FILE:  JGB

Cf:  EE

 

SCHOOL WELLNESS

 

 

PREAMBLE

 

Acadia Parish School District (hereto referred to as the District) is committed to the optimal development of every student.  The District believes that for students to have the opportunity to achieve personal, academic, developmental and social success, we need to create positive, safe and health-promoting learning environments at every level, in every setting, throughout the school year.

 

Research shows that two components, good nutrition and physical activity before, during and after the school day, are strongly correlated with positive student outcomes.  For example, student participation in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) School Breakfast Program is associated with higher grades and standardized test scores, lower absenteeism and better performance on cognitive tasks.  Conversely, less-than-adequate consumption of specific foods including fruits, vegetables and dairy products, is associated with lower grades among students.  In addition, students who are physically active through active transport to and from school, recess, physical activity breaks, high-quality physical education and extracurricular activities – do better academically.  Finally, there is evidence that adequate hydration is associated with better cognitive performance.

 

This policy outlines the District’s approach to ensuring environments and opportunities for all students to practice healthy eating and physical activity behaviors throughout the school day while minimizing commercial distractions.  Specifically, this policy establishes goals and procedures to ensure that:

 

 

This policy applies to all students, staff and schools in the School District.  Specific measureable goals and outcomes are identified within each section below.

 

 

SCHOOL WELLNESS COMMITTEE

 

Committee Role and Membership

 

The School District will convene a representative district wellness committee (hereto referred to as the DWC or work within an existing school health committee) that meets at least two times per year to establish goals for and oversee school health and safety policies and programs, including development, implementation and periodic review and update of this district-level wellness policy (heretofore referred as “wellness policy”).

 

The DWC membership will represent all school levels (elementary and secondary schools) and include (to the extent possible), but not be limited to: parents and caregivers; students; representatives of the school nutrition program (e.g., school nutrition director); physical education teachers; health education teachers; school health professionals (e.g., health education teachers, school health services staff [e.g., nurses, physicians, dentists, health educators, and other allied health personnel who provide school health services], and mental health and social services staff [e.g., school counselors, psychologists, social workers, or psychiatrists]; school administrators (e.g.., superintendent, principal, vice principal), school board members; health professionals (e.g., dietitians, doctors, nurses, dentists); and the general public.  When possible, membership will also include Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education coordinators (SNAP-ED).  To the extent possible, the DWC will include representatives from each school ward and reflect the diversity of the community.

 

Leadership

 

The Superintendent or designee(s) will convene the DWC and facilitate development of and updates to the wellness policy, and will ensure each school’s compliance with the policy.

 

Each school will designate a school wellness policy coordinator, who will ensure compliance with the policy.

 

WELLNESS POLICY IMPLEMENTATION, MONITORING, ACCOUNTABILITY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

 

Implementation Plan

 

The School District will develop and maintain a plan for implementation to manage and coordinate the execution of this wellness policy.  The plan delineates roles, responsibilities, actions and timelines specific to each school; and includes information about who will be responsible to make what change, by how much, where and when; as well as specific goals and objectives for nutrition standards for all foods and beverages available on the school campus, food and beverage marketing, nutrition promotion and education, physical activity, physical education and other school-based activities that promote student wellness.

 

This wellness policy and the progress reports can be found at:  www.acadia.k12.la.us

 

Recordkeeping

 

The School District will retain records to document compliance with the requirements of the wellness policy at the Child Nutrition Central Office and/or on School District’s central computer network.  Documentation maintained in this location will include but will not be limited to:

 

 

Annual Notification of Policy

 

The School District will actively inform families and the public each year of basic information about this policy, including its content, any updates to the policy and implementation status. The School District will make this information available via the district website.  The School District will provide as much information as possible about the school nutrition environment.  This will include a summary of the School District’s events or activities related to wellness policy implementation.  Annually, the School District will also publicize the name and contact information of the School District officials leading and coordinating the committee, as well as information on how the public can get involved with the school wellness committee.

 

Triennial Progress Assessments

 

At least once every three years, the School District will evaluate compliance with the wellness policy to assess the implementation of the policy and include:

 

 

The position/person responsible for managing the triennial assessment and contact information is Adrianne Vidrine, Child Nutrition Supervisor, avidrine@acadia.k12.la.us.

 

The DWC, in collaboration with individual schools, will monitor schools’ compliance with this wellness policy.

 

The School District will actively notify households/families of the availability of the triennial progress report.

 

Revisions and Updating the Policy

 

The DWC will update or modify the wellness policy as School District priorities change; community needs change; wellness goals are met; new health science, information, and technology emerges; and new Federal or state guidance or standards are issued.  The wellness policy will be assessed and updated as indicated at least every three years, following the triennial assessment.

 

Community Involvement, Outreach and Communications

 

The School District is committed to being responsive to community input, which begins with awareness of the wellness policy.  TheSchool  District will actively communicate ways in which representatives of DWC and others can participate in the development, implementation and periodic review and update of the wellness policy through a variety of means appropriate for that district.  The School District will also inform parents of the improvements that have been made to school meals and compliance with school meal standards, availability of child nutrition programs and how to apply, and a description of and compliance with Smart Snacks in School nutrition standards.  The School District will use electronic mechanisms, such as email or displaying notices on the school district’s website, as well as non-electronic mechanisms, such as newsletters, presentations to parents, or sending information home to parents, to ensure that all families are actively notified of the content of, implementation of, and updates to the wellness policy, as well as how to get involved and support the policy.  The School District will ensure that communications are culturally and linguistically appropriate to the community, and accomplished through means similar to other ways that the school district and individual schools are communicating important school information with parents.

 

The School District will actively notify the public about the content of or any updates to the wellness policy annually, at a minimum.  The School District will also use these mechanisms to inform the community about the availability of the annual and triennial reports.

 

NUTRITION

 

School Meals

 

Our school district is committed to serving healthy meals to children, with plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fat-free and low-fat milk; that are moderate in sodium, low in saturated fat, and have zero grams trans-fat per serving (nutrition label or manufacturer’s specification); and to meeting the nutrition needs of school children within their calorie requirements.  The school meal programs aim to improve the diet and health of school children, help mitigate childhood obesity, model healthy eating to support the development of lifelong healthy eating patterns and support healthy choices while accommodating cultural food preferences and special dietary needs.

 

All schools within the School District participate in USDA child nutrition programs, including the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), the School Breakfast Program (SBP).  The School District also operates additional nutrition-related programs and activities including the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) (Middle and High Schools At-Risk Supper).  Also, high schools have the option of Grab N Go Breakfasts and a Pre-K Breakfast in the classroom is currently in place.  All schools within the School District are committed to offering school meals through the NSLP and SBP programs, and other applicable Federal child nutrition programs, that:

 

 

 

 

Staff Qualifications and Professional Development

 

All school nutrition program directors, managers and staff will meet or exceed hiring and annual continuing education/training requirements in the USDA professional standards for child nutrition professionals.  These school nutrition personnel will refer to USDA’s Professional Standards for School Nutrition Standards website to search for training that meets their learning needs.

 

Water

 

To promote hydration, free, safe, unflavored drinking water will be available to all students throughout the school day* and throughout every school campus* (“school campus” and “school day” are defined in the glossary).  The School District will make drinking water available where school meals are served during mealtimes.

 

Competitive Foods and Beverages

 

The School District is committed to ensuring that all foods and beverages available to students on the school campus* during the school day* support healthy eating.  The foods and beverages sold and served outside of the school meal programs (e.g., “competitive” foods and beverages) will meet the USDA Smart Snacks in School nutrition standards, at a minimum. Smart Snacks aim to improve student health and well-being, increase consumption of healthful foods during the school day and create an environment that reinforces the development of healthy eating habits.  A summary of the standards and information, as well as a Guide to Smart Snacks in Schools are available at: http://www.fns.usda.gov/healthierschoolday/tools-schools-smart-snacks.  The Alliance for a Healthier Generation provides a set of tools to assist with implementation of Smart Snacks available at www.foodplanner.healthiergeneration.org.  The Louisiana Guide to Smart Snacks provides regulation specific to Louisiana.

 

To support healthy food choices and improve student health and well-being, all foods and beverages outside the reimbursable school meal programs that are sold to students on the school campus during the school day will meet or exceed state nutrition standards.  These standards will apply in all locations and through all services where foods and beverages are sold, which may include, but are not limited to, à la carte options in cafeterias, vending machines, school stores and snack or food carts.

 

Fundraising

 

Foods and beverages that meet or exceed the USDA Smart Snacks in Schools nutrition standards may be sold through fundraisers on the school campus* during the school day*.

 

Nutrition Promotion

 

Nutrition promotion and education positively influence lifelong eating behaviors by using evidence-based techniques and nutrition messages, and by creating food environments that encourage healthy nutrition choices and encourage participation in school meal programs.  Students and staff will receive consistent nutrition messages throughout schools, classrooms, gymnasiums, and cafeterias.  Nutrition promotion also includes marketing and advertising nutritious foods and beverages to students and is most effective when implemented consistently through a comprehensive and multi-channel approach by school staff, teachers, parents, students and the community.

 

The School District will promote healthy food and beverage choices for all students throughout the school campus, as well as encourage participation in school meal programs.  This promotion will occur through at least:

 

 

Nutrition Education

 

The School District will teach, model, encourage and support healthy eating by all students.  Schools will provide nutrition education and engage in nutrition promotion that:

 

 

Essential Healthy Eating Topics in Health Education

 

The School District will include in the health education curriculum a minimum of 8 of the following essential topics on healthy eating:

 

 

Food and Beverage Marketing in Schools

 

The School District is committed to providing a school environment that ensures opportunities for all students to practice healthy eating and physical activity behaviors throughout the school day while minimizing commercial distractions.  The School District strives to teach students how to make informed choices about nutrition, health and physical activity.  These efforts will be weakened if students are subjected to advertising on School District property that contains messages inconsistent with the health information the School District is imparting through nutrition education and health promotion efforts.  It is the intent of the School District to protect and promote student’s health by permitting advertising and marketing for only those foods and beverages that are permitted to be sold on the school campus, consistent with the School District’s wellness policy.

 

Any foods and beverages marketed or promoted to students on the school campus* during the school day* will meet or exceed the state nutrition standards.

 

Food and beverage marketing is defined as advertising and other promotions in schools.  Food and beverage marketing often includes an oral, written, or graphic statements made for the purpose of promoting the sale of a food or beverage product made by the producer, manufacturer, seller or any other entity with a commercial interest in the product.  This term includes, but is not limited to the following:

 

 

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

 

Children and adolescents should participate in at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day.  A substantial percentage of students’ physical activity can be provided through a comprehensive school physical activity program (CSPAP).  A CSPAP reflects strong coordination and synergy across all of the components: quality physical education as the foundation; physical activity before, during and after school; staff involvement and family and community engagement and the school district is committed to providing these opportunities. Schools will ensure that these varied physical activity opportunities are in addition to, and not as a substitute for, physical education (addressed in “Physical Education” subsection).

 

Physical activity during the school day (including but not limited to recess, classroom physical activity breaks or physical education) will not be withheld as punishment for any reason.  This does not include participation on sports teams that have specific academic requirements.

 

To the extent practicable, the School District will ensure that its grounds and facilities are safe and that equipment is available to students to be active.  The School District will conduct necessary inspections and repairs.

 

Physical Education

 

The School District will provide students with physical education, using an age-appropriate, sequential physical education curriculum consistent with national and state standards for physical education.  The physical education curriculum will promote the benefits of a physically active lifestyle and will help students develop skills to engage in lifelong healthy habits, as well as incorporate essential health education concepts (discussed in the “Essential Physical Activity Topics in Health Education” subsection).  The curriculum will support the essential components of physical education.

 

All students will be provided equal opportunity to participate in physical education classes.  The School District will make appropriate accommodations to allow for equitable participation for all students and will adapt physical education classes and equipment as necessary.

 

All School District elementary students in each grade will receive physical education for at least 60-89 minutes per week throughout the school year.

 

All secondary students (middle and high school) are required to take the equivalent of one academic year of physical education.

 

The School District physical education program will promote student physical fitness through individualized fitness and activity assessments and will use criterion-based reporting for each student.

 

Essential Physical Activity Topics in Health Education

 

Health education will be required in all grades (elementary) and the district will require middle and high school students to take and pass at least one health education course.  The School District will include in the health education curriculum a minimum of 8 the following essential topics on physical activity:

 

 

Recess (Elementary)

 

All elementary schools will offer at least 20 minutes of recess on all days during the school year.  This policy may be waived on early dismissal or late arrival days.   If recess is offered before lunch, schools will have appropriate hand-washing facilities located just inside/outside the cafeteria to ensure proper hygiene prior to eating and students are required to use these mechanisms before eating.

 

Outdoor recess will be offered when weather is feasible for outdoor play at the discretion of the building administrator based on his/her best judgment of safety conditions.

 

In the event that the school or district must conduct indoor recess, teachers and staff will follow the indoor recess guidelines that promote physical activity for students, to the extent practicable.

 

Recess monitors or teachers will encourage students to be active, and will serve as role models by being physically active alongside the students whenever feasible.

 

Classroom Physical Activity Breaks (Elementary and Secondary)

 

The School District recognizes that students are more attentive and ready to learn if provided with periodic breaks when they can be physically active or stretch.  Thus, students will be offered periodic opportunities to be active or to stretch throughout the day on all or most days during a typical school week.  The School District recommends teachers provide short physical activity breaks to students during and between classroom time at least three days per week.

 

The School District will provide resources and links to resources, tools, and technology with ideas for classroom physical activity breaks.  Resources and ideas are available through USDA and the Alliance for a Healthier Generation.

 

Active Academics

 

Teachers will incorporate movement and kinesthetic learning approaches into “core” subject instruction when possible (e.g., science, math, language arts, social studies and others) and do their part to limit sedentary behavior during the school day.

 

The School District will support classroom teachers incorporating physical activity and employing kinesthetic learning approaches into core subjects by providing annual professional development opportunities and resources, including information on leading activities, activity options, as well as making available background material on the connections between learning and movement.

 

Teachers will serve as role models by being physically active alongside the students whenever feasible.

 

Before and After School Activities

 

The School District offers opportunities for students to participate in physical activity either before and/or after the school day (or both) through a variety of methods.  The School District will encourage students to be physically active before and after school by:  physically active clubs such as cheerleading, dance, band and interscholastic sports.

 

OTHER ACTIVITIES THAT PROMOTE STUDENT WELLNESS

 

The School District will integrate wellness activities across the entire school setting, not just in the cafeteria, other food and beverage venues and physical activity facilities.  The School District will coordinate and integrate other initiatives related to physical activity, physical education, nutrition and other wellness components so all efforts are complementary, not duplicative, and work towards the same set of goals and objectives promoting student well-being, optimal development and strong educational outcomes.

 

Schools in the School District are encouraged to coordinate content across curricular areas that promote student health.

 

Community Partnerships

 

The School District will continue relationships with community partners (e.g., hospitals, universities/colleges, local businesses, SNAP-Ed providers and coordinators, etc.) in support of this wellness policy’s implementation.  Existing and new community partnerships and sponsorships will be evaluated to ensure that they are consistent with the wellness policy and its goals.

 

Community Health Promotion and Family Engagement

 

The School District will promote to parents/caregivers, families, and the general community the benefits of and approaches for healthy eating and physical activity throughout the school year.  Families will be informed and invited to participate in school-sponsored activities and will receive information about health promotion efforts.

 

Staff Wellness and Health Promotion

 

Schools in the School District will implement strategies to support staff in actively promoting and modeling healthy eating and physical activity behaviors.  The School District promotes staff member participation in health promotion programs and will support programs for staff members on healthy eating/weight management that are accessible and free or low-cost.

 

Professional Learning

 

When feasible, the School District will offer annual professional learning opportunities and resources for staff to increase knowledge and skills about promoting healthy behaviors in the classroom and school (e.g., increasing the use of kinesthetic teaching approaches or incorporating nutrition lessons into math class).  Professional learning will help District staff understand the connections between academics and health and the ways in which health and wellness are integrated into ongoing district reform or academic improvement plans/efforts.

 

GLOSSARY

 

Extended School Day – the time during, before and after school that includes activities such as clubs, intramural sports, band and choir practice, drama rehearsals and more.

 

School Campus - areas that are owned or leased by the school and used at any time for school-related activities, including on the outside of the school building, school buses or other vehicles used to transport students, athletic fields and stadiums (e.g., on scoreboards, coolers, cups, and water bottles), or parking lots.

 

School Day – the time between midnight the night before to thirty (30) minutes after the end of the instructional day.

 

Triennial – recurring every three years.

 

New policy:  August, 2006

Revised:  June, 2010

Revised:  May 1, 2017

 

 

Ref:    42 USC 1751 et seq. (Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act)

42 USC 1771 et seq. (Child Nutrition Act of 1966)

7 CFR 210 (National School Lunch Program)

7 CFR 210.31 (Local School Wellness Policy)

7 CFR 220 (School Breakfast Program)

La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §17:17.1

Board minutes, 8-7-06, 9-13-10, 5-1-17

 

Acadia Parish School Board