Grant County School
Bylaws & Policies
 

8510 - WELLNESS

As required by law, the Board of Education establishes the following wellness policy for Grant County School.

The Board recognizes that good nutrition and regular physical activity affect the health and well being of the County's students. Furthermore, research suggests 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, supporting the development of good eating habits, and 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.

In compliance with Congressional Law (P.L. 108-265), the Health Advisory Council will serve, in an advisory capacity, to assist the School District to develop, implement, monitor, review and, as necessary, revise the School Wellness Policy. The council also will serve as resources to school sites for implementing those policies.

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

 A.With regard to nutrition education, the District shall:
  1.Nutrition education shall be included in the Health curriculum in accordance with West Virginia State Board Policy 2520.5, Health Content Standards and Objectives, so that instruction is sequential and standards-based and provides students with the knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary to lead healthy lives.
  2.Nutrition education shall be integrated into other subject areas of the curriculum, when appropriate, to complement, but not replace, the standards and benchmarks for health education.
  3.The standards and benchmarks for nutrition education shall be behavior focused.
  4.Nutrition education shall include enjoyable, developmentally appropriate and culturally relevant participatory activities, such as contests, promotions, taste testing, and others.
  5.Nutrition education posters, such as the Food Pyramid Guide, will be displayed in the cafeteria.
  6.The school cafeteria shall serve as a learning lab by allowing students to apply the knowledge, attitudes, and skills taught in the classroom when making choices at mealtime.
  7.Staff responsible for providing instruction in nutrition education shall regularly participate in professional development activities designed to better enable them to teach the benchmarks and standards.
  8.Emphasize caloric balance between food intake and energy expenditure (physical activity/exercise).
 B.With regard to foods and beverages sold individually (i.e., foods sold outside of reimbursable school meals, such as through vending machines, school stores, fundraisers (including concession stands), etc.)
  1.Policy implementation for concession stands
   The implementation of the policy will be phased in over a three (3) year period, at which time, a compliance report will show all efforts to meet policy requirements. This report will be reported to the Superintendent or designee.
  2.Elementary Schools
   The school food service program will approve and provide all food and beverage sales to students in elementary schools. Given young children's limited nutrition skills, food sold outside the breakfast/lunch program in elementary schools should be kept to a minimum. If available, foods and beverages sold individually should be limited to low-fat and non-fat milk, fruits, and non-fried vegetables.
  3.Middle/Junior High and High Schools
   In middle/junior high and high schools, all foods and beverages sold individually outside the reimbursable school meal programs but during the school day, or through programs for students after the school day, will meet the following nutrition and portion size standards:
   a.Beverages
    1)Allowed: water without added caloric sweeteners or artificial sweeteners; fruit and vegetable juices that contain 100% fruit juice and that do not contain additional caloric sweeteners; unflavored or flavored low-fat or fat-free fluid milk and nutritionally-equivalent nondairy beverages (to be defined by USDA); not to exceed an eight (8) ounce serving size for milk and not to exceed a six (6) ounce serving size for fruit or vegetable juice.
    2)Not allowed: soft drinks containing caloric sweeteners; sports drinks; iced teas; fruit-based drinks that contain less than 100% real fruit juice or that contain additional caloric sweeteners; beverages containing caffeine, excluding low-fat or fat-free chocolate milk (which contain trivial amounts of caffeine).
 

**Please note that Grant County Schools does not have a policy to operate soda machines except for the purpose of offering water during the school day.
   b.Foods
    A food item sold individually:
    1)will have no more than thirty percent (30%) of its calories from fat (excluding nuts, seeds, peanut butter, and other nut butters) and ten percent (10%) of its calories from saturated and trans fat combined;
    2)will have no more than thirty-five percent (35%) of its weight from added sugars;1
    3)will contain no more than 230 mg. of sodium per serving for chips, cereals, crackers, French fries, baked goods, and other snack items; will contain no more than 480 mg. of sodium per serving for pastas, meats, and soups; and will contain no more than 600 mg. of sodium for pizza, sandwiches, and main dishes;
    4)items will be packaged in individual single serving sizes;
    5)items will be less than 200 calories per serving;
    6)a variety of items that provide more than two (2) grams of fiber per serving will be offered;
    7)a choice of at least two (2) fruits and/or non-fried vegetables will be offered for sale at any location on the school site where foods are sold. Such items could include, but are not limited to, fresh fruits and vegetables; 100% fruit or vegetable juice that do not contain additional caloric sweeteners; cooked, dried, or canned fruits (canned in fruit juice or light syrup); and cooked, dried, or canned vegetables (that meet the above fat and sodium guidelines).
   c.Portion Sizes
    Limit portion sizes of foods and beverages sold individually to those listed below:
    1)one and one-fourth (1 ¼) ounces for chips, crackers, popcorn, cereal, trail mix, nuts, seeds, dried fruit, or jerky;

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1 If a food manufacturer fails to provide the added sugars content of a food item, use the percentage of weight from total sugars (in place of the percentage of weight from added sugars), and exempt fruits, vegetables, and dairy foods from this total sugars limit.

    2)one (1) ounce for cookies;
    3)two (2) ounces for cereal bars, granola bars, pastries, muffins, doughnuts, bagels, and other bakery items;
    4)eight (8) fluid ounces for milk and six (6) fluid ounces for fruit and vegetable juices, excluding water; and
    5)Fruits and non-fried vegetables are exempt from portion-size limits.
   d.Fundraising Activities
    To support children's health and school nutrition-education efforts, school fundraising activities will not involve food or will use only foods that meet the above nutrition and portion size standards for foods and beverages sold individually. Schools will encourage fundraising activities that promote physical activity. The School District will make available a list of ideas for acceptable fundraising activities.
   e.Snacks
    Snacks served during the school day or in after-school care or enrichment programs will make a positive contribution to children's diets and health, with an emphasis on serving fruits and vegetables as the primary snacks and water as the primary beverage. Schools will assess if and when to offer snacks based on timing of school meals, children's nutritional needs, children's ages, and other considerations. The District will disseminate a list of healthful snack items to teachers, after-school program personnel, and parents.
    If eligible, schools that provide snacks through after-school programs will pursue receiving reimbursements through the National School Lunch Program.
   f.Rewards
    Schools will not use foods or beverages, especially those that do not meet the nutrition standards for foods and beverages sold individually (above), as rewards for academic performance or good behavior,3 and will not withhold food or beverages (including food served through school meals) as a punishment.
   g.Celebrations
    Schools will limit celebrations that involve food during the school day to no more than one (1) party per class per month. Parties should be scheduled in the afternoon. Each party will include no more than one (1) food or beverage that does not meet nutrition standards for foods and beverages sold individually (above). The District has disseminated a "Let's Party" booklet of healthy party ideas to each elementary teacher.
   h.School-sponsored Events (such as, but not limited to, athletic events, dances, or performances).
    Foods and beverages offered or sold at school-sponsored events outside the school day will meet the nutrition standards for meals or for foods and beverages sold individually (above).
 C.With regard to physical activity, the County shall:
  1.Physical Education
   a.A sequential, comprehensive physical education program shall be provided for students in K-12 in accordance with the content standards and objectives established by State Board Policy 2520.6.

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3 Unless this practice is allowed by a student's individual education plan (IEP).

   b.All students in grades K-12, including those with disabilities, special health care needs (to the extent consistent with the students' IEPs), shall receive instruction in physical education in accordance with Grant County Policies 2230, 2230.01 and 2230.02 and State Board Policy 2510.
   c.The sequential, comprehensive physical education curriculum shall stress the importance of remaining physically active for life.
   d.Planned instruction in physical education shall require students to be engaged in moderate to vigorous physical activity for at least fifty percent (50%) of scheduled class time.
   e.Properly certificated, highly qualified teachers shall provide all instruction in physical education.
   f.Planned instruction in physical education shall teach cooperation, fair play, and responsible participation.
   g.Planned instruction in physical education shall meet the needs of all students, including those who are not athletically gifted.
   h.Planned instruction in physical education shall be presented in an environment free of embarrassment, humiliation, shaming, taunting, or harassment of any kind.
   i.Planned instruction in physical education shall include cooperative as well as competitive games.
  2.Physical Activity
   a.Physical activity should not be employed as a form of discipline or punishment.

   b.Physical activity and movement shall be integrated, when possible, across the curricula and throughout the school day.
   c.Schools shall encourage families to provide physical activity outside the regular school day, such as outdoor play at home, participation in sports sponsored by community agencies or organizations, and in lifelong physical activities like bowling, swimming, or tennis.
   d.The school shall provide information to families to encourage and assist them in their efforts to incorporate physical activity into their children's daily lives.
 D.With regard to other school-based activities the County shall:
  1.The schools shall provide for students after sitting down at least ten (10) minutes to eat breakfast and twenty (20) minutes for lunch.
  2.The schools shall schedule mealtimes so there is minimum disruption by bus schedules, recess, and other special programs or events.
  3.The school shall provide attractive, clean environments in which the students eat.
  4.The school should schedule meal periods at appropriate times, e.g., lunch should be scheduled between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
  5.The school should not schedule tutoring, club, or organizational meetings or activities during mealtimes.
  6.Schools are encouraged to schedule lunch periods to follow recess periods (in elementary schools).
  7.Schools will provide students access to hand washing or hand sanitizing before they eat meals or snacks.
  8.Schools should take reasonable steps to accommodate the tooth-brushing regimens of students with special oral health needs (e.g. orthodontia or high tooth decay risk).
  9.The schools may provide opportunities for staff, parents, and other community members to model healthy eating habits by dining with students in the school dining areas.
  10.The schools may demonstrate support for the health of all students by hosting health clinics and screenings and encouraging parents to enroll their eligible children in Medicaid or in other children's health insurance programs for which they may qualify.
  11.Schools in our system utilize electronic identification and payment systems, therefore, eliminating any stigma or identification of students eligible to receive free and/or reduced meals.
  12.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 meet or exceed the regulations issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
 C.The County shall comply with the Child Nutrition Standards in accordance with Policy 8510.01 and West Virginia Policy 4321.1.
 D.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.
 E.The school food service program shall involve students, parents, staff, and/or school officials in the selection of competitive food items to be sold in the schools.
 F.All foods available to students in County programs, other than the food service program, shall be served with consideration for promoting student health and well being.
 G.Any food items sold on campus as a fundraiser shall meet the current USDA Dietary Guidelines for Americans and Policy 8510.10.
 H.The food service program shall be administered by a qualified nutrition professional.

Food Marketing in Schools. School-based marketing will be consistent with nutrition education and health promotion. As such, schools will limit food and beverage marketing to the promotion of foods and beverages that meet the nutrition standards for meals or for foods and beverages sold individually (above). School-based marketing of brands promoting predominantly low-nutrition foods and beverages is prohibited. The promotion of healthy foods, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat dairy products is encouraged.

Examples of marketing techniques include the following: logos and brand names on/in vending machines, books or curricula, textbook covers, school supplies, scoreboards, school structures, and sports equipment; educational incentive programs that provide food as a reward; programs that provide schools with supplies when families buy low-nutrition food products; in-school television, such as Channel One; free samples or coupons; and food sales through fundraising activities. Marketing activities that promote healthful behaviors (and are therefore allowable) include: vending machine covers promoting water; pricing structures that promote healthy options in a la carte lines or vending machines; sales of fruit for fundraisers; and coupons for discount gym memberships.

Staff Wellness. The Grant County Board highly values the health and well being of every staff member and will plan and implement activities and policies that support personal efforts by staff to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Each district/school should establish and maintain a staff wellness committee composed of at least one (1) staff member, school health council member, local hospital representative, dietitian or other health professional, recreation program representative, union representative, and employee benefits specialist. (The staff wellness committee could be a subcommittee of the school health council.) The committee should develop, promote, and oversee a multifaceted plan to promote staff health and wellness. The plan should be based on input solicited from school staff and should outline ways to encourage healthy eating, physical activity, and other elements of a healthy lifestyle among school staff. The staff wellness committee should distribute its plan to the school health council annually.

Physical Activity Opportunities Before and After School. Continued efforts will be made to obtain grants to fund an after school activity program, in which, all elementary, middle, and high schools will offer extracurricular physical activity programs, such as physical activity clubs or intramural programs. All high schools, and middle schools as appropriate, will offer interscholastic sports programs. Schools will try to offer a range of activities that meet the needs, interests, and abilities of all students, including boys, girls, students with disabilities, and students will special health-care needs.

Use of School Facilities Outside of School Hours. School spaces and facilities should be available to students, staff, and community members before, during, and after the school day, on weekends, and during school vacations. These spaces and facilities also should be available to community agencies and organizations offering physical activity and nutrition programs. School policies concerning safety will apply at all times.

The Board designates the Superintendent as the individual charged with operational responsibility for measuring and evaluating the County's implementation and progress under this policy. The Superintendent shall develop administrative guidelines necessary to implement this policy.

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

Assessments will be repeated every three (3) years to help review policy compliance, assess progress, and determine areas in need of improvement. As part of that review, the school district will review our nutrition and physical activity policies; provision of an environment that supports healthy eating and physical activity; and nutrition and physical education policies and program elements. The District, and individual schools within the District, will, as necessary, revise the wellness policies and develop work plans to facilitate their implementation.

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