507.9 - Wellness Policy

507.9 - Wellness Policy

 

Code No.  507.9

  

WELLNESS POLICY

The Edgewood-Colesburg 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 as 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, students, 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.  

 

CLASSROOM PARTIES

As part of the Edgewood Colesburg Local Wellness policies, it is recommended that rewarding children in the classroom need not involve candy and other foods that can undermine children’s diets, health, and healthy eating habits. 

Rewards for a class: Extra recess, pencils, erasers, games, or reading time. 

Parties/food in the classroom is discouraged. If a party or food is needed, please consider healthy options.  Students are encouraged to drink water. Please avoid pop and other caffeinated/sugary drinks.

Healthy Food Rewards: For the safety of all students please only provide pre-packaged items. 

Some healthy choices to provide are:

  • String Cheese

  • Low fat Yogurt cups

  • Baked Chips

  • Rice Krispie Treats

  • Applesauce or Fruit Cups

  • Fresh Fruit or Vegetables/low-fat ranch dip

  • 100% Juice

  • Peanut Butter and Celery

  • Pretzels

  • Scooby Snacks

 

Legal Reference:  42 U.S.C. §§ 1751 et seq. 

42 U.S.C. §§ 1771 et seq.  

Iowa Code §§ 256.7(29); 256.11(6).

281 I.A.C. 12.5; 58.11.

 

Cross Reference: 504.5 Student FundRaising

504.6 Student Activity Program

710 School Food Services

Adopted: 05/15/2016

Revised: 09/11/2023

Reviewed: 04/22/2024

 

dawn.gibson.cm… Wed, 07/14/2021 - 13:58
File Attachments
507.9-Wellness Policy.pdf

507.9R1 - Wellness Regulation

507.9R1 - Wellness Regulation

To implement the Wellness Policy, the following district specific goals have been established:

Goal 1 – Nutrition Education and Promotion:  Schools will provide nutrition education and engage in nutrition promotion that help students develop lifelong healthy eating behaviors. The goal(s) for addressing nutrition education and nutrition promotion include the following:

  • The school district will provide nutrition education and engage in nutrition promotion that promotes fruits, vegetables, whole-grain products, low-fat and fat-free dairy products, healthy food preparation methods and health-enhancing nutrition practices.

Goal 2 – Physical Activity: Schools will provide students and staff with age and grade appropriate opportunities to engage in physical activity that meet federal and state guidelines, including the Iowa Healthy Kids Act. The goal(s) for addressing physical activity include the following:

Physical Education
 

The school district will provide physical education that:

  • is taught by a certified physical education teacher.
  • includes students with disabilities, students with special health-care needs my be provided in alternative educational settings.
  • engages students in moderate to vigorous activity during at least 50 percent of physical education class time.

 

Daily Recess

  • Elementary schools should provide recess for students that:
  • is at least 20 minutes a day.
  • is preferably outdoors.
  • encourages moderate to vigorous physical activity verbally and through the provision of space and equipment.
  • discourages extended periods (i.e., periods of two or more hours) of inactivity.

 

Physical Activity and Punishment

Employees should not use physical activity (e.g., running laps, pushups) or withhold   opportunities for physical activity (e.g., recess, physical education) as punishment.

 

Goal 3 – Other School-Based Activities that Promote Student Wellness: Schools will support student, staff, and parents’ efforts to maintain a healthy lifestyle, as appropriate. The goal(s) for addressing other school-based activities that promote student wellness include the following:

 

Integrating Physical Activity into Classroom Settings

For students to receive the nationally recommended amount of daily physical activity and for students to fully embrace regular physical activity as a personal behavior, students need opportunities for physical activity beyond the physical education class.  Toward that end, the school district will:

  • offer classroom health education that complements physical education by reinforcing the knowledge and self-management skills needed to maintain a physically active lifestyle and to reduce time spent on sedentary activities.
  • discourage sedentary activities, such as watching television, playing computer games, etc.
  • provide opportunities for physical activity to be incorporated into other subject lessons.
  • encourage classroom teachers to provide short physical activity breaks between lessons or classes, as appropriate.

 

Communication with Parents

  • The school district will support parents’ efforts to provide a healthy diet and daily physical
  • activity for their children.  The school district will:
  • provide parents a list of foods that meet the school district’s snack standards and ideas for healthy celebrations/parties and rewards.
  • provide information about physical education and other school-based physical activity opportunities before, during and after the school day.

 

Staff Wellness

  • The school district values the health and well-being of every staff member and will plan and implement activities and policies that support personal efforts by staff to maintain a healthy lifestyle.  Each school should:
  • base the plan on input solicited from employees and outline ways to encourage healthy eating, physical activity and other elements of a healthy lifestyle among employees.

 

 

Public Involvement: There is a process for permitting parents, students, 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.

 

 

Adopted: 08/14/2017
Reviewed: 05/20/2019
Revised: 05/20/2019

 

dawn.gibson.cm… Wed, 07/14/2021 - 14:06