POLICY REGARDING WELLNESS                                                                                5139                                                                                       

It is the policy of the Salisbury Board of Education to promote the health and well-being of district students. In furtherance of this policy, the Board has created an Advisory Council on Wellness (“Advisory Council”) to review any available state or federal guidance on wellness issues and to assist in formulating recommendations for specific goals and guidelines aimed at promoting lifelong wellness practices among district students. This Advisory Council involves parents, students, representatives from the school food authority (i.e. any private company employed to provide food services), school administrators, the board of education, and members of the public.

 

Goals and Guidelines

 

These goals/guidelines should be designed to promote student wellness in a manner that the school district determines is appropriate. Examples of the types of goals that may be recommended include, but are not limited to, the following:

  1. Nutrition Education and Promotion

• Promote positive nutritional standards dealing with healthy lifestyle management, eating disorders, body image, and adequate nutrient intake (such as carbohydrates, proteins, fats), and weight management practices.
  
  
• Promote consumer education in developing skills, such as label reading and evaluating influence of media on food selection, enabling students to evaluate food products.
  
  
• Consider recommendations from the Nutrition Advisory Committee in developing curriculum.  

 2. Physical Activity and Physical Education

• The benefits of physical activity, good nutrition and fitness.

• Physical activity being incorporated into classroom routines where appropriate.

• All physical education classes to include at least 50 percent of moderate to vigorous activity in all or most lessons.

• Recess games and activities in the K-8 curriculum.

• Rubrics that objectively evaluate and encourage active participation in physical education in all classes K-8.

• During inclement weather, efforts should be made to provide an indoor back-up plan for physical education and recess.

• Periodic and ongoing programs to increase the activity and positive nutritional choices for faculty and staff members.

• Use by faculty and staff of facilities and equipment before and after school.

• Nutritional snacks during meetings, workshops and school functions.

  

• Provide periodic food promotions to encourage taste testing of healthy new foods being introduced on the menu.

• Maximize use of food service provider resources such as nutritional planning, healthy eating promotions, dietitian consultation, special events, etc.

• Recognize and accommodate individual students’ cultural and medical concerns.

• When feasible, coordinate participation with local farmers to promote locally grown fruits and vegetables.

 4. Other School-Based Activities to Promote Student Wellness

• Encourage the use of healthy snacks in appropriate portion sizes.

• Discourage the use of food as either an incentive or a reward for good behavior or academic performance.

• Encourage healthy party menus and nonfood alternatives for birthday celebrations.

 5. Communication and Promotion

• Healthy snack ideas

• Healthy lunch ideas

• Healthy breakfast ideas

• Nonfood birthday celebration ideas

• Calcium needs of children

• Healthy portion sizes

• Food label reading guidelines

• Fun activities to encourage increased physical activity inside and outside of school

 
 6. Measurement and Evaluation

• Conduct student and family food preference surveys to develop and revise school lunch menu items.