NON-INSTRUCTIONAL OPERATIONS
5661 WELLNESS
The Spencerport Central School District is committed to providing a school environment that promotes and protects student's health, well-being, and ability to learn by fostering healthy eating and physical activity before, during, and after the school day. This wellness policy outlines the District’s approach to ensuring environments and opportunities for all students to practice healthy eating, and physical activity behaviors throughout the school day. This wellness policy applies to all students, staff, and schools in the District.
Definitions
For the purpose of this wellness policy:
a) School campus means all areas of property under the jurisdiction of the District that are accessible to student during the school day,
b) School day means the period from the midnight before, to 30 minutes after the end of the official school day.
Governance
District Wellness Committee
The District has established a wellness committee that meets throughout the year to oversee and establish goals for policies and programs, including the development, implementation, and periodic review and update of this district-level wellness policy. The District Wellness Committee will evaluate and make recommendations that reflect the specific needs of the District and its students.
The District will actively seek members for the District Wellness Committee through means such as email, newsletters, the District’s website, and/or the District’s social media page(s).
The District Wellness Committee membership will represent all school levels, and include (to the extent possible) but not be limited to representatives from the following groups: Parents and guardians;
a) Students;
b) Physical Education teachers
c) School health professionals;
d) District food service program representatives;
e) School Board;
f) School administrators;
g) General Education teachers; and
h) Members of the public.
The District Wellness Committee will also be responsible for assessing current activities, programs and policies available in the District, and providing mechanisms for implementation, evaluation, and revision of the policy. In so doing, the Wellness Committee will evaluate and make recommendations which reflect the specific needs of the District and its students.
The Superintendent will designate a District Wellness Coordinator(s) to convene the District Wellness Committee in order to facilitate the development of, and any proposed updates to, the District’s wellness policy, and will also ensure the District’s compliance with this policy.
Goals to Promote Student Wellness
The District seeks to ensure all of its students obtain the knowledge and skills necessary to make nutritious food selections and enjoy life-long physical activity. To this end, the District sets forth the following goals relating to nutrition promotion and education, physical activity, and other school-based activities.
Nutrition Promotion and Education
Nutrition promotion and education positively influences lifelong eating behaviors. The District will model and encourage healthy eating by:
a) Promoting healthy food and beverage choices for all students by using Smarter Lunchroom techniques which guide students toward healthful choices, as well as by ensuring that 100% of foods and beverages promoted to students meet the USDA Smart Snacks in School nutrition standards;
b) Promoting nutrition education activities that involve parents, students, and the community;
c) Promoting school and community awareness of this wellness policy through various means, such as publication on the District website;
d) Encouraging and promoting wellness through social media, and newsletters;
e) Encouraging participation in federal Child Nutrition Programs;
f) Ensuring that the marketing and advertising of foods and beverages on school campuses during the school day is consistent with nutrition education and health promotion;
g) Classroom Teaching: Nutrition topics will be integrated within the comprehensive health education curriculum and other instructional areas, as appropriate, and taught at every grade level, (K through 12). Nutrition instruction will follow applicable New York State Standards and be designed to help students acquire:
1. Nutrition knowledge, including but not limited to: the benefits of healthy eating; essential nutrients; nutritional deficiencies; principles of healthy weight management; the use and misuse of dietary supplements; and safe food storage, handling, and preparation; and
2. Nutrition related skills, including but not limited to: planning healthy meals; understanding and using food labels; critically evaluating nutrition information, misinformation, and commercial food advertising; assessing personal eating habits; and setting and achieving goals related to these concepts.
h) Parents will be encouraged to send in healthy snacks for students to consume during the school day.
i) If a medically diagnosed food allergy is present, district staff will adhere to the process associated with the Community Snack program.
j) School personnel are strongly discouraged from using food as a reward or withholding food as punishment under any circumstance.
k) District staff will be encouraged to model healthy eating, drinking, and physical activity behaviors for students.
a) Food and Beverage Marketing in Schools
1. Marketing and advertising on school campuses during the school day will be consistent with nutrition education and health promotion. As such, during the school day schools will restrict food and beverage marketing to the promotion of those foods and beverages that meet the nutrition standards set forth by the USDA Smart Snacks in School Rule and that are consistent with this policy.
2. The District is cognizant of the fact that certain scoreboards, signs, and other durable equipment it employs may market foods and beverages in a way that is inconsistent with the aims of this policy. While the immediate replacement of such equipment may be impossible due to existing contracts or prohibitive costs, the District will consider replacing or updating such equipment over time to ensure the message it delivers to students regarding nutrition, health, and well-being is consistent.
School Meals
a) Federal School Meal Programs
1. The District will participate to the maximum extent practicable in available federal school meal programs (including the School Breakfast Program, National School Lunch Program, and Summer Food Service Program). Food served through these programs will meet all applicable federal and state standards.
2. The District will ensure that food service directors, managers, and staff are provided with annual professional development in the areas of food and nutrition consistent with USDA Professional Standards for State and Local Nutrition Programs. District food service staff will meet or survey a population of students in grades 4 through 12 annually to solicit feedback on the school breakfast and/or school lunch program(s).
b) Access to School Nutrition Programs
The District will utilize a system of student payment that ensures all eligible students have access to free/reduced meals in a non-stigmatizing manner.
c) Meal Environment
The District will ensure:
1. School dining areas have sufficient space for students to sit and consume meals.
2. School dining areas are clean, safe, and pleasant environments that reflect the social value of eating.
3. Enough serving areas are provided to ensure student access to school meals with a minimum of wait time.
4. All students have a scheduled lunch period.
5. Lunch times are scheduled near the middle of the school day.
6. Students are given adequate time to eat healthy meals.
7. Students and staff have access to free, safe, and fresh drinking water throughout the school day and where school meals are served.
Physical Activity
a) The District will provide opportunities for every student to participate in physical education and to be involved in physical activities. In doing so, the District aims to promote among students the development of knowledge and skills for specific physical activities, the maintenance of physical fitness, regular participation in physical activity, and an understanding of the short-term and long- term benefits from a physically active and healthy lifestyle. The District will offer opportunities for students to participate in physical activity before and/or after the school day through various methods, such as physical activity clubs, intramurals, and interscholastic sports.
b) The District will ensure that the following standards are met to achieve its goals relative to physical education and physical activity:
1. The District will have a Board-approved Physical Education Plan on file with the New York State Education Department that meets or exceeds the requirements set forth in Section 135.4 of the Commissioner’s regulations.
The District recognizes the importance of physical education classes in providing students with meaningful opportunities for physical exercise and development. Consequently, the District will ensure:
a) All physical education classes are taught or supervised by a certified physical education teacher.
b) All physical education staff receive professional development relevant to physical education on a yearly basis.
c) Interscholastic sports, intramural sports, and recess do not serve as substitutes for a quality physical education program.
d) Students are afforded the opportunity to participate in moderate to vigorous activity for approximately 50% or more of the physical education class.
e) It provides adequate space and equipment for physical education and conforms to all applicable safety standards.
f) A sequential physical education course of study consistent with national and state standards for physical education is implemented, with a focus on students' development of motor skills, movement forms, and health related fitness.
g) A physical and social environment is provided that encourages safe and enjoyable activity for all students
h) Activities or equipment are adapted to meet the needs of students who are temporarily or permanently unable to participate in the regular program of physical education. In doing so, the District will abide by specific provisions in 504 Plans and/or individualized education programs (IEP). To that end, the Committee on Special Education (CSD) will ensure that a certified physical education teacher participates in the development of a student’s IEP, if the student may be eligible for adapted physical education.
i) All students, including students in need of adaptive physical education, will be encouraged to participate in physical fitness programs and competitions.
2. All students will be required to fulfill the physical education requirements set forth in the regulations of the Commissioner of Education as a condition of graduating from the District's schools.
c) All classroom teachers, and particularly those engaged in the instruction of K through 5 students, are strongly encouraged to incorporate into the school day short breaks for students that include physical activity, especially after long periods of inactivity. Teachers are encouraged to incorporate kinesthetic learning approaches into core learning subjects when possible so as to limit sedentary behavior during the school day. Additionally, all elementary students will be offered a daily recess period. This requirement will not apply on days where students arrive late, leave early, or are otherwise on campus for less than a full day. Where weather and/or facilities allow, recess will be offered in a place that accommodates moderate to vigorous physical activity.
d) Physical activity will not be withheld for disciplinary action unless the student is a danger to him/herself or others. When necessary, teachers may use no more than half of the scheduled recess period to address individual student needs.
Other School-Based Activities
The District is committed to establishing a school environment that is conducive to healthy eating and physical activity for all. The District will, therefore, pursue the following:
a) Community Access to District Facilities for Physical Activities
School grounds and facilities will be available to students, staff, community members and organizations, and agencies offering physical activity and nutrition programs consistent with District policy, including provisions regarding conduct on school grounds and administrative approval of use by outside organizations (see policy 3280 and regulation 3280R).
b) Community Partnerships
The District will develop, enhance, and continue relationships with community partners in support of this wellness policy's implementation. Existing and new community partnerships will be evaluated to ensure they are consistent with this policy and its goals.
Nutrition Guidelines
In an effort to encourage healthy life-long eating habits by providing foods that are high in nutrients, low in fat and added sugars, and of moderate portion size, the District Wellness Committee will recommend nutrition standards to be set for all foods and beverages available on school campus. For purposes of this section, the school day is defined as the period from the midnight before, to thirty (30) minutes after the end of the official school day.
School Meals
School meals will, at a minimum, meet the program requirements and nutrition standards of the School Breakfast and National School Lunch Programs.
Fundraising
a) All food and beverages sold as a fundraiser during the school day will meet the nutritional requirements listed in the USDA Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act "Smart Snacks in Schools" Rule; these foods and beverages sold as fundraisers will not be sold until the end of the last lunch period, so as not to compete with the NSLP
b) School-sponsored fundraisers conducted outside of the school day will be encouraged to support the goals of this policy by promoting the sale of healthy food items (fresh fruit and produce) and/or non-food items, such as water bottles, plants, etc., and by promoting events involving physical activity.
c) All school-sponsored fundraisers must be approved by the appropriate building principal or designee prior to being conducted.
Competitive Foods and Beverages Sold and Served to Students During the School Day
a) Competitive foods-which include all foods and beverages sold outside the school meal programs, on the school campus in student accessible areas, and at any time during the school day-will follow, at a minimum, the nutrition standards specified by the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act. These standards will apply to all foods and beverages sold individually and outside of the reimbursable school meal, including vending machines, school stores, snack or food carts, and cafeteria a la carte lines.
Foods and Beverages Sold or Served at Events Outside of the School Day
a) All foods and beverages sold or served at school-sponsored events will be sized for consumption by one individual.
b) Homemade items may not be sold or distributed.
c) At events where food and beverages are sold, it is recommended that 50% of the items offered for sale will meet the USDA Healthy, Hunger-free Kids Act "Smart Snacks in Schools" Standards.
Wellness Policy Implementation, Monitoring, Accountability, and Community Engagement
a) The District will establish an implementation and evaluation plan for this policy in order to monitor its effectiveness and the possible need for modification over time. To this end, the District designates the following administrators to have operational responsibility for ensuring that the District meets the goals and mandates of this policy:
• Director of Health, Physical Education and Athletics
• Director of Food Services
These designated administrators will work with the Superintendent, or their designee, and the Chair of the Wellness Committee, if designated, to evaluate the wellness plan and its implementation with the Wellness Committee.
The District Wellness Coordinator(s) will convene the District Wellness Committee, facilitate the development of and updates to this wellness policy, and serve as liaison(s) with community agencies. The District Wellness Coordinator(s) will also work to ensure each school’s compliance with this wellness policy.
b) These designated staff members will also serve as liaisons with community agencies in providing outside resources to help in the development of nutritional education programs and promotion of physical activities.
Annual Notification of Policy
The District will annually report on the progress the district has made toward meeting the goals of this policy. Such report will include:
1. The website address for the wellness policy and/or information on how the public can access a copy;
2. A description of the district’s progress in meeting the wellness policy goals;
3. A summary of the district’s local school wellness events or activities;
4. Contact information for the leader(s) of the Wellness Committee; and
5. Information on how individuals can get involved in the Wellness Committee's work.
Such report will be provided to the Board of Education and also distributed to the Wellness Committee, school administrators and school health services personnel within the District and will be available to community residents upon request.
Evaluation and feedback from interested parties, including an assessment of student, parent, teacher, and administration satisfaction with the wellness policy, are welcomed as an essential part of the District's evaluation program.
Triennial Assessments
At least once every three years, the District will assess its compliance with the wellness policy. The triennial assessment will measure the implementation of this wellness policy, and include as assessment of:
1. Compliance with the wellness policy;
2. How the wellness policy compares to model wellness policies; and
3. Progress made in attaining the goals of the wellness policy.
The District will, as necessary, revise this wellness policy and develop work plans to facilitate its implementation.
Policy References:
42 USC Section 1758b 7 CFR Section 210.11
79 FR 10693
Education Law Section 915 8 NYCRR Section 135.4
Adopted: 6/22/99
Revised: 9/6/22
Policy 5661