Local Wellness Policy

Local Wellness

Local Wellness Policy
Local Wellness Regulation

Local Wellness Policy

Wellness assessment is available upon request by emailing Food.Services@husd.org or requesting by phone 480.279.7000.

JL STUDENT WELLNESS

The School District strives to make a significant contribution to the general well being, mental and physical capacity, and learning ability of each student while affording them the opportunity to fully participate in the educational process.

The District is committed to providing school environments that promote and protect children's health, well-being, and ability to learn by supporting healthy eating and physical activity. Healthy eating is demonstrably linked to reduced risk for mortality and development of many chronic diseases as adults.
To ensure the health and well-being of all students, the Board shall promote and monitor student wellness in a manner that the Board determines is appropriate in the following areas:

A. Nutrition Guidelines:

All foods available in each school during the day will have as a primary goal the promotion of student health and the reduction of childhood obesity. All guidelines for reimbursable school meals shall not be less restrictive than regulations and guidance issued by the Secretary of Agriculture, as those regulations and guidance apply to schools.

B. Nutrition Education:

The goal is to influence students' eating behaviors by providing nutrition education that is appropriate for students' ages; reflects students' cultures; is integrated into health education or core curricula; and provides opportunities for students to practice skills and have fun.

C. Physical Activity:

The goals for physical activity are to provide opportunities for every student to develop the knowledge and skills for specific physical activities, to maintain students' physical fitness, to ensure students' regular participation in physical activity, and to teach students the short- and long-term benefits of a physically active and healthful lifestyle.

The District shall provide at least two (2) recess periods during the school day for students in kindergarten programs and grades one (1) through three (3). After July 1, 2019, at least two (2) recess periods will be provided during the school day to students in kindergarten and grades one (1) through five (5).
The District may count a student's participation in a physical education course during a school day as one (1) of the recess periods.
For the purposes of this policy, "recess" means a period of time during the regular school day, including time during the scheduled lunch period, during which a pupil is able to engage in physical activity or social interaction with other pupils.

D. Sunscreen:

The goal is to emphasize skin health and promote the application of sunscreen products and to inform students that a student who attends school in this District may possess and use a topical sunscreen product while on school property or at a school-sponsored event without a note or prescription from a licensed health care professional.

E. Other School-Based Activities:

The goal is to create a total school environment that is conducive to healthy eating and physical activity.

F. Evaluation:

A goal will be to regularly (at least annually) evaluate the effectiveness of this policy in promoting healthy eating and changing the program as appropriate to increase its effectiveness.

G. Parent, Community and Staff Involvement:

A primary goal will be to engage family members, students, and representatives of the school food authority, the Governing Board, school administrators, and the public in development and regular review of this school policy.

The Superintendent shall develop administrative regulations to implement this policy. Regulations and exhibits created for the purpose of implementing this policy shall be considered, in effect, to be an extension of this policy.

Adopted: September 12, 2018

LEGAL REF.:
A.R.S.
15-118
15-242
42 U. S. C. 1751 et seq. (National School Lunch Act)
42 U. S. C. 1771 et seq. (Child Nutrition Act)

CROSS REF.:
ABA - Community Involvement in Education
ABAA - Parental Involvement
BBA - Board Powers and Responsibilities
EF - Food Services
EFDA - Collection of Money/Food Tickets
EFE - Competitive Food Sales/Vending Machines
IA - Instructional Goals and Objectives

Local Wellness Regulation

JL-RA© REGULATION STUDENT WELLNESS (Local Wellness Policy)

Higley Unified School District recognizes that proper nutrition and physical activity are directly related to a student’s health, physical well-being, and ability to learn. The District is committed to providing a school environment that promotes student wellness, proper nutrition, nutrition education, and regular physical activity as part of the total learning experience. In a healthy school environment, students will learn about and participate in positive dietary and lifestyle practices that can improve student achievement.

The District strives to make a significant contribution to the general well-being, mental and physical capacity, and learning ability of each student while affording them the opportunity to fully participate in the educational process.

I. DEFINITIONS

Competitive Food:

All foods and beverages offered or sold to students on the school campus during the school day outside of reimbursable meals served through a national child nutrition program such as the National School Lunch Program or the School Breakfast Program.

School Campus:

Areas that are owned or leased by the District and used at any time for school-related activities, including on the outside of a school building, school buses or other vehicles used to transport students, athletic fields and stadiums (e.g. on scoreboards, coolers, cups and water bottles) or parking lots.

School Day:

The time between midnight the night before to thirty (30) minutes after the end of the instructional day.

II. ADMINISTRATION

Wellness Committee:

The Wellness Committee’s purpose is to establish goals for and oversee health and safety policies and programs, including development, implementation and periodic review and update of the District’s Wellness Policy.

The Superintendent will appoint a Wellness Committee comprised of at least one (1) of the following: a representative from the school level, parent/guardian, student, the District’s Director of Child Nutrition, a physical education teacher, a school health professional, a school administrator and any other individuals of the general public.

The Wellness Committee will meet at least four (4) times per year to assess the policy and implementation.

The Superintendent shall report to the Board on the District’s compliance with its Wellness Policy as the law prescribes.

At a minimum, the Wellness Policy will be updated at least every three years following program regulations.

Implementation:

It will provide current information about goals and objectives for nutrition standards for all foods and beverages available on the school campus, food and beverage marketing, nutrition promotion and education, physical activity, physical education and other school-based activities that promote student wellness.

Recordkeeping:

The District will maintain records to document compliance with the requirements of its Wellness Policy.

Annual Notice:

Each year, the District will inform families and the public of basic information about the Wellness Policy, including its content, any updates to the Policy and its implementation status.

Assessment:

At least once every three years, the District will assess its compliance with the Wellness Policy and make the assessment results available to the public.

Community Involvement, Outreach, and Communications:

The District is committed to being responsive to community input. The District will actively communicate the following:

The District will inform parents regarding improvements made to school meals and its compliance with school meal standards;
The District shall inform parents of the availability of District child nutrition programs and how to apply;
The District will share information regarding a description of and compliance with Smart Snacks in School nutrition standards.

District communications may occur via a variety of methods including email, the District’s website, newsletters, presentations to parents and through any other means that the District and District schools communicate information with parents.

III. NUTRITION

School Meals:

The District’s nutrition and meals program aim to improve the diet and health of school children, help mitigate childhood obesity, model healthy eating to support the development of lifelong healthy eating patterns and support healthy choices. The District shall serve healthy meals to students consistent with federal and state minimum requirements which promote plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat and fat-free milk offerings. It will also stay in compliance with the dietary specifications for calories, saturated fat, trans fat and sodium.

Staff Qualifications and Professional Development:

All school nutrition program directors, managers and staff will meet or exceed hiring and annual continuing education/training requirements as required by law.

Water:

To promote hydration, free, safe, unflavored drinking water will be available to all students throughout the school day at each school. Drinking water will be available where school meals are served during mealtimes.

Sunscreen:

Competitive Foods and Beverages:

At a minimum, Competitive Foods provided and/or sold to students, on school campus during the school day, will meet the USDA Smart Snacks in School nutrition standards. These standards will apply in all locations and through all services where foods and beverages are sold or given, except as may be allowed by the Arizona Department of Education.

In addition, all foods offered on the school campus during the school day will meet the USDA Smart Snacks in School nutrition standards.

Fundraising:

Foods and beverages that meet or exceed the USDA Smart Snacks in Schools nutrition standards may be sold through fundraisers on the school campus during the school day.

Nutrition Promotion:

Nutrition promotion and education positively influence lifelong eating behaviors by using evidence-based techniques and nutrition messages, and by creating food environments that encourage healthy nutrition choices and encourage participation in school meal programs. Students and staff will receive consistent nutrition messages throughout schools, classrooms, gymnasiums, and cafeterias.

The District will promote healthy food and beverage choices for all students throughout the school campus, as well as encourage participation in school meal programs.

Nutrition Education:

Nutrition education shall focus on student’s eating behaviors, be based on theories and methods proven effective by research and be consistent with state and local district health education standards. The District will teach, model, encourage and support healthy eating by all students.

Designed to provide students with the age appropriate knowledge and skills necessary to promote and protect their health;
Includes enjoyable, developmentally-appropriate, and participatory activities, such as cooking demonstrations or lessons, promotions, taste-testing, farmers markets
Promotes fruits, vegetables, whole-grain products, low-fat and fat-free dairy products and healthy food preparation methods;
Links with school meal programs, cafeteria nutrition promotion activities, and nutrition-related community services;

Food and Beverage Marketing in Schools:

Any foods and beverages marketed or promoted to students on the school campus during the school day will meet or exceed the USDA Smart Snacks in School nutrition standards and applicable state standards.

IV. PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

Physical Education:

The District will provide students with physical education, using an age-appropriate, sequential physical education curriculum consistent with national and state standards for physical education. All students will be provided equal opportunity to participate in physical education classes. The District will make appropriate accommodations to allow for equitable participation for all students and will adapt physical education classes and equipment as necessary.

The District physical education program will promote student physical fitness through individualized fitness and activity assessments and will use criterion-based reporting for each student.

Essential Physical Activity Topics in Health Education

Health education will be required at all levels according to current program of studies/board approved grade-level requirements. The District will include in the health education curriculum the physical, psychological, or social benefits of physical activity.

How physical activity can contribute to a healthy weight
How an inactive lifestyle contributes to chronic disease
Health-related fitness, that is, cardiovascular endurance, muscular endurance, muscular strength, flexibility, and body composition
Decreasing sedentary activities, such as TV watching
Opportunities for physical activity in the community
Preventing injury during physical activity
Weather-related safety, for example, avoiding heat stroke, and sunburn while being physically active
Dangers of using performance-enhancing drugs, such as steroids
How to resist peer pressure that discourages physical activity.

Recess (Elementary)

All elementary schools will have recess or education classes daily to promote physical activity. Outdoor recess will be offered when weather is feasible for outdoor play

Physical Activity:

The District shall provide at least two (2) recess periods during the school day for students in kindergarten programs and grades one (1) through three (3). After July 1, 2019, at least two (2) recess periods will be provided during the school day to students in kindergarten and grades one (1) through five (5).
The District may count a student's participation in a physical education course during a school day as one (1) of the recess periods.

For the purposes of this policy, "recess" means a period of time during the regular school day, including time during the scheduled lunch period, during which a pupil is able to engage in physical activity. . In the event that a District school must conduct indoor recess, teachers and staff will promote physical activity for students, to the extent practicable.

Classroom Physical Activity Breaks

The District recognizes that students are more attentive and ready to learn if provided with periodic breaks when they can be physically active or stretch. Thus, students will be offered periodic opportunities to be active or to stretch throughout the day on all or most days during a typical school week.

Extracurricular Activities

The District offers opportunities for students to participate in physical activity after the school day through a variety of methods. The District will encourage students to be physically active by participation in clubs, intramurals or interscholastic sports.

V. OTHER SCHOOL BASED ACTIVITIES THAT PROMOTE STUDENT WELLNESS

Community Health Promotion and Family Engagement

The District will promote to parents/caregivers, families, and the general community the benefits of and approaches for healthy eating and physical activity throughout the school year. Families will be informed and invited to participate in school-sponsored activities and will receive information about health promotion efforts.

Staff Wellness and Health Promotion

The District’s Wellness Committee will have a staff wellness subcommittee that focuses on staff wellness issues, identifies and disseminates wellness resources and performs other functions that support staff wellness in coordination with human resources staff.

References:

Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004 – 42 U.S.C. Sec. 1751

7 C.F.R. Sections 210.2, 210.10 – 210.12, 210.11, 210.30, 210.31

A.R.S. 15-118