8510 - SCHOOL NUTRITION AND WELLNESS

Bay Village City School District

Bylaws & Policies

8510 - SCHOOL NUTRITION AND WELLNESS

The District is committed to providing a school environment that enhances learning and development of lifelong wellness practices.

Primary goals will guide decisions related to nutrition standards, nutrition education, physical activities, and other activities promoting wellness. Reasonable effort will be made to fully accomplish each goal.

	A.	Nutrition programs will comply with, or exceed, Federal, State, and local requirements. Nutrition programs will be accessible to all children and staff.
	B.	All school-based activities will be consistent with the District's wellness policy goals and guidelines.
	C.	Sequential and interdisciplinary wellness education will be provided and promoted.
	D.	All foods and beverages made available on campus (including vending, concessions, a la carte, student stores, parties, and fund-raising) during the school day will be consistent with the current United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
	E.	School-related organizations, students, and staff will recognize the nutritional value of foods and beverages. Consideration will be given to nutritional value when planning activities at school and related activities involving students.
	F.	The School District will promote, encourage, and provide meaningful daily physical activity at all grade levels.
	G.	The School District will introduce a variety of physical activities to develop knowledge and appreciation for lifelong wellness.
	H.	The school environment will be safe, comfortable, pleasing, and allow ample time and space for eating meals.
	I.	There will be support for a safe school environment and promotion of healthy choices concerning substances and behaviors.
	J.	There will be communication and promotion of the wellness policy and programs to all students, staff, and parents.

During the first quarter of each school year, an evaluation will be completed at each school building. A building level team will evaluate progress toward each goal and develop action plans. The team should consist of a representative group including, but not limited to, administrator(s), teachers, parents, food service personnel, students, school nurse, and other interested persons.

Nutrition and Wellness Guidelines

Nutrition Education

		1.	Nutrition education will be integrated into other areas of the curriculum such as math, science, language arts, and social studies, where practical.
		2.	Nutrition education will involve sharing information with families and the broader community to positively impact students and the health of the community.
		3.	Nutrition education shall include enjoyable, developmentally appropriate and culturally relevant participatory activities, such as contests, promotions, taste testing, and others.
		4.	Nutrition education shall extend beyond the classroom by engaging and involving the school's food service staff.
		5.	Nutrition education shall reinforce lifelong balance by emphasizing the link between caloric intake (eating) and exercise in ways that are age-appropriate including an understanding of eating disorders and their impact on health.
		6.	The staff responsible for nutrition education will be adequately prepared and participate regularly in professional development activities to effectively deliver an accurate nutrition education program. Preparation and professional development activities will provide basic knowledge of nutrition, combined with skill practice in program-specific activities and instructional techniques and strategies designed to promote healthy eating habits.
		7.	The District will provide information to families that encourage them to teach their children about health and nutrition, to provide nutritious meals for their families and to increase an understanding of how good nutrition affects learning.
		8.	The school cafeteria shall serve as a learning lab by allowing students to apply knowledge, attitudes, and skills taught in the classroom when making choices at mealtime.
		9.	Students will be encouraged to start each day with a healthy breakfast.

Physical Activity

		1.	Physical activity will be integrated across curricula and throughout the school day. Movement can be made a part of science, math, social studies, and language arts, where practical.
		2.	Physical education courses will be the environment where students learn, practice, and are assessed on developmentally appropriate motor skills, social skills, and knowledge.
		3.	Policies will ensure that State-certified physical education instructors teach all physical education classes.
		4.	Programs for physical activities (walking clubs, etc.) will be offered and promoted to increase the opportunity for activity.
		5.	Adequate equipment will be available for all students to participate in physical education. Physical activity facilities on school grounds will be safe.
		6.	The school will provide a physical and social environment that encourages safe and enjoyable activity for all students, including those who are not athletically gifted.
		7.	Information will be provided to families to help them incorporate physical activity into their students' lives.
		8.	Families and community members will be encouraged to institute programs that support physical activity, such as a walk to school program.

Other School-Based Activities

		1.	Opportunities will be provided for staff, parents, and other community members to model healthy eating habits by dining with students in the school dining areas when practical.
		2.	Students will be discouraged from sharing their foods or beverages with one another during meal times, given concerns about allergies and other restrictions on some students' diets (including discarded food and personal hygiene items).

Nutrition Guidelines for Food Available on Campus

		1.	Food providers will take every measure to ensure that student access to foods and beverages meets Federal, State, and local laws and guidelines. Food providers will offer a variety of age appropriate healthy food and beverage selections for elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools.
		2.	The school shall prepare and distribute to staff, parents, and after-school program personnel and concessions a list of snack items and other foods that comply with the current USDA Dietary Guidelines for Americans and encourage inclusion in their offerings.
		3.	Each classroom party held during the school day may include no more than one (1) food or beverage that does not meet the current USDA Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
		4.	Classroom, co-curricular, and extra-curricular snacks and treats used as rewards will feature healthy foods.

42 U.S.C. 1751, Sec. 204
42 U.S.C. 1771

Adopted 4/24/06