As required by law, the Board of Education establishes the following wellness policy for the Midview 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 Ohio Department of Education’s Philosophy of Health and Physical Education Instrution.
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| | | | Instruction will:
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| | | | a. | Be appropriate and culturally relevant.
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| | | | b. | Focus on media literacy as it relates to food marketing strategies.
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| | | | c. | Promote the benefits of a balanced diet.
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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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| | | | a. | Food service staff will serve as resource people.
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| | | | b. | Food service staff will provide nutrition education posters to be displayed in each cafeteria.
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| | | 3. | Instruction related to the Philosophy of Health and Physical Education Instruction shall be provided by highly qualified teachers.
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| | | 4. | The District shall provide information to parents that is designed to encourage them to reinforce at home the nutrition content area being taught in the classroom.
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| | | | a. | District website, school newsletter, and separate flyer may be used to provide pertinent information.
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| | | | b. | Efforts will be made to conduct nutrition nights during the school year for students (gr. 6-12) and their parents.
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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 Philosophy of Health and Physical Education Instructions established by the State.
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| | | | | 1) | Shall provide sequential instruction related to the knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary to participate in lifelong, health-enhancing physical activity.
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| | | | | 2) | Shall provide instruction in cooperation, fair play, and responsible participation.
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| | | | | 3) | Shall provide instruction in cooperative as well as competitive games.
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| | | | b. | Physical education classes shall provide students with opportunities to learn, practice, and be assessed in developmentally appropriate motor skills and social skills, as well as knowledge.
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| | | | c. | Properly certificated, highly qualified teachers shall provide all instruction in physical education.
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| | | | d. | Efforts will be made for all physical education classes to have a student/teacher ratio comparable to the student/teacher ratio in other curricular areas.
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| | | | e. | Planned instruction in physical education shall promote participation in physical activity outside the regular school day.
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| | | | a. | Efforts will be made for appropriate physical activity and movement to be integrated, when possible, across the curricula and throughout the school day.
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| | | | b. | Schools shall encourage families and community organizations 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 participation in lifelong physical activities like bowling, swimming, and tennis.
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| | | | c. | Efforts will be made to make all students in grades K-12 aware of opportunities in school and outside of the school day, to participate in activities that emphasize physical activities.
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| | | | | 1) | District website
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| | | | | 2) | School newsletter
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| | | | | 3) | Flyers
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| | | | | 4) | Announcements
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| | C. | With regard to other school-based activities the District shall:
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| | | 1. | The schools shall schedule mealtimes so there is minimum disruption by bus schedules, recess, and other special programs or events.
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| | | 2. | The school shall provide attractive, clean environments in which the students eat.
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| | | 3. | Activities, such as tutoring or club meetings, shall not be scheduled during mealtimes, unless students may eat during those meetings.
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| | | 4. | 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.
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| | | 5. | Explore the possibility of schools in our system utilizing 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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| | | 6. | When parents/visitors come into the schools, and eat as a part of an event or activity, healthy eating habits will be encouraged.
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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. | All foods available to students in the dining area during school food service hours shall comply with the current USDA Dietary Guidelines for Americans, including competitive foods available to student a la carte.
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| | E. | The school food service program may involve students, parents, staff, and school officials in the selection of competitive food items to be sold in the schools.
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| | F. | Efforts will be made to gather and maintain a list of age appropriate material/resources containing nutrition information.
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| | G. | Professional development shall be available for all staff of the food service program.
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The Superintendent’s designee is 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.
Review of this policy shall occur each year, by a committee appointed by the Superintendent. 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 6/20/06