St. Joseph School s Wellness Policies on Physical Education and Nutrition

Transcription

1 St. Joseph School s Wellness Policies on Physical Education and Nutrition Belief Statement St. Joseph School is committed to providing a learning environment that supports wellness, good nutrition, physical activity and the capacity of students to develop and learn. The entire school environment shall be aligned with healthy school goals to positively influence student s beliefs and habits and promote health and wellness, good nutrition and regular physical activity. In addition, school staff shall be encouraged to model healthy eating and physical activity as a valuable part of daily life. Intent The purpose of this policy is to ensure a total school environment that promotes and supports student health and wellness, helps to reduce childhood obesity and meets the requirements of the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2010, including goals for nutrition education, physical activity and other school based activities designed to promote students wellness; nutrition guidelines for all foods available during the school day; a plan for measuring implementation including designating the school nurse and physical education teacher who are charged with operational responsibility; and involving parents, students, school food service providers, the parent association, school administrators and the public in developing this policy. Rationale The link between nutrition and learning is well documented. Healthy eating patterns are essential for students to achieve their full academic potential, full physical and mental growth and lifelong health and well-being. Healthy eating is demonstrably linked to reduced risk of development of chronic diseases. Schools and school communities have a responsibility to help students acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to establish and maintain lifelong healthy eating patterns. Well-planned and well-implemented wellness programs have been shown to positively influence children's health. Schools also have a responsibility to help students establish and maintain lifelong habits of being physically active. According to the U.S. Surgeon General, regular physical activity is one of the most important things people can do to maintain their physical health, mental health, and overall well-being. Regular physical activity reduces the risk of premature death in general and of heart disease, high blood pressure, colon cancer and diabetes. St. Joseph School will comply with the goals for Student Wellness established by the Archdiocese of Catholic Schools as stated below: Goals for Nutrition Education Students in preschool through 8 th grade shall receive sequential and interdisciplinary nutrition education incorporated into their curriculum. 7 th and 8 th grade students will receive health education as part of the physical education curriculum. Speakers will come into the classroom once a month during a gym time slot and discuss health topics based on state standards. The program shall be designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to adopt healthy eating behaviors. Special emphasis will be placed on nutrition education in preschool through the primary grade as eating habits are established at a young age.

2 The nutrition education program shall include enjoyable interactive activities such as contests, promotions, taste testing, field trips, school gardens, or other like activities. St. Joseph School will provide assemblies and field trip opportunities which promote health and wellness. St. Joseph School shall work with parents to assist in providing a healthy diet and daily physical activity for their children, which may include information to help them incorporate healthy eating and physical activity. This will be done through Knight News articles and exercise promotion in gym class and one on one with the school nurse. Hot lunch and after school food sales will include healthy food options. The school milk program will provide 1% and fat free milk options. Goals for Physical Activity Students in preschool through 8 th grade shall participate in regularly scheduled formal and informal physical activity programs. Gym will be scheduled twice a week for Kindergarten through 8 th grade for 45 minutes each class. Special emphasis will be placed on promoting an active lifestyle in preschool through primary grades as health habits are established at a young age. Reasonable accommodations shall be made for students with disabilities and/or other limitations. Outside recess will be scheduled daily for 20 minutes each day and exercise will be encouraged for all students in Kindergarten through 8 th grade. Preschool students will also experience minutes of exercise per class session either in the gym or outside as weather permits. Students shall be provided opportunities for physical activities through a range of school programs such as intramurals, interscholastic athletics, physical activity clubs or other like activities. Goals for other School-Based Activities Designed to Promote Student Wellness Consistent School Activities and Environment-Healthy Eating St. Joseph School will post on our website hot lunch vendors. Those vendors provide nutritional information on their products served at our hot lunch meals. Individually sold items at sporting events will provide nutritional information. Lunch will be eaten and/or served in the Koenig Center. Each class will have 20 minutes to eat lunch daily. All hot lunch severs and lunch room supervisors will have an in-service at the beginning of each school year on lunch room safety, cleanliness and supervision. Students, parents, school staff and community members bringing foods and beverages to school for parties/celebrations/meetings shall be encouraged to provide healthful options. (Attachment A provides suggestions) St. Joseph School shall take efforts to promote nutritious food and beverage choices consistent with the current Dietary Guidelines for Americans and Food Guidance System (My Plate) such as fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy foods and whole grain products. There will be no food brought in for Birthday celebrations. All foods and beverages provided by the school shall comply with federal, state, and local food safety and sanitation regulations. Access to any area involved in storage, preparation or service of food on the school campus shall be limited to authorized personnel.

3 Consistent School Activities and Environment-Physical Activity St. Joseph school will limit extended periods of inactivity. When activities such as mandatory testing make it necessary for students to be inactive for long periods of time, students will take periodic breaks so stand, stretch, and move. Playground supervisors will monitor playground equipment for safety and report any maintenance issues to maintenance staff. Crossing guards will be present on the corner of Milwaukee Avenue and 176 before and after school to support students walking or riding bicycles to school. Food or Physical Activity as a Reward or Punishment St. Joseph School personnel will not withhold food or beverages from students as punishment. St. Joseph School personnel will not withhold participation in recess or physical education class as punishment. Nutrition Guidelines for All Foods and Beverages Available at School During the School Day Every effort shall be made to provide nutritious and appealing foods and beverages, such as fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy foods and whole grain products, wherever and whenever food is sold or offered at the hot lunch program. All students will be allowed unlimited access to drinking water throughout the school day. Revised: 2/22/16

4 Attachment A Healthful Food and Beverage Options for School Functions Beverages All beverages sold in the school environment will qualify as a better choice beverage in accordance with Public- Law (Senate Enrolled Act 111). The following choices are approved for sale as a better choice beverage : Fruit or vegetable based drinks that contain at least fifty percent (50%) real fruit juice or vegetable juice, and do not contain additional caloric sweeteners Water and seltzer water that do not contain additional caloric sweeteners Low fat and fat free milk, including chocolate milk, soy milk, rice milk and other similar dairy and nondairy calcium fortified milks Isotonic beverages, i.e. Gatorade, Powerade Any beverage items available for sale at school may not exceed a 20 ounce serving size. Ala Carte Foods served at hot lunch In accordance with Public-Law (Senate Enrolled Act 111), at least 50% of food items available must qualify as better choice food. Food items meeting all of the following standards are considered better choice food. 30% or less total calories are from fat 10% or less total calories are from saturated and trans fat Not more than (35%) of their weight is from sugars not occurring naturally in fruits, vegetables, or dairy products If the food item contains more than 210 calories, it may not exceed the following portion sizes: Concession Stands -Potato chips, crackers, popcorn, cereal, pretzels = 1.75 ounces -Cookies, cereal bars = 2 ounces -Frozen desserts, ice cream = 3 ounces -Non-frozen yogurt = 8 ounces At least 50% of single serving packaged items offered at concession stands must meet the same criteria as the better choice foods approved for sale as ala carte options. Additional healthy options that St. Joseph can offer at games and other school events with concessions include: Trail mix fruit cups baked chips, pretzels bagels with light cream cheese Low-fat crackers low-fat yogurt animal crackers Baby carrots and low-fat dip Air popped popcorn fresh fruit low-fat granola bars Single serving low-fat milk Soy nuts low-fat string cheese soft pretzel with mustard

5