JL/SCHOOL WELLNESS
File: JL
School Wellness
General Philosophy Statement
Nutrition and physical activity influence a child’s development, health status, well-being, and potential for learning. All students should possess the knowledge and skills necessary to make informed decisions regarding nutrition and physical activity.
Recognizing the obligation to provide a desirable educational environment, the MSAD #11 School Board believes that any food or beverage item sold by the schools during the normal school day should be limited to those items which contribute to the needs of children, provide for the development of healthy food habits, and enhance the School Department’s health curriculum. The MSAD #11 Board also encourages that all school personnel promote and model good food practices which, in turn, will help students develop eating habits that aid in their physical and mental development and ultimately help to prevent those illnesses that are diet related. The District shall work through its Community Health Advisory Committee and/or building level staff to find no or low cost ways to encourage staff wellness.
Physical Education and Physical Activity Opportunities
MSAD #11 shall offer physical education opportunities that include the components of a quality physical education program, which equips students with the knowledge, skills, and values necessary for lifelong physical activity. Physical education instruction shall be aligned with the State of Maine Laws and the Maine Learning Results.
MSAD #11 supports multiple classroom instructional approaches including the integration of physical activity for all students. All athletic related facilities including gyms, fields, and trails will be made available for classrooms to utilize during the school day. However, the physical education program or pre-game preparations for sports teams take precedence over other classrooms.
The District will offer daily opportunities for unstructured physical activity commonly referred to as recess, for all students PreK-8. Recess will be in addition to physical education class time and not be a substitute for physical education. Each school shall provide proper equipment and a safe area designated for supervised recess. Schools will provide opportunities for some type of physical activity for students in grades six through twelve apart from physical education class and organized sports.
Nutrition Education
Because nutrition education promotes healthy eating practices, nutrition education topics shall be integrated within the comprehensive health education program and designed to help students obtain the knowledge and skills related to nutrition. Nutrition education shall be aligned with the State of Maine Laws and the Maine Learning Results.
Food Service Programs
Foods sold or offered under the National School Lunch and Child Nutrition Act Programs (including Breakfast and Summer Feeding Programs) shall be governed by Federal and State regulations. Our food service programs will:
• Strive to offer students a minimum of 10 minutes for breakfast meals and 20 minutes for lunch meals for actual seat time
• Offer meals that meet the dietary guidelines recommended by the United States Department of Agriculture and follow the Healthy Meals standards by
Including a variety of food
Including adequate foods from the grain, vegetable, protein, and fruit groups
Limiting foods high in sugar content
Limiting foods high in sodium
• Offer a wide variety of healthy food choices, which are served in appropriate portions, including a la carte and in preparation method, that emphasize high quality nutrition
• Maintain our dining areas as pleasant, clean, and inviting places to eat
• Offer modified meals upon physician’s request for students with food allergies or other special dietary needs
• Provide bag lunches for field trips, when appropriate
Food as Reward /Punishment
Food or beverage items will not be used as reward, motivation, incentive, or punishment.
Community Health Advisory Committee
MSAD #11 shall maintain its commitment to a Community Health Advisory Committee that will provide an ongoing review and evaluation of the MSAD 11 wellness policy, which includes nutrition and physical activity. The CHAC will meet a minimum of three times annually. The CHAC will report directly to the Superintendent.
The superintendent shall appoint a chair to sustain the Community Health Advisory Board Committee and invite appropriate stakeholders to become members of the Community Health Advisory Committee. The goals of the CHAC will be set by the Superintendent and Administrative Team. The Community Health Advisory Committee may include representatives from the following areas:
• Health Education
• Physical Education
• Health Services
• Food Services
• Counseling/psychological/and social services
• Administration
• Parents, students, and community (including health care providers, hospital, and public health department staff, non-profit, health organizations, physical activity groups, community youth organizations, and university or other governmental agencies).
Goal Setting
Daily Physical Education
MSAD #11 School Board will work toward maintaining or increasing physical education for all students in grades PreK-12. Subsequent increases in the amount of physical education should also reflect an increase in the graduation requirement.
Health Education
The MSAD #11 School Board will work toward increasing the required Health Education. The MSAD #11 School Board will work toward increasing the support and resources for health education for all teachers at the PreK-5 levels.
Before /After School Programs
MSAD #11 will strive to increase the variety of physical activity programs available for students before and after school.
Walking School Bus
MSAD #11 Community Advisory Committee will work with the community to increase the number of Walking School Bus opportunities.
ADOPTED: SEPTEMBER 7, 2006