Wellness Plicy Physical Activity and Nutritin Preamble Whereas, children need access t healthful fds and pprtunities t be physically active in rder t grw, learn, and thrive; Whereas, gd health fsters student attendance and educatin; Whereas, besity rates have dubled in children and tripled in adlescents ver the last tw decades, and physical inactivity and excessive calrie intake are the predminant causes f besity; Whereas, heart disease, cancer, strke, and diabetes are respnsible fr tw- thirds f deaths in the United States, and majr risk factrs fr thse diseases, including unhealthy eating habits, physical inactivity, and besity, ften are established in childhd; Whereas, nly 2% f children (2 t 19 years) eat a healthy diet cnsistent with the five main recmmendatins frm the Fd Guide Pyramid; Whereas, natinally, the items mst cmmnly sld frm schl vending machines, schl stres, and snack bars include lw- nutritin fds and beverages, such as sda, sprts drinks, imitatin fruit juices, chips, candy, ckies, and snack cakes; Whereas, schl districts arund the cuntry are facing significant fiscal and scheduling cnstraints; and Whereas, cmmunity participatin is essential t the develpment and implementatin f successful schl wellness plicies; Thus, the Calibre Academy is cmmitted t prviding schl envirnments that prmte and prtect children s health, well- being, and ability t learn by supprting healthy eating and physical activity. Therefre, it is the plicy f Calibre Academy that: The schl will engage students, parents, teachers, fd service prfessinals, health prfessinals, and ther interested cmmunity members in develping, implementing, mnitring, and reviewing schl- wide nutritin and physical activity plicies. All students in grades K- 8 will have pprtunities, supprt, and encuragement t be physically active n a regular basis. Fds and beverages sld r served at schl will meet the nutritin recmmendatins f the U.S. Dietary Guidelines fr Americans. Qualified child nutritin prfessinals will prvide students with access t a variety f affrdable, nutritius, and appealing fds that meet the health and nutritin needs f students; will accmmdate the religius, ethnic, and cultural diversity f the student bdy in meal planning; and will prvide clean, safe, and pleasant settings and adequate time fr students t eat. T the maximum extent practicable, all schls in ur schl will participate in available federal schl meal prgrams (including Natinal Schl Lunch Prgram [including after- schl snacks], Fruit and Vegetable Snack Prgram]). Schls will prvide nutritin educatin and physical educatin t fster lifelng habits f healthy eating and physical activity, and will establish linkages between health educatin and schl meal prgrams, and with related cmmunity services.
TO ACHIEVE THESE POLICY GOALS: I. Schl Health Cuncils The schls within Calibre Academy will create, strengthen, r wrk within existing schl health cuncils t develp, implement, mnitr, review, and, as necessary, revise schl nutritin and physical activity plicies. The cuncils als will serve as resurces t schl sites fr implementing thse plicies. (A schl health cuncil cnsists f a grup f individuals representing the schl and cmmunity, and shuld include parents, students, and representatives f the schl fd authrity, members f the schl bard, schl administratrs, teachers, health prfessinals, and members f the public.) II. Nutritinal Quality f Fds and Beverages Sld and Served n Campus Schl Meals Meals served thrugh the Natinal Schl Lunch and Breakfast Prgrams will: be appealing and attractive t children; be served in clean and pleasant settings; meet, at a minimum, nutritin requirements established by lcal, state, and federal statutes and regulatins; ffer a variety f fruits and vegetables; 1 serve nly lw- fat (1%) and fat- free milk 2 and nutritinally- equivalent nn- dairy alternatives (t be defined by USDA); and ensure that half f the served grains are whle grain. 3,3 Schls shuld engage students and parents, thrugh taste- tests f new entrees and surveys, in selecting fds sld thrugh the schl meal prgrams in rder t identify new, healthful, and appealing fd chices. In additin, schls shuld share infrmatin abut the nutritinal cntent f meals with parents and students. Such infrmatin culd be made available n menus, a website, n cafeteria menu bards, r ther pint- f- purchase materials. 1 T the extent pssible, schls will ffer at least tw nn-fried vegetable and tw fruit ptins each day and will ffer five different fruits and five different vegetables ver the curse f a week. Schls are encuraged t surce fresh fruits and vegetables frm lcal farmers when practicable. 2 As recmmended by the Dietary Guidelines fr Americans 2005. 3 A whle grain is ne labeled as a whle grain prduct r with a whle grain listed as the primary grain ingredient in
Free and Reduced- priced Meals. Schls will make every effrt t eliminate any scial stigma attached t, and prevent the vert identificatin f, students wh are eligible fr free and reduced- price schl meals 4. Tward this end, schls may utilize electrnic identificatin and payment systems; prvide meals at n charge t all children, regardless f incme; prmte the availability f schl meals t all students; and/r use nntraditinal methds fr serving schl meals, such as grab- and- g. Meal Times and Scheduling. Schls: will prvide students with at least 20 minutes after sitting dwn fr lunch; shuld schedule meal perids at apprpriate times, e.g., lunch shuld be scheduled between 10:20 a.m. and 1 p.m.; shuld nt schedule tutring, club, r rganizatinal meetings r activities during mealtimes, unless students may eat during such activities; will schedule lunch perids t fllw recess perids (in elementary schls); will prvide students access t hand washing r hand sanitizing befre they eat meals r snacks; and Shuld take reasnable steps t accmmdate the tth- brushing regimens f students with special ral health needs (e.g., rthdntia r high tth decay risk). Qualificatins f Schl Fd Service Staff. Qualified nutritin prfessinals will administer the schl meal prgrams. As part f the schl district s respnsibility t perate a fd service prgram, we will prvide cntinuing prfessinal develpment fr all nutritin prfessinals in schls. Staff develpment prgrams shuld include apprpriate certificatin and/r training prgrams fr child nutritin directrs, schl nutritin managers, and lunchrm aides, accrding t their levels f respnsibility. 5 Sharing f Fds and Beverages. Schls shuld discurage students frm sharing their fds r beverages with ne anther during meal r snack times, given cncerns abut allergies and ther restrictins n sme children s diets. 4 It is against the law t make thers in the cafeteria aware f the eligibility status f children fr free, reduced-price, r "paid" meals. 5 Schl nutritin staff develpment prgrams are available thrugh the USDA, Schl Nutritin Assciatin, and
Fds and Beverages Sld Individually (i.e., fds sld utside f reimbursable schl meals, such as thrugh vending machines, cafeteria a la carte [snack] lines, fundraisers, schl stres, etc.) Elementary Schls: The schl fd service prgram will apprve and prvide all fd and beverage sales t students in elementary schls. Given yung children s limited nutritin skills, fd in elementary schls shuld be sld as balanced meals. If available, fds and beverages sld individually shuld be limited t lw- fat and nn- fat milk, fruits, and nn- fried vegetables. Middle Years Prgram: In middle years, all fds and beverages sld individually utside the reimbursable schl meal prgrams (including thse sld thrugh a la carte [snack] lines, vending machines, student stres, r fundraising activities) during the schl day, r thrugh prgrams fr students after the schl day, will meet the fllwing nutritin and prtin size standards: Beverages Allwed: water r seltzer water 6 withut added calric sweeteners; fruit and vegetable juices and fruit- based drinks that cntain at least 50% fruit juice and that d nt cntain additinal calric sweeteners; unflavred r flavred lw- fat r fat- free fluid milk and nutritinally- equivalent nndairy beverages (t be defined by USDA); Nt allwed: sft drinks cntaining calric sweeteners; sprts drinks; iced teas; fruit- based drinks that cntain less than 50% real fruit juice r that cntain additinal calric sweeteners; beverages cntaining caffeine, excluding lw- fat r fat- free chclate milk (which cntain trivial amunts f caffeine). Fds A fd item sld individually: will have n mre than 35% f its calries frm fat (excluding nuts, seeds, peanut butter, and ther nut butters) and 10% f its calries frm saturated and trans fat cmbined; will have n mre than 35% f its weight frm added sugars; 7 will cntain n mre than 230 mg f sdium per serving fr chips, cereals, crackers, French fries, baked gds, and ther snack items; will cntain n mre than 480 mg f sdium per serving fr pastas, meats, and sups; and will cntain n mre than 600 mg f sdium fr pizza, sandwiches, and main dishes. A chice f at least tw fruits and/r nn- fried vegetables will be ffered fr sale at any lcatin n the schl site where fds are sld. Such items culd include, but are nt limited t, fresh fruits and vegetables; 100% fruit r vegetable juice; fruit- based drinks that are at least 50% fruit juice and that d nt cntain additinal calric sweeteners; cked, dried, r canned fruits (canned in fruit juice r light syrup); and cked, dried, r canned vegetables (that meet the abve fat and sdium guidelines). 8 6 Surprisingly, seltzer water may nt be sld during meal times in areas f the schl where fd is sld r eaten because it is cnsidered a Fd f Minimal Nutritinal Value (Appendix B f 7 CFR Part 210). 7 If a fd manufacturer fails t prvide the added sugars cntent f a fd item, use the percentage f weight frm ttal sugars (in place f the percentage f weight frm added sugars), and exempt fruits, vegetables, and dairy fds frm this ttal sugars limit. 8 Schls that have vending machines are encuraged t include refrigerated snack vending machines, which can
Prtin Sizes: Limit prtin sizes f fds and beverages sld individually t thse listed belw: One and ne- quarter unces fr chips, crackers, ppcrn, cereal, trail mix, nuts, seeds, dried fruit, r jerky; One unce fr ckies; Tw unces fr cereal bars, granla bars, pastries, muffins, dughnuts, bagels, and ther bakery items; Fur fluid unces fr frzen desserts, including, but nt limited t, lw- fat r fat- free ice cream; Eight unces fr nn- frzen ygurt; Twelve fluid unces fr beverages, excluding water; and The prtin size f a la carte entrees and side dishes, including ptates, will nt be greater than the size f cmparable prtins ffered as part f schl meals. Fruits and nn- fried vegetables are exempt frm prtin- size limits. Fundraising Activities. T supprt children s health and schl nutritin- educatin effrts, schl fundraising activities will nt invlve fd r will use nly fds that meet the abve nutritin and prtin size standards fr fds and beverages sld individually. Schls will encurage fundraising activities that prmte physical activity. Calibre Academy will make available a list f ideas fr acceptable fundraising activities. Snacks. Snacks served during the schl day r in after- schl care r enrichment prgrams will make a psitive cntributin t children s diets and health, with an emphasis n serving fruits and vegetables as the primary snacks and water as the primary beverage. Calibre Academy will assess if and when t ffer snacks based n timing f schl meals, children s nutritinal needs, children s ages, and ther cnsideratins. Calibre Academy will disseminate a list f healthful snack items t teachers, after- schl prgram persnnel, and parents. If eligible, schls that prvide snacks thrugh after- schl prgrams will pursue receiving reimbursements thrugh the Natinal Schl Lunch Prgram. Rewards. Schls will nt use fds r beverages, especially thse that d nt meet the nutritin standards fr fds and beverages sld individually (abve), as rewards fr academic perfrmance r gd behavir, 9 and will nt withhld fd r beverages (including fd served thrugh schl meals) as a punishment. Celebratins. Schls shuld limit celebratins that invlve fd during the schl day t n mre than ne party per class per mnth. Each party shuld include n mre than ne fd r beverage that des nt meet nutritin standards fr fds and beverages sld individually (abve). Calibre Academy will disseminate a list f healthy party ideas t parents and teachers. Schl- Spnsred Events (such as, but nt limited t, athletic events, dances, r perfrmances). Fds and beverages ffered r sld at schl- spnsred events utside the schl day will meet the nutritin standards fr meals r fr fds and beverages sld individually (abve).
III. Nutritin and Physical Activity Prmtin and Fd Marketing Nutritin Educatin and Prmtin. Calibre Academy aims t teach, encurage, and supprt healthy eating by students. Schls shuld prvide nutritin educatin and engage in nutritin prmtin that: is ffered at each grade level as part f a sequential, cmprehensive, standards- based prgram designed t prvide students with the knwledge and skills necessary t prmte and prtect their health; is part f nt nly health educatin classes, but als classrm instructin in subjects such as math, science, language arts, scial sciences, and elective subjects; includes enjyable, develpmentally- apprpriate, culturally- relevant, participatry activities, such as cntests, prmtins, taste testing, farm visits, and schl gardens; prmtes fruits, vegetables, whle grain prducts, lw- fat and fat- free dairy prducts, healthy fd preparatin methds, and health- enhancing nutritin practices; emphasizes calric balance between fd intake and energy expenditure (physical activity/exercise); links with schl meal prgrams, ther schl fds, and nutritin- related cmmunity services; teaches media literacy with an emphasis n fd marketing; and includes training fr teachers and ther staff. Integrating Physical Activity int the Classrm Setting. Fr students t receive the natinally- recmmended amunt f daily physical activity (i.e., at least 60 minutes per day) and fr students t fully embrace regular physical activity as a persnal behavir, students need pprtunities fr physical activity beynd physical educatin class. Tward that end: classrm health educatin will cmplement physical educatin by reinfrcing the knwledge and self- management skills needed t maintain a physically- active lifestyle and t reduce time spent n sedentary activities, such as watching televisin; pprtunities fr physical activity will be incrprated int ther subject lessns; and classrm teachers will prvide shrt physical activity breaks between lessns r classes, as apprpriate.
Cmmunicatins with Parents. Calibre Academy will supprt parents effrts t prvide a healthy diet and daily physical activity fr their children. The schl will ffer healthy eating seminars fr parents, send hme nutritin infrmatin, pst nutritin tips n schl websites, and prvide nutrient analyses f schl menus. Schls shuld encurage parents t pack healthy lunches and snacks and t refrain frm including beverages and fds that d nt meet the abve nutritin standards fr individual fds and beverages. The schl will prvide parents a list f fds that meet the district s snack standards and ideas fr healthy celebratins/parties, rewards, and fundraising activities. In additin, the schl will prvide pprtunities fr parents t share their healthy fd practices with thers in the schl cmmunity. Calibre Academy will prvide infrmatin abut physical educatin and ther schl- based physical activity pprtunities befre, during, and after the schl day; and supprt parents effrts t prvide their children with pprtunities t be physically active utside f schl. Such supprts will include sharing infrmatin abut physical activity and physical educatin thrugh a website, newsletter, r ther take- hme materials, special events, r physical educatin hmewrk. Fd Marketing in Schls. Schl- based marketing will be cnsistent with nutritin educatin and health prmtin. As such, schls will limit fd and beverage marketing t the prmtin f fds and beverages that meet the nutritin standards fr meals r fr fds and beverages sld individually (abve). 10 Schl- based marketing f brands prmting predminantly lw- nutritin fds and beverages 11 is prhibited. The prmtin f healthy fds, including fruits, vegetables, whle grains, and lw- fat dairy prducts is encuraged. Examples f marketing techniques include the fllwing: lgs and brand names n/in vending machines, bks r curricula, textbk cvers, schl supplies, screbards, schl structures, and sprts equipment; educatinal incentive prgrams that prvide fd as a reward; prgrams that prvide schls with supplies when families buy lw- nutritin fd prducts; in- schl televisin, such as Channel One; free samples r cupns; and fd sales thrugh fundraising activities. Marketing activities that prmte healthful behavirs (and are therefre allwable) include: vending machine cvers prmting water; pricing structures that prmte healthy ptins in a la carte lines r vending machines; sales f fruit fr fundraisers; and cupns fr discunt gym memberships. Staff Wellness. Calibre Academy highly values the health and well- being f every staff member and will plan and implement activities and plicies that supprt persnal effrts by staff t maintain a healthy lifestyle. Each schl shuld establish and maintain a staff wellness cmmittee cmpsed f at least ne staff member, recreatin prgram representative, nutritin crdinatr, and emplyee benefits specialist. The cmmittee shuld develp, prmte, and versee a multifaceted plan t prmte staff health and wellness. The plan shuld be based n input slicited frm schl staff and shuld utline ways t encurage healthy eating, physical activity, and ther elements f a healthy lifestyle amng schl staff. 10 Advertising f lw-nutritin fds and beverages is permitted in supplementary classrm and library materials, such as newspapers, magazines, the Internet, and similar media, when such materials are used in a class lessn r activity, r as a research tl. 11 Schls shuld nt permit general brand marketing fr fd brands under which mre than half f the fds r beverages d nt meet the nutritin standards fr fds sld individually r the meals are nt cnsistent with schl
IV. Physical Activity Opprtunities and Physical Educatin Daily Physical Educatin (P.E.) K- 8. All students in grades K- 8, including students with disabilities, special health- care needs, and in alternative educatinal settings, will receive daily physical educatin (r its equivalent f 150 minutes/week fr elementary schl students and 225 minutes/week fr middle) fr the entire schl year. All physical educatin will be taught by a certified physical educatin teacher. Student invlvement in ther activities invlving physical activity (e.g., interschlastic r intramural sprts) will nt be substituted fr meeting the physical educatin requirement. Students will spend at least 50 percent f physical educatin class time participating in mderate t vigrus physical activity. Daily Recess. All elementary schl students will have at least 20 minutes a day f supervised recess, preferably utdrs, during which schls shuld encurage mderate t vigrus physical activity verbally and thrugh the prvisin f space and equipment. Schls shuld discurage extended perids (i.e., perids f tw r mre hurs) f inactivity. When activities, such as mandatry schl- wide testing, make it necessary fr students t remain indrs fr lng perids f time, schls shuld give students peridic breaks during which they are encuraged t stand and be mderately active. Physical Activity Opprtunities Befre and After Schl. All Elementary and Middle Years Prgram will ffer extracurricular physical activity prgrams, such as physical activity clubs r intramural prgrams. Middle Years Prgram, as apprpriate, will ffer interschlastic sprts prgrams. Schls will ffer a range f activities that meet the needs, interests, and abilities f all students, including bys, girls, students with disabilities, and students with special health- care needs. After- schl child care and enrichment prgrams will prvide and encurage verbally and thrugh the prvisin f space, equipment, and activities daily perids f mderate t vigrus physical activity fr all participants. Physical Activity and Punishment. Teachers and ther schl and cmmunity persnnel will nt use physical activity (e.g., running laps, pushups) r withhld pprtunities fr physical activity (e.g., recess, physical educatin) as punishment. Safe Rutes t Schl. The schl will assess and, if necessary and t the extent pssible, make needed imprvements t make it safer and easier fr students t walk and bike t schl. When apprpriate, the schls will wrk tgether with lcal public wrks, public safety, and/r plice departments in thse effrts. The schl will explre the availability f federal safe rutes t schl funds, administered by the state department f transprtatin, t finance such imprvements. The schl will encurage students t use public transprtatin when available and apprpriate fr travel t schl, and will wrk with the lcal transit agency t prvide transit passes fr students. Use f Schl Facilities Outside f Schl Hurs. Schl spaces and facilities shuld be available t students, staff, and cmmunity members befre, during, and after the schl day, n weekends, and during schl vacatins. These spaces and facilities als shuld be available t cmmunity agencies and rganizatins ffering physical activity and nutritin prgrams. Schl plicies cncerning safety will apply at all times.
V. Mnitring and Plicy Review Mnitring. The Principal r designee will ensure cmpliance with established district- wide nutritin and physical activity wellness plicies. In each schl, the principal r designee will ensure cmpliance with thse plicies in his/her schl and will reprt n the schl s cmpliance t the schl Principal r designee. Schl fd service staff will ensure cmpliance with nutritin plicies within schl fd service areas and will reprt n this matter t the Principal (r if dne at the schl level, t the schl principal). In additin, Calibre Academy will reprt n the mst recent USDA Schl Meals Initiative (SMI) review findings and any resulting changes. If the schl has nt received a SMI review frm the state agency within the past five years, Calibre Academy will request frm the state agency that a SMI review be scheduled as sn as pssible. The Principal r designee will develp a summary reprt every three years n district- wide cmpliance with Calibre Academy s established nutritin and physical activity wellness plicies, based n input frm schls within Calibre Academy. That reprt will be prvided t the schl bard and als distributed t all schl health cuncils, parent/teacher rganizatins, schl principals, and schl health services persnnel in the district. Plicy Review. T help with the initial develpment f Calibre Academy s wellness plicies, each schl will cnduct a baseline assessment f the schl s existing nutritin and physical activity envirnments and plicies. 12 The results f thse schl- by- schl assessments will be cmpiled at the district level t identify and priritize needs. Assessments will be repeated every three years t help review plicy cmpliance, assess prgress, and determine areas in need f imprvement. As part f that review, Calibre Academy will review ur nutritin and physical activity plicies; prvisin f an envirnment that supprts healthy eating and physical activity; and nutritin and physical educatin plicies and prgram elements. The individual schls will revise the wellness plicies and develp wrk plans t facilitate their implementatin. 12 Useful self-assessment and planning tls include the Schl Health Index frm the Centers fr Disease Cntrl and Preventin (CDC), Changing the Scene frm the Team Nutritin Prgram f the U.S. Department f Agriculture (USDA), and Opprtunity t Learn Standards fr Elementary, Middle, and High Schl Physical Educatin frm the Natinal