La Moille Community
UnitSchool District
#303
Wellness Policy
Revised 2012
Adopted June 19, 2006
REVIEW OF THE WELLNESS POLICY
All copies of the Wellness Policy will be recalled to the District office once a year to be checked for additions, revisions, etc. The chart below indicates the dates when various sections of the manual have been reviewed by the Wellness Council Members.
POLICY ADOPTION AND REVIEW
Date of Original AdoptionJune 19, 2006
2007 – 2008January 28, 2008
2008 - 2009May 19, 2009
2009 - 2010 May 28, 2010
2010 – 2011May 24, 2011
2011 – 2012May 21, 2012
Belief Statement
The Board of Education of La Moille Community Unit School District #303 is committed to providing a learning environment that supports and promotes wellness, good nutrition, and an active lifestyle and recognized the positive relationship between 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 students’ beliefs and habits and wellness through 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 reduce childhood obesity and meets the requirements of the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004 and the Illinois School Code, including, without limitation, goals for nutrition education, physical activity and other school-based activities designed to promote student wellness; nutrition guidelines for all foods regularly available during the school day; a plan for measuring implementation including designating one or more persons charged with operational responsibility; and involving parents, students, school food service providers, the school board, school administrators, and the public in developing this policy.
Rationale
Since 1980, a three-fold increase in childhood obesity has occurred. In the United States, 1 in 3 children are overweight. Recognizing the role schools can play in health promotion, the district has developed a wellness policy to address this growing health concern.
Comprehensive Goals of the Wellness Policy
•Students will understand and establish healthy eating habits.
•Students will understand the importance of regular exercise and incorporate activity into their daily lives.
•The district will provide an atmosphere where healthy eating is encouraged and balanced meals are provided.
•Students will be instructed in proper handwashing and encouraged to use those procedures before eating.
Nutrition Education Goals/Nutrition Standards
•In meeting the nutritional guidelines, the district will follow federal and state mandates for foods and vegetables offered over the course of a school week, including whole grain products and fiber rich fruits and vegetables.
•Students in pre-kindergarten through grade 12 will receive nutrition education that is interactive and teaches the skills they need to adopt healthy eating behaviors.
•Where appropriate, nutrition will be integrated into other areas of curriculum.
•The staff responsible for nutrition education will offer assistance in disseminating information across the curriculum.
•The district will use diverse media to inform families and the broader community about healthy nutrition to positively impact students and the health of the community.
•Formal and informal nutrition education will be offered in the school dining room as well as in the classroom, with coordination between the food service staff and teachers.
•Students will be encouraged to participate in the breakfast / lunch programs through posters and the use of diverse media.
•Nutrition education and physical education will be based on the district and state standards and guidelines.
•Nutrition will be integrated into the health education curriculum and other related core curriculum.
•To maximize classroom time and to achieve positive changes in students’ eating behaviors, nutrition education shall be integrated into the standards-based lesson plans of related core subjects.
•Students will be encouraged to begin the day with a healthy breakfast.
Physical Activity Goals
•Students will participate daily in physical activities. Accommodations shall be made for students with disabilities, 504 plans, and other limitations.
•Students will be given opportunities for physical activity through participation in extra-curricular activities.
•Physical education will include the instruction of individual activities as well as competitive and non-competitive team sports to encourage life-long physical activity.
•The district will provide community access to physical activity facilities outside of the normal school day.
•Students in all grade levels shall participate in daily physical education that enables them to achieve and maintain a high level of personal fitness; emphasizes self-management skills including energy balance (calories in minus calories out); is consistent with the Illinois Learning Standards and local standards, guidelines, and framework; and is coordinated within a comprehensive health curriculum.
•Schools shall provide a daily-supervised recess period to elementary students.
Goals for Other School-Based Activities Designed to Promote Student Wellness
Parent Partnerships
•Schools shall support parents’ efforts to provide a healthy diet and daily physical activity for their children. This support shall begin in elementary school and continue through high school.
•Parents shall be provided information to help them incorporate healthy eating and physical activity into their students’ lives. The district will use diverse media forms monthly – newsletters, class handouts, postings, presentations, etc.
Consistent School Activities and Environment—Healthy Eating
•School meals shall be served in clean, safe and pleasant settings with adequate time for students to eat, in accordance with federal and state guidelines.
•Food service personnel shall have adequate pre-service training and regularly participate in professional development activities that provide strategies for enhancing both the appeal and taste of food.
•Food service personnel shall involve diverse members of the school community with opportunities to participate in choosing nutritious food and beverage selections offered at their schools.
•Food providers shall work with suppliers to obtain foods and beverages that meet the nutrition requirements.
•Food providers shall work in cooperation with instructional staff to meet the educational goals of the wellness policy.
•Students, parents, school staff and community members bringing food and beverages to school for special occasions shall be encouraged to provide healthful options (Attachment A).
• Foods and beverages sold through vending machines are not available in K-8 buildings and are not available during the regular school day in the high school.
Consistent School Activities and Environment—Physical Activity
•Physical education classes shall be provided by a trained and well-supported staff. All physical education staff will regularly participate in continuing professional development activities targeting healthy eating and physical activity.
•The physical education program shall be closely coordinated with the other components of the overall school health program. Physical education topics shall be incorporated into other curricular areas.
•K-12 students are provided an ongoing comprehensive, sequential program that is aligned to IL State Board of Education Standards and complies with the IL School Code. K-3 studentsreceive150 minutes per week of physical education instruction, and grades 5-12 receive 190 minutes of physical education instruction.
•Schools shall be encouraged to limit extended periods of inactivity. When activities such as mandatory testing make it necessary for students to be inactive for long periods of time, it is recommended that schools give students periodic breaks during which they are encouraged to stand and be moderately active.
•Waivers for physical education are greatly discouraged and strictly regulated. All K-12 students are required to take physical education each year. Waivers for physical education are only granted in grades 11-12 when scheduling it is determined that a course needed for college admission cannot be completed with the students current or proposed schedule, when a student has deficit credits required for graduation, or when the student is a participant in interscholastic athletics or marching band.
•Schools are encouraged to develop community partnerships which promote physical activity.
•Schools are encouraged to provide student and community access to and promote use of the school’s physical activity facilities outside of the normal school day.
Food or Physical Activity as a Reward or Punishment
•School personnel shall be encouraged to use nonfood incentives and rewards with students (Attachment B).
•School personnel shall be encouraged to support physical activity as avenues to enhanced fitness.
Nutrition Guidelines for All Foods and Beverages Available on School Campuses during the School Day
•Food providers shall offer a variety of age-appropriate, nutritious, appealing food and beverage choices and employ food preparation, purchasing, and meal planning practices consistent with the current Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
•Competitive foods and beverages may not be sold on school campuses during the school day.
•Students and staff will have access to free, safe, and fresh drinking water throughout the school day.
Guidelines for School Meals
- School meals served shall be consistent with the recommendations of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and/or shall meet the nutrition requirements and regulations of the National School Lunch Program and/or School Breakfast Program and all applicable state and local laws and regulations.
- Students will be provided adequate time (a minimum of 20 minutes for lunch and 10 minutes for breakfast) to eat meals.
- Food service personnel will provide nutrition information to parents upon request.
Measuring Implementation and Community Involvement
•The superintendent shall be charged with the operational responsibility for ensuring that each school meets the local wellness policy requirements.
•The district superintendent shall appoint a district wellness council that includes parents, students, representatives of the school food authority, the school board, school administrators, and the public to oversee development, implementation, and evaluation of the wellness policy.
•Efforts will be made to ensure that members of the district wellness council serve staggered terms to ensure continuity.
•The appointed district wellness council shall be responsible for:
- Creating and maintaining conditions for operation
- Assessment of the current school environment
- Development of the wellness policy
- Presentation of the wellness policy to the Board of Education for approval
- Measuring implementation of the policy
- Recommending needed revisions of the policy
•The principal of each building shall be responsible for implementation of wellness policy and the district shall have an evaluation team to develop and implement an annual evaluation plan.
•The evaluation team shall evaluate policy implementation, identify areas for improvement, and report their findings to the respective building principals. In addition, the principal and the evaluation team shall develop a plan of action for improvement, as needed.
•Before the end of each year, the wellness council shall make recommendations to the district superintendent concerning any policy revisions it deems necessary.
•The wellness council shall report to the superintendent and Board of Education the progress of the wellness policy and the status of compliance in the schools.
Wellness Council Members
Colette SuttonSuperintendent
James BrandauSchool Food Authority Representative
Barbara StuepfertFoods/Nutrition Teacher, Community Member
Tammy TiemanHealth/Science Teacher, Middle School Representative
Emily LeffelmanPhysical Education / Health Teacher, Elementary School Representative
Cecelia SmithFood Service Representative, Community Member
Gladys VanNordenFood Service Representative, Community Member
Janice GeutherFood Service Representative, Parent
Attachment A**
Healthful Food and Beverage Options for School Functions*
At any school function (parties, celebrations, meetings, etc.) healthful food options should be made
available to promote student, staff and community wellness. Examples of nutritious food and beverages
that are consistent with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans are listed below.
•Raw vegetable sticks/slices with low-fat dressing or yogurt dip
•Fresh fruit wedges – cantaloupe, honey dew, watermelon, pineapple, oranges, tangelos, etc.
•Sliced fruit – nectarines, peaches, kiwi, star fruit, plums, pears, mangos, apples, etc.
•Fruit salad
•Cereal and low-fat milk
•100% fruit or vegetable juice
•Frozen fruit pops with fruit juice or fruit as the first ingredient
•Dried fruits – raisins, cranberries, apples, apricots
•Single serving applesauce or canned fruit in juice
•Peanut butter with apple wedges or celery sticks
•Fruit smoothies made with fat-free or low-fat milk
•Trail mix (dried fruits and nuts)
•Dry roasted peanuts, tree nuts and soy nuts (not coconut or palm nuts)
•Lean meats and reduced fat cheese sandwiches (use light or reduced fat mayonnaise in
•chicken/tuna salads)
•Party mix (variety of cereals, nuts, pretzels, etc.)
•Pretzels or reduced fat crackers
•Baked chips with salsa or low-fat dip (Ranch, onion, bean, etc.)
•Low-fat muffins (small or mini), granola bars and cookies (graham crackers, fig bars)
•Mini bagels with whipped light or fat-free cream cheese
•Pasta salad
•Bread sticks with marinara
•Fat-free or low-fat flavored yogurt & fruit parfaits
•Fat-free or low-fat pudding cups
•Fat-free or low-fat milk and milk products (string cheese, single-serving cottage cheese, cheese
•cubes)
•Flavored soy milk fortified with calcium
•Pure ice cold water
*This list is not all inclusive and is meant only to provide parents and school staff with guidance for
healthier food and beverage choices. Not all food and beverage items on this list will necessarily meet
district nutrient standards as items vary in sugar, fat and calorie content from brand to
brand. However, all of the items in the list are believed to be consistent with the intent of the wellness
policy to promote student health and reduce childhood obesity.
**PLEASE NOTE – Please check with classroom teacher for student allergies
Attachment B
Classroom Rewards
•A smile
•Going first
•Verbal praise
•Sit by friends
•Teaching the class
•Helping the teacher
•Enjoy class outdoors
•A field trip for the class
•Choosing a class activity
•Walk with a teacher during lunch
•Eat lunch outdoors with the class
•Eat lunch with a teacher or principal
•Extra credit or class participation points
•Have lunch or breakfast in the classroom
•A photo recognition board in a prominent location in the school
•A note from the teacher to the student commending his or her achievement
•A phone call, email, or letter sent home to parents or guardians commending a child’s
•accomplishment
•Recognition of a child’s achievement on the school-wide morning announcements or school website
•Ribbon, certificate in recognition of achievement or a sticker with an affirming message (e.g. “Great
job”)
•Take a trip to the treasure box (filled with: stickers, temporary tattoos, pencils, pens, highlighters,
sidewalk chalk, notepads, erasers, bookmarks, etc.)