School Wellness Policy 508.13
SCHOOL WELLNESS POLICY - 508.13
The school district is committed to providing a school environment that enhances learning and the development of lifelong wellness. The goals outlined in this policy were determined and selected after reviewing and considering evidence-based strategies.
The school district will create a School Wellness Committee that will meet four times per year to establish goals for and oversee school health and safety policies and programs, including development, and periodic review and update of this district-level Wellness Policy.
1. Goals for Nutrition Promotion and Education
- The school district will promote healthy food and beverage choices for all students, as well as encourage participation in school meal programs by such methods as implementing evidence-based healthy food promotion techniques through the school meal programs and promoting foods and beverages that meet or exceed the USDA Smart Snacks in School nutrition standards.
- The health curriculum will include information on good nutrition and healthy living habits.
- Teachers will incorporate information on nutrition and wellness into the classroom curriculum as appropriate.
- The district will collaborate with public and private entities to promote student wellness.
- Water will be made available to students throughout the school day.
- School staff are encouraged to model healthy eating behaviors.
- The school district will provide School Food Service Staff Continuing Education on Nutrition and Food Safety.
2. Goals for Physical Activity
- The school district’s curriculums shall include instruction on physical activity and habits for healthy living.
- Physical education classes and physical activity opportunities will be available for all students daily throughout the school year during school or after school. All physical education will be taught by a certified physical education teacher. Students will spend at least 50 percent of physical education class time participating in moderate to vigorous physical activity.
- All elementary students will have daily supervised recess, preferably outdoor, during which school should encourage moderate to vigorous physical activity verbally and through the provision of space and equipment.
- Students will be encouraged to engage in physical activities throughout the school day and will be provided with opportunities to do so.
- The district will discourage extended periods (i.e. periods of two or more hours) of inactivity. When activities, such as mandatory school-wide testing, make it necessary for students to remain indoors for long periods of time, students should have periodic breaks during which they should be encouraged to stand and be moderately active.
- The district encourages parents and guardians to support their children’s participation in physical activity, to be physically active role models, and to include physical activity in family events.
- The physical activity and education program should expose students to a wide variety of physical activities, teach physical skills to help maintain health and fitness, and individualize the intensity of activities as needed.
3. Goals for Other School-Based Activities Designed to Promote Student Wellness
- Dining Environment
a. The school district’s lunchroom will be attractive, clean, and a well lighted enjoyable meal
environment for students.
b. The school district will have drinking fountains or other accommodations available so that
students can get water at meals and throughout the day.
c. The school district will encourage all students to participate in school meal programs.
d. The school district will make every effort to eliminate any social stigma attached to, and
prevent the overt identification of, students who are eligible for free and reduced-price
meals.
e. Students will be encouraged to wash and/or sanitize their hands before they eat meals or
snacks.
- Mealtimes
a. The school district will ensure an adequate time for students to eat meals and socialize with
friends by providing at least 10 minutes after being settee to eat breakfast and 20 minutes after
being seated to eat lunch.
b. Tutoring and club or organizational meetings or activities should not be scheduled during
mealtimes unless students may eat during such activities.
- Other
a. The district will participate in state and federal child nutrition programs as appropriate.
b. The district will provide professional development, support, and resources for staff about
student wellness.
c. The district will allow other health-related entities to use school facilities for activities such as
health clinics and screenings so long as the activities meet the district’s requirements and
criteria for the use of facilities.
d. The district may partner with other individuals or entities in the community to support the
implementation of this policy.
e. The district will strive to provide physical activity breaks for all students, recess for elementary
students, and before and after school activities, as well as encourage students to use active
transport (walking, biking, etc.).
f. The district will use evidence-based strategies to develop, structure, and support student
wellness.
g. The district may provide additional educational and mental health supports for the wellbeing of
students and staff.
4. Standards and Nutrition Guidelines for All Foods and Beverages Sold to Students on the School
Campus and During the School Day
- The district will ensure that student access to foods and beverages meet federal, state, and local laws and guidelines including, but not limited to:
i. USDA National School Lunch and School Breakfast nutrition standards
ii. USDA Smart Snacks in School nutrition standards.
- The district will offer students a variety of age-appropriate, healthy food and beverage selections with plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains aimed at meeting the nutrition needs of students within their calorie requirements in order to promote student health and reduce childhood obesity.
- Foods and beverages that have one of the following listed as the first ingredient should not be sold to students during the lunch meal hours: sugar, corn syrup, or their equivalent.
5. Standards for All Foods and Beverages Provided, But Not Sold to Students During the School
Day
The school district may provide a list of healthy party ideas or food and beverage alternatives to parents, teachers, and students for classroom parties, rewards, and incentives, or classroom snacks. The district discourages the use of food and beverages as a reward or incentive for performance or behavior.
6. Food and Beverage Marketing
Marketing and advertising is only allowed on school grounds or at school activities for foods and beverages that meet or exceed the USDA Smart Snacks in School nutrition standards, except as follows:
- This requirement does not apply to marketing that occurs at events outside of school hours such as after school sporting or any other events, including school fundraising events.
- The district will not immediately replace menu boards, coolers, tray liners, beverage cups, and other food service equipment with depictions of noncompliant products or logos to comply with the new USDA Smart Snacks in Schools nutrition requirements. All previously purchased products will be used, and all existing contracts honored.
- All equipment that currently displays noncompliant marketing materials will not be removed or replaced (e.g., a scoreboard with a Coca-Cola logo). However, as the district reviews and considers new contracts, and as scoreboards or other such durable equipment are replaced or updated over time, any products that are marketed and advertised will meet or exceed the USDA Smart Snacks in School nutrition standards.
- New equipment that is purchased with marketing logos must market water from the company the product is purchased from (e.g., Aquafina).
7. Public Participation
Parents, studenets, representatives of the school food authority, teachers, school health professionals, board members, school administrators, and members of the general public shall be allowed to provide their input to the school district during the wellness policy adoption and review process.
8. Competitive Foods (Includes Food and Beverages Sold in Vending Machines, School Stores,
Fundraisers, or in Competition with the National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs)
- Except as otherwise allowed by the Nebraska Department of Education (NDE), all foods and beverages sold during the school day as part of a fundraiser or for any other purpose in competition with the National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs must meet the nutrition standards of those programs.
- Fundraiser food or beverages are NOT exempt from the USDA Smart Snacks in School nutrition standards. Therefore, if food is sold as a fundraiser:
1. It shall not be sold in competition with school meals in the food service area during the meal
service.
2. It shall not be sold or otherwise made available to students anywhere on school premises
during the period beginning one half hour prior to the serving period for breakfast and/or
lunch and lasting until one half hour after the serving of breakfast and/or lunch.
3. The sale of food items during the school day shall meet the USDA Smart Snacks in School
nutrition requirements.
4. This restriction does not apply to food sold during non-school hours, weekends, and
off-campus fundraising events such as concessions during after-school sporting events,
school plays or concerts; or to bulk food items that are sold for consumption at home:
(Ex: frozen pizzas, cookie dough tubs, etc.)
9. Triennial Assessment
The school board shall assess and review this policy at least every three years to determine:
- Compliance with this policy;
- How this policy compares to NDE model wellness policies;
- Progress made in attaining the goals of this policy.
The school board will update or modify this policy as appropriate.
10. Public Notice
In addition to identifying the topic on its meeting agenda as required by the Open Meetings Act, the school district will provide notice of this policy every year to the public and other stakeholders identified in this policy by one or more of the following methods: On its webpage, in its newsletter, in the student and employee handbooks, newspaper advertisements, direct mailings, electronic mail, and public postings.
In addition to identifying the topic on its meeting agenda as required by the Open Meetings Act, the school district will provide notice of the Triennial Assessment and progress report towards meeting the goals in this policy using one or more of those same methods.
11. Recordkeeping
The school district will retain records to document compliance with the requirements of the wellness policy at its central office.
The school district will maintain records in compliance with the requirements of the wellness policy of students who qualify for free and reduced-price meals in the central office to protect the privacy of the students.
12. Operational Responsibility
The superintendent is responsible for coordinating the implementation of this policy and for monitoring the district’s progress in meeting the goals established by this policy. The superintendent will yearly report to the board on the district’s progress in implementing this policy.
Reference:
https://www.fns.usda.gov/cn/tools-schools-focusing-smart-snacks
Adopted on: February 2006
Revised on: October 2020
Revised on: February 2023