Wellness Policy

The Southern Tioga School District has adopted a Wellness Policy.  The District is committed to preparing students to make healthy nutritional and physical activity choices.  The following nutritional guidelines have been established.

Nutrition Guidelines

• All foods available in district schools during the day shall be offered to students with consideration for promoting student health and reducing childhood obesity.

• Foods provided through the National School Lunch or School Breakfast Programs shall comply with federal nutrition standards under the School Meals Initiative.

• Competitive foods are foods offered at school other than through the National School Lunch or School Breakfast Programs.  All competitive foods available to students in district schools shall comply with the established nutrition guidelines, as listed in the Nutritional Standards for Competitive Foods in Pennsylvania Schools.  The nutritional standards shall be phased in over a three-year plan.

• Elementary school a-la-carte foods and snacks - Given young children’s limited nutrition skills, items for individual sale will be restricted to bottled water and those food items offered on the school menu as part of the daily meal.

• Junior/senior high school a-la-carte foods and snacks, vending beverages and snacks, and beverage vending operated by food services shall comply with the Nutritional Standards for Competitive Foods in Pennsylvania Schools.

• All other in-school vending of beverages and snacks will not be available to students until after school hours and will provide only approved products as listed in the Nutritional Standards for Competitive Foods in Pennsylvania Schools.

• School stores, and other in-school sales outlets - All foods and beverages available for sale during school hours on the school campus will comply with the Nutritional Standards for Competitive Foods in Pennsylvania Schools.  No foods will be available until after school meals have been served.

• Fundraising/booster club sales - Organizations that engage in fundraising in school will comply with the Nutritional Standards for Competitive Foods in Pennsylvania Schools.  School organizations that engage in fundraising off school property or outside school hours will be encouraged to consider healthy food or non-food related fundraising options.

• Classroom parties, snacks, rewards, and celebrations - Parents and teachers will be made aware of the district’s commitment to wellness and will be encouraged to provide healthy snacks.  Healthy-food or non-food rewards and celebrations will be encouraged.  A list of healthy snack foods will be provided.  Items not permitted are soda and candy.

• School sponsored events (such as, but not limited to, athletic events, dances, performances, or ceremonies) - Coordinators of these events will be made aware of the district’s commitment to wellness and will be encouraged to provide healthy options.

Each school building will develop a school health council.  If you have questions, contact your child’s school to speak with a member of the school’s health council.

A complete copy of the Wellness Policy is available in the Southern Tioga School District Rules & Regulations handbook.  Nutritional Standards for Competitive Foods in Pennsylvania may be accessed on the District’s website at www.southerntioga.org.