Wellness Policy

Code No. 504.3

WELLNESS POLICY

The West Lyon School District Board of Education is committed to the optimal development of every student. The Board believes for students to have the opportunity to achieve personal, academic, developmental, and social success, there needs to be a positive, safe, and health-promoting learning environment at every level, in every setting.

The school district provides a comprehensive learning environment for developing and practicing lifelong wellness behaviors. The entire school environment, not just the classroom, shall be aligned with healthy school district goals to positively influence a student's understanding, beliefs and habits as they relate to good nutrition and regular physical activity. In accordance with law and this belief, the Board commits to the following:

The school district will identify at least one goal in each of the following areas:

• Nutrition Education and Promotion: Schools will provide nutrition education and engage in nutrition promotion that helps students develop lifelong healthy eating behaviors.
• Physical Activity: Schools will provide students with age and grade appropriate opportunities to engage in physical activity that meet the Iowa Healthy Kids Act.
• Other School Based Activities that Promote Wellness: As appropriate, schools will support students, staff, and parents’ efforts to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

The following nutritional guidelines for food available on school campuses will be adhered to:

• Meals served through the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Program will be appealing and meet, at a minimum, nutrition requirements established by state and federal law;
• Schools providing access to healthy foods outside the reimbursable meal programs before school, during school and thirty minutes after school shall meet the United States Department of Agriculture (“USDA”) Smart Snacks in Schools nutrition standards at a minimum. This includes such items a those sold through a la carte lines, vending machines, student run stores, and fundraising activities;
• Snacks provided to students during the school day without charge (e.g., class parties) will meet standards set by the district in accordance law. The district will provide parents a list of foods and beverages that meet nutrition standards for classroom snacks and celebrations; and
• Schools will only allow marketing and advertising of foods and beverages that meet the Smart Snacks in school nutritional standards on campus during the school day.

The superintendent or superintendent’s designee shall implement and ensure compliance with the policy by:

• Reviewing the policy at least every three years and recommending updates as appropriate for Board approval;
• Implementing a process for permitting parents, student, representatives of the school food authority, teachers of physical education, school health professionals, the school board, administrators and the public to participate in the development, implementation, and periodic review and update of the policy;
• Making the policy and updated assessment of the implementation available to the public (e.g., posting on the website, newsletters, etc.). This information shall include the extent to which the schools are in compliance with policy and a description of the progress being made in attaining the goals of the policy; and
• Developing administrative regulations, which shall include specific wellness goals and indicators for measurement of progress consistent with law and district policy.

Specific Wellness Goals:

Nutrition Education and Promotion

NE Goal A: The school district will provide nutrition education and engage in nutrition promotion that:

1. Is part of not only health education classes, but also classroom instruction in the subjects of math, science,

language arts, social science, physical education and electives (HS)

a. Hold a “Nutrition Week” or “Wellness Week” to focus on nutrition throughout the school. May focus on a

different food group each day.

b. Find materials to incorporate healthy lifestyles and nutrition into physical education classes.

2. Includes enjoyable, developmentally appropriate, culturally relevant participatory activities.

a. Physical Education classes and recess use appropriate activities.

b. Links with meal program and other foods and nutrition related services such as “theme days” for lunch.

3. Promotes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low fat and fat free dairy products and healthy food.

a. Hang posters in the multipurpose room and or Commons area that promotes healthy eating. Talk about

what is on the posters and why they are important.

b. When writing the daily menu, show which food group the items belong to so students become aware of

what they are eating.

Nutrition Guidelines for All Food Available on Campus

NG Goal A: Snacks and Celebrations – The District will:

1. Assess if and when to offer snacks based on timing of meals.

2. Will provide a list of healthy snack and celebration suggestions.

3. Encourage healthful snacks.

4. Administrators and teachers will evaluate their celebration practices that involve food during the school day.

NG Goal B: Vending and Concessions

1. Food items sold outside the meal program will offer some healthful alternatives.

2. Concession Stand Managers will investigate offering some healthful alternative snacks such as nuts, trail

mix, etc.

NG Goal C: Meals served through the National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs will:

1. be appealing and attractive to children;

2. be served in clean and pleasant settings;

3. meet, at a minimum, nutrition requirements established by state and federal law:

4. offer a variety of fruits and vegetables, legumes and whole grains;

5. serve only low-fat (1%) and fat-free milk and nutritionally equivalent non-dairy alternatives (as defined by

the USDA);

NG Goal D: Qualified nutrition professionals will administer the meal programs. As part of the school district’s responsibility to operate a food service program, the school district will:

1. provide continuing professional development for all nutrition professionals; and,

2. provide staff development programs that include appropriate certification and/or training

programs for child nutrition directors, nutrition managers and cafeteria workers,

according to their levels of responsibility.

When activities, such as mandatory school-wide testing, make it necessary for students to remain indoors for long periods of time, schools should give students periodic breaks during which they are encouraged to stand and be moderately active.

Sharing of Foods – The school district discourages students from sharing their foods or beverages with one another during meal or snack times, given concerns about allergies and other restrictions on some children’s diets.

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 meals, children’s nutritional needs, children’s ages and other considerations. The school 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.

Birthdays/Celebrations/Party Treats – Students are allowed to bring treats for their class on their birthday (or half birthday) if they desire. Please do not send anything that the students cannot handle carrying to school themselves. The treats should be simple enough that the students can be done sharing in 10-15 minutes. If students bring treats to school, the treats must be store bought, pre-packaged and unopened. The ingredients must be clearly listed on the packaging.

Treats/snacks can be fun and healthy. We are encouraging students to choose healthy food items as a part of our district’s commitment to wellness. The following is a list of suggestions you may consider when selecting items for birthday treats and class parties.