LOCAL WELLNESS POLICY

Purpose:

The Gardner School System recognizes the important relationship between wellness and academic success. The Gardner Schools are committed to providing an environment that enhances learning and promotes life-long health and fitness.

The Gardner Schools are committed to meeting the requirements of the Federal Public Law (PL 108.265) that states all school districts must have a wellness policy by September 1, 2006.

Development of the wellness program has begun in the form of our Health Advisory Committee, and our Nutrition Committee. Teachers, nurses, students, parents, community partners, administrators, school committee members, and food service personnel are invited to work with the Health Advisory Committee and the Nutrition Committee to promote improvements in our existing health and fitness programs. To this end, Gardner Public Schools will continue to participate in implementation and measurement plans that are developed and/or recommended by the State of Massachusetts.

Policy:

The Gardner Public Schools establishes goals to improve nutrition education and services. The School System provides sequential and interdisciplinary nutrition and physical education to promote life-long heath and physical fitness. Our goal is to encourage and promote good nutrition and fitness both in school and for out of school activities. The Gardner Public Schools will work to ensure that all school-based activities are consistent with local wellness policy goals.

The Gardner Public Schools will continue to inform and support the school community by providing appropriate health and wellness programs. We encourage community partnerships and will continue to work with local health and education agencies to assess and report best practices.

Wellness

Nutrition

The Gardner Public Schools maintains a functional Nutrition Committee to monitor, assess, and provide healthy foods and nutritional awareness for students, parents, and staff.

Students who receive subsidized lunches are identified via computer and identification systems that do not discriminate or single out any student.

A healthy lifestyle for staff is encouraged and supports our overall efforts to promote life-long fitness and health. Staff is encouraged to be role models for good health. The district supports education in the field.

Physical activity is not used as reward or punishment in our school system but is promoted in ways to encourage personal fitness both in school and in the community.

Each school provides a sequential and interdisciplinary plan to provide students with access to meaningful physical activity that is consistent with wellness policy goals and outlined according to NASPE curricula and standards.

Current physical activity and education promotes personal growth, connects with activities that can be maintained outside of school and promotes life-long fitness.

Health Education Guidelines

Schools in the Gardner Public Schools provide documented health education appropriate for grade level and motivated by health promotion and illness prevention guidelines.

Health education encompasses mental and physical aspects appropriate for grade level, is provided by faculty and nurses, and gives students information to promote good nutrition and physical fitness throughout the lifespan.

Wellness Policy Goals:

Nutrition Goals

Food will not be used for reward or punishment in our school system.

In order to assure healthy and safe foods, any foods are beverages brought into the school for classes will have prior approval from the principal and/or the nurse.

The Wellness Policy, informed by the Nutrition and Health Advisory Committees, will continue to monitor and adjust guidelines according to Dietary Guidelines for Americans, NASPE (National Association for Sports and Physical Education), and best practices that are reported.

Students will have at least 10 minutes for breakfast and 20 minutes for lunch from the time they are seated.

Elementary students will have recess prior to lunch periods when at all possible.

Elementary students will have access to hand washing supplies, and be encouraged to use them, prior to lunch.

The Nutrition Committee seeks to improve nutritional awareness and provide healthy foods within the school day.

Foods and beverages made available on school property are consistent with current Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

Foods available on campus adhere to food safety and security guidelines.

The school environment is safe, comfortable, pleasing, and allows ample space for eating meals.

No carbonated beverages are sold in campus vending machines for students.

Prices for school meals remain reasonable in order to encourage purchase of balanced nutrition. A la carte items are limited in choices in order to encourage purchase of full meals.

No food may be “ordered out” and consumed in the cafeteria.

No foods purchased outside the cafeteria are allowed until lunch periods are completed.

Lunch periods are scheduled as close to the middle of the students’ day as possible.

Physical Fitness

Physical fitness, both structured and general activity, is strongly supported and encouraged according to NASPE guidelines practiced in our schools.

After school and in-school programs follow approved curricula to promote life-long fitness. Parental information is provided several times per year, including diabetes risk assessments and 5-2-1 goals.

Physical Education Goals

Physical education classes will emphasize personal fitness goals, increase non-competitive sports, and provide personalized guidelines to encourage life-long activity.

Every effort will be made to provide physical education appropriate to grade level and to assess and monitor for appropriate use of NASPE guidelines.

Health Education Goals

Health curricula will be consistent with wellness policy goals, as well as state and federal guidelines.

Health curricula will be monitored and assessed quarterly for consistency and appropriate guidelines, through the Health Advisory Committee and through physical education teachers’ reviews.

Responsibilities

Implementation of the Wellness Policy, Goals, and Guidelines will commence upon approval of the Wellness Policy by the Gardner School Committee. Compliance will be monitored beginning September 2006. Monitoring at the building level will be the responsibility of the principal and nursing services. Monitoring at the district level will be the responsibility of the Health Advisory Committee, led by the Health Coordinator, and supported by the Superintendent of Schools.

The school district will provide nutrition education aligned with standards established by the USDA’s National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program in all grades. The school district will provide physical education training aligned with the standards established by the Department of Education. The wellness program coordinators, in consultation with the wellness committee, will develop procedures that address nutrition and physical education.

Nutrition Education

• Students will receive nutrition education that teaches the skills they need to adopt and maintain healthy eating behaviors.

• Students will receive consistent nutrition messages from all aspects of the school program.

• Schools will link nutrition education activities with the coordinated school health program.

Physical Education Activities

• Students are given opportunities for physical activity during the school day through physical education (PE) classes, daily recess periods for elementary school students, and the integration of physical activity into the academic curriculum where appropriate.
• Students are given opportunities for physical activity through a range of before-and/or after-school programs including, but not limited to, intramurals, interscholastic athletics, and physical activity clubs.
• Schools work with the community to create ways for students to walk, bike, rollerblade, or skateboard safely to and from school.
• Schools encourage 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.
• Schools provide training to enable staff to promote enjoyable, life-long physical activity among students.

Other School-Based Activities

The wellness program coordinators, in consultation with the wellness committee, are charged with developing procedures addressing other school-based activities to promote wellness.

• An adequate amount of time is allowed for students to eat meals in adequate lunchroom facilities.
• All children who participate in subsidized food programs are able to obtain food in a non-stigmatizing manner.
• Environmentally-friendly practices such as the use of locally grown and seasonal foods, school gardens, and non-disposable tableware have been considered and implemented where appropriate.
• Physical activities and/or nutrition services or programs designed to benefit staff health have been considered and, to the extent practical, implemented.

Evaluation

The wellness committee will assess all education curricula and materials pertaining to wellness for accuracy, completeness, balance, and consistency with the state and district’s educational goals and standards. Wellness program coordinators shall be responsible for devising a plan for implementation and evaluation of the district wellness policy and are charged with operational responsibility for ensuring that schools meet the goals of the district wellness policy. Wellness program coordinators will report to the School Committee annually.

[Adopted: July 2006]