and well-supported staff that is certified by the state to teach physical education. All physical education teachers shall regularly participate in continuing education activities that impart the knowledge and skills needed to effectively promote enjoyable lifelong healthy eating and physical activity among students.
• East Alton School District 13 physical education classes shall have a student to teacher ratio comparable to those in other curricular areas.
• The East Alton School District 13 physical education program shall be closely coordinated with the other components of the overall school health program. Physical education topics shall be integrated within other curricular areas. In particular, the benefits of being physically active shall be linked with instruction about human growth, development, and physiology in science classes and with instruction about personal health behaviors in health education class.
• When activities such as mandatory testing make it necessary for students to be inactive for long periods of time, East Alton School District 13 will allow students periodic breaks during which they are encouraged to stand and be moderately active.
• East Alton School District 13 will develop community partnerships with other child-serving organizations such as park districts and East Alton Keasler Center, Edwardsville YMCA, East Alton churches, Community Against Substance Abuse (CASA) to provide students with opportunities to be active.
• East Alton School District 13 encourages student and community access to and promotes use of the school’s physical activity facilities outside of the normal school day, including fitness center at East Alton Middle School.
• East Alton School District 13 will take every measure to ensure physical activity facilities and equipment on school grounds shall be safe.
- East Alton School District 13 will work with the community to create a community environment that is safe and supportive of students walking or biking to school.
Food or Physical Activity as a Reward or Punishment
• East Alton School District 13 personnel shall be encouraged to use a combination of nonfood incentives or rewards with students. (Attachment D)
• East Alton School District 13 personnel shall not use physical activity as a punishment or withhold participation in recess or physical education.
NUTRITION GUIDELINES FOR ALL FOODS AND BEVERAGES AVAILABLE ON SCHOOL CAMPUSES DURING THE SCHOOL DAY
• East Alton School District 13 food providers shall offer a variety of age-appropriate, appealing foods and beverage choices and employ food preparation, purchasing and meal planning practices consistent with the current Dietary Guidelines for Americans (e.g. provide a variety of fruits and vegetable choices; serve low-fat and fat-free dairy products; ensure that whole grain products are served).
- All foods and beverages sold individually (apart from the reimbursable school meal) on East Alton School District 13 campuses during the school day shall meet nutrition standards (Attachment A). This includes:
o a la carte offerings in the food service program;
o food and beverage choices in vending machines, snack bars, school stores; and
o foods and beverages sold as part of school-sponsored fundraising activities.
• East Alton School District 13 will provide nutritious and appealing foods and beverages, such as fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy foods and whole grain products, shall be available wherever and whenever food is sold or otherwise offered at school.
GUIDELINES FOR SCHOOL MEALS
- East Alton School District 13 school meals served shall be consistent with the recommendations of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and/or shall meet, at a minimum, the nutrition requirements and regulations for the National School Lunch Program and/or School Breakfast Programand all applicable stateand local laws and regulations.
MEASURING IMPLEMENTATION & COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
• The district superintendent shall be charged with the operational responsibility for ensuring that each East Alton School District 13 School meets the local wellness policy requirements.
• The district superintendent shall appoint an East Alton School District 13 wellness team/council that includes parents, students, teachers of various grade levels, health professionals, public representatives, representatives of the school food authority, school board members, school administrators to oversee development, implementation and evaluation of the wellness policy.
• The terms of East Alton School District 13 wellness team/council members shall be staggered for continuity.
• The appointed East Alton School District 13 wellness team/council shall be responsible for:
o creating and maintaining bylaws for operation;
o assessment of the current school environment;
o development of a wellness policy;
o presenting the wellness policy to the school board for approval;
o annually measuring the implementation of the wellness policy and
o recommending revision of the policy, as necessary.
• The East Alton School District 13 principals of each campus shall be responsible for implementation of the local wellness policy and shall appoint a school-based evaluation team to develop and implement an annual evaluation plan.
• The East Alton School District 13 school-based evaluation team shall evaluate policy implementation and identify areas for improvement. The evaluation team shall report their findings to the campus principal and develop with him/her a plan of action for improvement, as needed.
• The East Alton School District 13 wellness team/council shall hear reports from each campus group annually.
• Before the end of each school year the East Alton School District 13 wellness team/council shall recommend to the district superintendent any revisions to the policy it deems necessary.
• The East Alton School District 13 wellness team/council shall report to the superintendent and school board annually on the progress of the wellness team/council and the status of compliance by the campuses.
Attachment A
|
Food or Beverage |
HealthierUS School ChallengeNutrition Standards*
These criteria focus on decreasing fat and added sugar, increasing nutrient density, and moderating portion size. |
|
Fruits and Non-fried Vegetables |
Fruits and vegetables may be fresh, frozen, canned or dried, and they must be found in the Food Buying Guide for Child Nutrition Programs. http://schoolmeals.nal.usda.gov/FBG/2003FBG/%20Section%202.pdf Examples of products that cannot be sold/served as a fruit or vegetable include: • Snack-type foods made from vegetables or fruits, such as potato chips, and banana chips; • Pickle relish, jam, jelly; and • Tomato catsup and chili sauce |
|
Approved Beverages |
• Flavored or plain reduced fat (2%), low-fat (1%), skim/nonfat fluid milk meeting State and local standards for pasteurized fluid milk and/or USDA approved alternative dairy beverages4; • 100% full-strength fruit and vegetable juices; and juice drinks and • Water (non-flavored, non-sweetened, and non-carbonated) |
|
Any Other Individual Food Sales/Service |
• Calories from total fat must be at or below 35%**, excluding nuts, seeds, and nut butters. This is determined by dividing the calories from total fat by the total calories and multiplying by 100. If calories from fat are not available, multiply the grams of fat by 9 to equal calories from fat. • Calories from saturated fat must be at or below 10%. This is determined by dividing the calories from saturated fat by the total calories and multiplying by 100. If calories from saturated fat are not available, multiply grams of saturated fat by 9 to equal calories from saturated fat. • Total sugar must be appropriately restricted. • Portion size for a la carte sales in the school cafeteria are not to exceed the serving size of the food served in the National School Lunch Program/School Breakfast Program; for vending sales the item package or container is not to exceed 200 calories. |
Attachment B
Healthful Food and Beverage Options for School Functions*
At any East Alton School District 13 school functions such as parties, celebrations, meetings, etc., healthful food options will be made available to promote student, staff and community wellness. Healthful food and beverage options will meet criteria for a appropriately balanced nutrition. Examples of nutritious food and beverages that are consistent with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans are listed below.
• Raw vegetable sticks/slices with low-fat dressing or yogurt dip
• Fresh fruit wedges – cantaloupe, honey dew, watermelon, pineapple, oranges, tangelos, etc.
• Sliced fruit – nectarines, peaches, kiwi, star fruit, plums, pears, mangos, apples, etc.
• Fruit salad
• Cereal and low-fat milk
• 100% fruit or vegetable juice and/or juice drink
• Frozen fruit pops with fruit juice or fruit as the first ingredient
• Dried fruits – raisins, cranberries, apples, apricots
• Single serving applesauce or canned fruit in juice
• Peanut butter with apple wedges or celery sticks
• Fruit smoothies made with fat-free or low-fat milk
- Trail mix (dried fruits and nuts)
- Popcorn
• Lean meats and reduced fat cheese sandwiches
• Party mix (variety of cereals, nuts, pretzels, etc.)
• Pretzels or reduced fat crackers
• Baked chips with salsa or low-fat dip (Ranch, onion, bean, etc.)
• Low-fat muffins (small or mini), granola bars and cookies (graham crackers, fig bars)
• Mini bagels with whipped light or fat-free cream cheese
• Pasta salad
• Bread sticks with marinara
• Fat-free or low-fat flavored yogurt & fruit parfaits
• Fat-free or low-fat pudding cups
• Fat-free or low-fat milk and milk products (string cheese, single-serving cottage cheese, cheese cubes)
• Flavored soy milk fortified with calcium
- Appropriately limited sweets
- Frozen treats such as sherbet, popsicles, sugar free fudgesicles etc.
• Pure ice cold water
Attachment C
Fundraising Ideas
• Raffle
• Candles
• Book sale
• Cookbook
• *Car wash
• *Walkathons
• Student artwork
• Stuffed animals
• Stadium pillows
• School photo ID
• Educational games
• Holiday decorations and treats
• Shopping donation programs
• Faculty and/or student talent show
• Teacher/student sports competition
• Auction of donated goods and services
• Bottled water with the schools own label
• Refillable water bottle with the school logo
• Greeting cards, especially designed by students
• School calendars with all the important school dates on them
• School spirit items — tee-shirts, sweatshirts, sweatpants, lanyards, pennants, bracelets and caps
• Growing and/or selling flowers and plants for holidays such as Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day
Attachment D
Classroom Rewards
• A smile
• Going first
• Verbal praise
• Sit by friends
• Teaching the class
• Helping the teacher
• Enjoy class outdoors
• A field trip for the class
• Choosing a class activity
• Walk with a teacher during lunch
• Eat lunch outdoors with the class
• Eat lunch with a teacher or principal
• Extra credit or class participation points
• Taking care of the class animal for a day
• Have lunch or breakfast in the classroom
• A photo recognition board in a prominent location in the school
• A note from the teacher to the student commending his or her achievement
• A phone call, email, or letter sent home to parents or guardians commending a child’s accomplishment
• Recognition of a child’s achievement on the school-wide morning announcements or school website
• Ribbon, certificate in recognition of achievement or a sticker with an affirming message (e.g. “Great job”)
• Take a trip to the treasure box (filled with: stickers, temporary tattoos, pencils, pens, highlighters, sidewalk chalk, notepads, erasers, bookmarks, etc.)
• A healthful snack
