Wellness Policy

Balance is essential for any Wellness Policy. Key areas include:

• Nutrition Education
• Physical activity
• Other school-based activities that are designed to promote student wellness

BP 5030 Students

Student Wellness

The Board of Education recognizes the link between student health and learning and desires to provide a comprehensive program promoting healthy eating and physical activity for district students. The Superintendent or designee shall coordinate and align district efforts to support student wellness through health education, physical education and activity, health services, nutrition services, psychological and counseling services, and a safe and healthy school environment. In addition, the Superintendent or designee shall develop strategies for promoting staff wellness and for involving parents/guardians and the community in reinforcing students’ understanding and appreciation of the importance of a healthy lifestyle.

School Wellness Council

The Superintendent or designee shall encourage parents/guardians, students, food service employees, physical education teachers, school health professionals, Board members, school administrators, and members of the public to participate in the development, implementation, and periodic review and update of the district’s student wellness policy. (42 USC 1758b; 7 CFR 210.30) To fulfill this requirement, the Superintendent or designee may appoint a school wellness council or other district committee and a wellness council coordinator. The council may include representatives of the groups listed above, as well as health educators, curriculum directors, counselors, before- and after-school program staff, health practitioners, and/or others interested in school health issues.

Goals for Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Other Wellness Activities

The Board shall adopt specific goals for nutrition promotion and education, physical activity, and other school-based activities that promote student wellness. In developing such goals, the Board shall review and consider evidence-based strategies and techniques. (42 USC 1758b; 7 CFR 210.30)

The district’s nutrition education and physical education programs shall be based on research, shall be consistent with the expectations established in the state’s curriculum frameworks and content standards, and shall be designed to build the skills and knowledge that all students need to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

The nutrition education program shall include, but is not limited to, information about the benefits of healthy eating for learning, disease prevention, weight management, and oral health. Nutrition education shall be provided as part of the health education program and, as appropriate, shall be integrated into other academic subjects in the regular educational program, before- and after-school programs, summer learning programs, and school garden programs.

All students shall be provided opportunities to be physically active on a regular basis. Opportunities for moderate to vigorous physical activity shall be provided through physical education and recess and may also be provided through school athletic programs, extracurricular programs, before- and after-school programs, summer learning programs, programs encouraging students to walk or bicycle to and from school, in-class physical activity breaks, and other structured and unstructured activities.

The Superintendent or designee shall encourage staff to serve as positive role models.

He/she shall promote and may provide opportunities for regular physical activity among employees.

Professional development may be regularly offered to the nutrition program director, managers, and staff, as well as health education teachers, physical education teachers, coaches, activity supervisors, and other staff as appropriate to enhance their knowledge and skills related to student health and wellness.

Nutrition Guidelines for All Foods Available at School

For all foods and beverages available on each campus during the school day, the district shall adopt nutrition guidelines which are consistent with 42 USC 1758, 1766, 1773, and 1779 and federal regulations and which support the objectives of promoting student health and reducing childhood obesity. (42 USC 1758b)

In order to maximize the district’s ability to provide nutritious meals and snacks, all district schools shall participate in available federal school nutrition programs, including the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs and after-school snack programs, to the extent possible. When approved by the California Department of Education, the district may sponsor a summer meal program.

The Superintendent or designee shall provide access to free, potable water in the food service area during meal times in accordance with Education Code 38086 and 42 USC 1758, and shall encourage students’ consumption of water by educating them about the health benefits of water and by serving water in an appealing manner.

The Board believes that all foods and beverages sold to students at district schools, including those available outside the district’s reimbursable food services program, should support the health curriculum and promote optimal health. Nutrition standards adopted by the district for foods and beverages provided through student stores, vending machines, or other venues shall meet or exceed state and federal nutrition standards.

The Superintendent or designee shall encourage school organizations to use healthy food items or non-food items for fundraising purposes.

He/she also shall encourage school staff to avoid the use of non-nutritious foods as a reward for students’ academic performance, accomplishments, or classroom behavior.

School staff shall encourage parents/guardians or other volunteers to support the district’s nutrition education program by considering nutritional quality when selecting any snacks which they may donate for occasional class parties. Class parties or celebrations shall be held after the lunch period when possible.

To reinforce the district’s nutrition education program, the Board prohibits the marketing and advertising of foods and beverages that do not meet nutrition standards for the sale of foods and beverages on campus during the school day. (7 CFR 210.30)

(cf. 1325 – Advertising and Promotion)

Program Implementation and Evaluation

The Superintendent designates the individual(s) identified below as the individual(s) responsible for ensuring that each school site complies with the district’s wellness policy. (42 USC 1758b; 7 CFR 210.30)

Posting Requirements

Each school shall post the district’s policies and regulations on nutrition and physical activity in public view within all school cafeterias or in other central eating areas. (Education Code 49432)