8510 - WELLNESS

Ferndale School District

Bylaws & Policies

8510 - WELLNESS

As required by law, the Board of Education establishes the following wellness policy for the Ferndale Public Schools.

The Board recognizes that good nutrition and regular physical activity affect the health and well being of the District's students. Furthermore, research concludes that there is a positive correlation between a student's health and well being and his/her ability to learn. Moreover, schools can play an important role in the developmental process by which students establish their health and nutrition habits by providing nutritious meals and snacks through the schools' meal programs, by supporting the development of good eating habits, and by promoting increased physical activity both in and out of school.

The Board, however, believes this effort to support the students' development of healthy behaviors and habits with regard to eating and exercise cannot be accomplished by the schools alone. It will be necessary for not only the staff, but also parents and the public at large to be involved in a community-wide effort to promote, support, and model such healthy behaviors and habits.

The Board sets the following goals in an effort to enable students to establish good health and nutrition habits:

With regard to nutrition education, the District shall:

		1.	Nutrition education shall be included in the sequential, comprehensive health curriculum in accordance with the curriculum standards and benchmarks established by the State.
		2.	Nutrition education posters, such as the Food Pyramid Guide, will be displayed in the cafeteria.
		3.	Nutrition education shall reinforce lifelong balance by emphasizing the link between caloric intake (eating) and exercise in ways that are age-appropriate.
		4.	Nutrition education standards and benchmarks promote the benefits of a balanced diet that includes fruits, vegetables, whole grain products, and dairy products.

With regard to physical activity, the District shall:

		1.	A sequential, comprehensive physical education program shall be provided for students in K-12 in accordance with the standards and benchmarks established by the State.
		2.	The physical education curriculum shall provide sequential instruction related to the knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary to participate in lifelong, health-enhancing physical activity.
		3.	The sequential, comprehensive physical education curriculum shall stress the importance of remaining physically active for life.
		4.	Planned instruction in physical education shall teach cooperation, fair play, and responsible participation.
		5.	Planned instruction in physical education shall be presented in an environment free of embarrassment, humiliation, shaming, taunting, or harassment of any kind.
		6.	All students in grades K-3 shall be provided with a daily recess period, except on days which offer instruction in physical education.
		7.	In addition to planned physical education, the school shall provide age-appropriate physical activities (e.g., recess during the school day, intramurals and clubs before and after school, and interscholastic sports) that meet the needs of students, including males, females, students with disabilities, and students with special healthcare needs.
		8.	The District shall provide inter or intra scholastic sports programs for students in grades 7-12.

With regard to other school-based activities the District shall:

		1.	The schools shall provide at least twenty (20) minutes daily for students to eat.
		2.	The school shall provide clean environments in which the students eat.
		3.	Students, parents, and other community members shall have access to, and be encouraged to use, the school’s outdoor physical activity facilities outside the normal school day, in accordance with the Board’s policy with regards to facility usage.
		4.	Schools in our system utilize identification and payment systems that eliminate the public identification of students eligible to receive free and/or reduced meals.
		5.	Students are discouraged from sharing their foods or beverages with one another during meal times, given concerns about allergies and other restrictions on some students' diets.

Furthermore, with the objectives of enhancing student health and well being, and reducing childhood obesity, the following guidelines are established:

	A.	In accordance with Policy 8500, entitled Food Service, the food service program shall comply with Federal and State regulations pertaining to the selection, preparation, consumption, and disposal of food and beverages as well as to the fiscal management of the program.
	B.	As set forth in Policy 8531, entitled Free and Reduced Price Meals, the guidelines for reimbursable school meals are not less restrictive than the guidelines issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
	C.	The food service program will provide all students affordable access to the varied and nutritious foods they need to be healthy and to learn well.
	D.	All foods available in the dining area during the school day shall comply with the current USDA Dietary Guidelines for Americans, including competitive foods that are available to students a la carte.

The Superintendent shall develop administrative guidelines necessary to implement this policy, including, but not limited to, the manner in which the implementation of this policy shall be regularly evaluated by the principal of each school. The Board designates the Superintendent or designee as the individuals charged with operational responsibility for verifying that the District meets the goals established in this policy.

The Superintendent shall report on the District's compliance with this policy and the progress toward achieving the goals set forth herein when requested to do so by the Board.

Review of this policy shall occur every five (5) years, by a committee appointed by the Board, consisting of a representative(s) of the Board, the administration, the food service provider, the parents, the students, and the public. The committee shall provide the Board with any recommended changes to this policy.

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

Adopted 6/27/06