As required by law, the Board of Education establishes the following wellness policy for the Leipsic Local School District.
The Board recognizes that good nutrition and regular physical activity affect the health and well being of the District'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 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:
| | A. | With regard to nutrition education, the District shall:
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| | | 1. | Nutrition education shall be included in the sequential, comprehensive Health curriculum in accordance with the curriculum standards and benchmarks established by the State.
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| | | 2. | Nutrition education shall extend beyond the classroom by engaging and involving the school's food service staff.
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| | | 3. | Nutrition education standards and benchmarks promote the benefits of a balanced diet that includes fruits, vegetables, whole grain products, and low-fat and fat-free dairy products.
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| | B. | With regard to physical activity, the District shall:
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| | | | a. | 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.
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| | | | b. | Physical education classes shall provide students with opportunities to learn, practice, and be assessed on developmentally appropriate motor skills and social skills, as well as knowledge.
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| | | | c. | The K-12 program shall include instruction in physical education as well as opportunities to participate in competitive and non-competitive team sports to encourage lifelong physical activity.
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| | | | d. | Planned instruction in physical education shall meet the needs of all students, including those who are not athletically gifted.
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| | | | a. | Physical activity and movement shall be integrated, when possible, across the curricula and throughout the school day.
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| | | | b. | 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 all students, including males, females, students with disabilities, and students with special healthcare needs.
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| | C. | With regard to other school-based activities the District shall:
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| | | 1. | The school shall provide attractive, clean environments in which the students eat.
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| | | 2. | 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.
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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.
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| | 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).
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| | 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.
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| | D. | Nutrition information for competitive foods available during the school day shall be readily available near the point of purchase.
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| | E. | All foods available to students in District programs, other than the food service program, shall be served with consideration for promoting student health and well-being.
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| | F. | Continuing professional development shall be provided for all staff of the food service program.
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The Board designates the Superintendent as the individual charged with operational responsibility for measuring and evaluating the District's implementation and progress under this policy. The Superintendent shall develop administrative guidelines necessary to implement 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.
42 U.S.C. 1751, Sec. 204
42 U.S.C. 1771
Adopted 4/11/06