2007 5661
1 of 4
Non-Instructional/Business Operations
G/
SUBJECT: DISTRICT WELLNESS
POLICY
Preamble
Whereas, children need
access to healthful foods and opportunities to be physically active in order to
grow, learn, and thrive;
Whereas, good health
fosters student attendance and education;
Whereas, obesity rates
have doubled in children and tripled in adolescents over the last two (2) decades,
and physical inactivity and excessive calorie intake are the predominant causes
of obesity;
Whereas, heart disease,
cancer, stroke, and diabetes are responsible for two-thirds (2/3) of deaths in
the United States, and major risk factors for those diseases, including
unhealthy eating habits, physical inactivity, and obesity, often are
established in childhood;
Whereas, 33% of high
school students do not participate in sufficient vigorous physical activity and
72% of high school students do not attend daily physical education classes
(2006);
Whereas, only 2% of
children (2 to 19 years) eat a healthy diet consistent with the five (5) main
recommendations from the Food Guide Pyramid (2006);
Whereas, nationally, the
items most commonly sold from school vending machines, school stores, and snack
bars include low-nutrition foods and beverages, such as soda, sports drinks,
imitation fruit juices, chips, candy, cookies, and snack cakes;
Whereas, school districts
around the country are facing significant fiscal and scheduling constraints;
and
Whereas, community
participation is essential to the development and implementation of successful
school wellness policies.
Thus, the
a) The
b) All students in grades K -12 will have
opportunities, support, and encouragement to be physically active on a regular
basis.
(Continued)
2007 5661
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Non-Instructional/Business Operations
G/
SUBJECT: DISTRICT WELLNESS
POLICY (Cont'd.)
c) Foods and beverages sold or served at
school will meet the nutrition recommendations of the
d) Qualified nutrition professionals will
provide students with access to a variety of affordable, nutritious, and
appealing foods that meet the health and nutrition needs of students; will
accommodate the religious, ethnic, and cultural diversity of the student body
in meal planning; and will provide clean, safe, and pleasant settings and
adequate time for students to eat.
e) To the maximum extent practicable, all
schools in our district will participate in available federal school meal
programs (including the School Breakfast Program, National School Lunch Program
[including after-school snacks], Summer Food Service Program, Fruit and
Vegetable Snack Program).
Schools will provide
nutrition education and physical education to foster lifelong habits of healthy
eating and physical activity, and will establish linkages between health
education and school meal programs, and with related community services.
It is the policy of the
Board of Education of the Groton Central School, pursuant to the National
School Lunch Act and the Child Nutrition Act of 1966, and Section 204 of the
Child Nutrition and Women, Infants, and Children Reauthorization Act of 2004,
that:
a) Nutrition education shall be integrated
into the District health curriculum at all academic levels consistent with the
State's health education standards. Nutrition education shall include the
following goals:
1. Increase students' nutritional knowledge,
including, but not limited to the benefits of healthy eating, essential
nutrition, weight management, safe food preparation, handling and storage.
2. Increase in students' understanding of
food labels, nutritional information and misinformation, as well as commercial
food advertising.
3. Provide knowledge and skills to enable
individuals to make responsible and informed decisions and adapt and maintain
healthy behaviors.
4. Prepare students to meet the challenges of
healthy living.
b) The benefits of physical activity shall be
integrated into the District physical education curriculum and health
curriculum at all levels and implemented within the school on a regular basis
to meet the following goals:
(Continued)
2007 5661
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Non-Instructional/Business Operations
G/
SUBJECT: DISTRICT WELLNESS
POLICY (Cont'd.)
1. Students will have the necessary knowledge
and skills to establish and maintain physical fitness, participate in physical
activity, and maintain personal health.
2. Opportunities and encouragement for
students to voluntarily participate in before and after school physical
activity programs.
3. Promote a positive, lifelong attitude
towards physical activity.
c) The benefits of other school-based
activities shall be integrated into the general curriculum and operations of the
School to meet the following goals:
1. Opportunities and encouragement for
students to voluntarily participate in co curricular programs.
2. Provide opportunities for students to
acquire and demonstrate social skills, cooperative skills, diligent work
habits, respect for others and integrity.
d) The District shall provide food to
students in accordance with State and Federal nutritional guidelines and
include:
1. A food service program that employs well
prepared staff who serve appealing choices of nutritious food.
2. Opportunities for staff to model healthy
eating habits.
3. A clean, safe, enjoyable meal environment
for students.
e) The School District guidelines for
reimbursable school meals shall not be less restrictive than regulations and
guidance issued by the Secretary of Agriculture pursuant to subsections (a) and
(b) of section 10 of the Child Nutrition Act (42 USC 1779) and Section 9(t)(1)
and 17(a) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 USC
1758(t)(1), 1766(a)(0), as those regulations and guidance apply to schools.
f) A plan for measuring implementation of
this policy shall be created and monitored by the Superintendent or designee,
and the Board further designates the responsibility of ensuring the
1. Methods of reporting on program
implementation.
2. Methods for collection and evaluation of
results of the program.
(Continued)
2007 5661
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Non-Instructional/Business Operations
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SUBJECT: DISTRICT WELLNESS
POLICY (Cont'd.)
3. Strategies for identifying weak areas of
the program and means for improving these areas.
4. Means for ensuring various components of
the program are integrated within the basic operation of the District and are
designed to reinforce one another and present consistent messages to student
learning.
g) Local Wellness Policies and Procedures
shall be developed in conjunction with parents, students, representatives of
the school food authority, representatives of the school administration, and
members of the public.
Adoption Date: September 10, 2007