NUVIEW UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT

ADMINISTRATIVE REGULATION

STUDENT WELLNESS

I.          Purpose

The purpose of the Nuview Union School District Wellness Policy is designed to provide a comprehensive learning environment for children thus developing and practicing lifelong wellness behaviors. The entire school environment, not just the classroom, shall be aligned with healthy school goals to positively influence a student’s understanding, beliefs, and habits as they relate to good nutrition and regular physical activity. The Governing Board recognizes the link between students’ health/nutrition and their ability to learn.

II.       District Wellness Committee

The Superintendent or designee shall appoint a District Wellness Committee consisting of a representative of the NUSD Governing Board, representatives of parents/guardians, students, school food service professionals, school administrators, members of the public, district administrators, health professionals, school nurses, health educators, physical education teachers, counselors, and/or others interested in school health issues.

The District Wellness Committee shall assist with policy development and advise the district’s principals or designees on health-related issues, activities, policies, and programs. At the discretion of the Superintendent, the council’s charges may include planning and implementing activities to promote health within the district’s schools and/or community. The individual school’s principal or designee will review and approve all food and beverage sales outside the District’s Food Service Program.

III.     Setting Nutrition/Health Education Goals

Nutrition Education and Promotion

Nuview Union School District aims to teach, encourage, and support healthy food choices students. Schools should provide nutrition education that:

• is offered at each grade level as part of a sequential, comprehensive program based on the Health Framework for California Public Schools;
• is designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to promote choice leading to healthier lifestyles;
• is part of health education classes and may also be a part of classroom instruction in core and elective subjects;
• prohibits school-based marketing of brands promoting non-nutritious foods (such as high sugar foods, candy and fried chips) and beverages (such as soda and sports replacement drinks);
• includes enjoyable, developmentally-appropriate, culturally relevant, participatory activities such as contests, promotions, taste testing, school gardens, field trips, and assemblies;
• promotes fruits, vegetables, whole grain products, low-fat and fat-free dairy products, healthy food preparation methods, and health-enhancing nutrition practices;
• emphasizes caloric balance between food intake and energy expenditure (physical activity/exercise);
• teaches media literacy with an emphasis on food marketing;
• links with school meal programs, other school foods, and nutrition-related community services; and
• includes training for teachers and other staff.

Communications with Parents

The district/school will support parents’ efforts to provide a healthy diet and daily physical activity for their children. The district/school will send home nutrition information via newsletters, post nutrition information on district and school websites, and provide nutrient analyses of school menus. Schools will encourage parents to pack healthy lunches and snacks and to refrain from including beverages and foods that do not meet the nutrition standards for individual foods and beverages. The district/school will provide parents with a list of healthy ideas for healthy celebrations, rewards, and fundraising activities.

Food Marketing in Schools

School-based marketing will be consistent with nutrition education and healthy promotion. Schools will limit food and beverage marketing to the promotion of foods and beverages that meet the district’s nutrition standards. The promotion of healthy foods, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat dairy products is encouraged. School vending machines shall only advertise/serve products and beverages meeting district nutritional guidelines.

Examples of prohibited marketing techniques of Foods of Minimal Nutritional Value (FMNV) include:

• logos and brand names on/in vending machines, books, curricula, textbook covers, school supplies, scoreboards, school structures, and/or sports equipment;
• educational incentive programs that provide non-nutritious foods (FMNV) as a reward;
• programs that provide schools with supplies when families buy non-nutritious food products Foods of Minimal Nutritional Value (FMNV); and
• programs that provide free samples or coupons of Foods of Minimal Nutritional Value (FMNV).

Marketing activities that promote healthful behaviors, and are, therefore, allowable, include:

• providing vending machine covers promoting water;
• implementing pricing structures that promote healthy options in a la carte lines or vending machines;
• offering more than one course in the school lunch menu allowing for choice; and
• allowing sales of fruit for fundraisers with children as the primary market.

Staff Wellness

Nuview Union School District highly values the health and well-being of every staff member. The District promotes activities and policies supporting personal efforts by staff to maintain a healthy lifestyle. The District encourages and emphasizes this ongoing commitment to staff through sponsoring an annual health fair, offering an annual wellness contest and investigating community partnerships with private agencies who offer discounted programs to staff their family members for healthy life-style activities such as exercise and weight management programs.  In order to promote lifelong wellness and improve productivity in employees, the NUSD Wellness Committee shall promote activities outside of work hours involving employees.  A calendar of events shall be created annually and distributed to staff as appropriate.  All activities shall be voluntary and will not be used for evaluative purposes.

IV.      Nutritional Quality of Foods and Beverages Sold and Served on Campus  

School Meals  

Meals served through the National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs will:

• be appealing and attractive to children;
• provide larger portions to middle and high school students when feasible
• encourage choice by providing more than one entrée and/or side dish when feasible;
• be served in clean and pleasant settings;
• meet, at a minimum, nutrition requirements established by local, state, and federal statutes and regulations;
• offer whole grains when possible;
• offer a variety of fruits and vegetables; and
• serve only low-fat (1%) and fat-free milk.

The Nuview Unions Food Services Department should engage students and parents, through taste-tests of new entrees and surveys, in selecting foods sold through the school meal programs in order to identify appealing food choices. In addition, information about the nutritional content of meals should be made available to parents and students. Such information could be made available on menus, a website, on cafeteria menu boards, placards, or other point-of-purchase materials. The Food Services Department shall evaluate compliance with the above guidelines annually and report the finding to the local governing board.

Breakfast

To ensure that all children have breakfast, either at home or at school, in order to meet their nutritional needs and enhance their ability to learn, the Nuview Union School District will:

• operate the School Breakfast Program at each school site, if applicable;
• notify parents and students of the availability of the School Breakfast Program;
• develop and promote practices that maintain student participation in the free and reduced lunch program through middle and high school; and
• encourage parents to provide a healthy breakfast for their children through newsletter articles, take-home materials, or other means.

Free and Reduced-priced Meals

Every effort should be made to eliminate any social stigma attached to, and prevent the overt identification of students who are eligible for free and reduced-price school meals. Toward this end, schools may utilize electronic identification and payment systems; promote the availability of school meals to all students; and/or use nontraditional methods for serving school meals, such as “grab-and-go”. To ensure compliance with all State and Federal regulations, schools will not distribute any materials/letters affecting students’ participation in the School Breakfast Program and/or National School Lunch Program without prior review and approval of district level child nutrition administrators. The Nuview Union School District Food Services Department will develop and promote practices that maintain student participation in the free and reduced lunch program through middle and high school.

Meal Times and Scheduling

Environmental factors can influence consumption of meals. Limited consumption of nutrients contributes to a lack of energy in the afternoon, resulting in poor attention and an inability to learn. Therefore, staff should adhere to the following guidelines regarding meal times and scheduling:

• schedule meal periods/nutrition breaks at appropriate times, e.g., lunch should be scheduled between the middle of the day if administratively feasible;
• avoid scheduling tutoring, club, or organizational meetings or activities during mealtimes, unless students may eat during such activities;
• place recess before lunch, when possible;
• provide students access to hand washing or hand sanitizing before they eat meals or snacks; and
• take reasonable steps to accommodate the tooth-brushing regimens of students with special oral health needs (e.g., orthodontia or high tooth decay risk).

Qualifications of School Food Service Staff

Qualified nutrition professionals will administer the school meal programs. As part of the school district’s responsibility to operate a food service program, continuing professional development for all nutrition professionals in schools will be provided. Appropriate certification and / or training programs for child nutrition directors, school nutrition man-agers, and cafeteria workers, according to their levels of responsibility will be maintained.

Sharing of Foods and Beverages

Schools should discourage students from sharing their foods or beverages with one another during meal or snack times, given concerns about allergies and other restrictions on some children’s diets.

Foods and Beverages Sold Individually to Students

It is the intent of this policy to govern food and beverages sold by individuals or groups to students in the Nuview Union School District during school hours including thirty (30) minutes before and after the instructional day.  With more overweight and obese children come a host of negative health effects, including hip and other bone problems, sleep apnea and adult-onset problems like high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes. It is extremely important to encourage healthy behaviors during a time when children begin to establish lifelong habits. 

Monitoring the sale of food and beverages by individuals or groups on every school campus can be a vehicle for change to create better habits among elementary, middle and high school students. Foods and beverages offered for sale (by individuals or groups) to students during the school day through student stores, vending machines, cafeteria a la carte lines, etc. should promote healthy eating practices. Nutrition standards apply to the sale of items to students.  In particular, vending machines are prohibited from the sale of sport replacement beverages (e.g. “Gatorade” and “Powerade”) and foods of Minimal Nutritional Value (FMNV).  All individuals or groups selling or serving food and/or beverages on campus to students are required to follow the Nuview Union School District’s nutrition standards.

Fundraising Activities

To support children’s health and school nutrition-education efforts, fundraising activities will encourage the use of foods/beverages that meet the district’s nutrition standards.  However, it is recognized that school wide fund-raisers targeted at adults and evening meals served at school events (e.g. “Open House” and “Back to School Night”) are exempt from this policy as the Nuview Union School District does not desire to dictate food/beverage choices to adults.  Booster Clubs and sponsored volunteer organizations are responsible for creating the menus for these events and are not subject to approval from the superintendent or designee. 

The school district will make available a list of ideas for preferred fundraising activities and menu items for evening meals. All fundraising activities involving the sale of food/beverages are required to comply with all State and Federal regulations. Parent organizations must plan food / beverage sales before and after the school day so there is not interference with the school’s breakfast or lunch programs.  The Nuview Union School District reserves the right to prohibit fundraising activities and menu items at its discretion.

Rewards / Punishment

Schools will limit the use of foods/beverages as rewards for academic performance or good behavior, and will not withhold food/beverages (including food served through school meals) as a punishment.  Food served will make a positive contribution to children’s diets and health. The district will disseminate a list of healthful items to teachers, after-school program personnel, and parents.  Foods of Minimal Nutritional Value (FMNV) are prohibited.

Classroom Parties

Classroom parties offering food and / or beverages may occur less than once every month and will encourage the use of healthy foods / beverages meeting the district’s nutrition standards.  All parties and celebrations must be held after the end of the lunch period.  Items offered must be commercially prepared and stable at room temperature unless proper cold/hot temperatures can be maintained.  The district will disseminate a list of healthy party ideas to parents and teachers.

V.        Setting Physical Activity Goals

Physical Education

Physical Education refers to a planned sequential program of curricula and instruction helping students to develop the knowledge, physical and social skills and positive attitudes necessary for a healthy, active lifestyle.

Physical Activity refers to the participation in an event designed to promote an active lifestyle.  Physical activities may be structured (games or sports), unstructured (walking clubs or jog-a-thons), part of a regular daily routine (walk-to-school programs) or exercise programs.

Elementary students shall receive physical education for a minimum of 200 minutes each 10 school days.  Middle school students shall receive physical education for a minimum of 400 minutes each 10 school days.  Students receiving minutes in excess of these minimums shall not miss physical education for enrichment or intervention purposes more than once every 5 days. 

High school students who qualify may elect to select alternative courses and be exempt from required physical education for two years during grades ten through twelve, inclusive.  The school shall offer a variety of elective physical education courses, each with a minimum of 400 minutes every 10 school days.

Temporary exemptions from physical education shall be limited to students whose medical condition do not allow for inclusion in the general, modified or adapted physical education programs.  Exemptions occurring for more than three consecutive days will require a doctor’s note.  The doctor’s note shall also include a date releasing the student to return to regular, modified or adapted physical education.

It is recommended that at least 50 percent of all physical education instructional time be devoted to engaging students in physical activity at the moderate to vigorous levels.

Air quality, heat and humidity may adversely affect the ability of students to participate in physical education on a daily basis.  The District Office will notify school sites daily regarding conditions and potential exclusions.  The district will follow the health guidelines contained in the National PE Health Guidelines Chart.  Notices will be flagged for high-risk, average risks and total student population.  

When feasible, indoor physical education activities at moderate to vigorous levels shall be planned on days when conditions do not permit outdoor activities.  Schools shall make every effort to make facilities available to physical education staff on days when conditions do not permit outside activity.

Class size in physical education shall comply with contractual agreements and provide adequate supervision to promote student safety and wellness.  The NUSD will hire PE teachers with proper certification and who meet the requirement of the No Child Left Behind Act.

Staff Development

Staff development in physical education shall be provided to PE instructors when available.  Elementary teachers shall also be provided professional development activities in order to keep current with physical education standards, frameworks and best practices.

Daily Recess

All elementary schools shall have at least 30 nonconsecutive minutes a day of supervised recess, preferably outdoors.  Students will be encouraged to engage in activities of moderate to vigorous activity levels.  Schools shall provide adequate equipment of sufficient variety to engage the interest of boys and girls at various age levels.

All schools in the Nuview Union School District shall discourage extended periods (i.e. periods of two or more hours) of inactivity.  When extended periods of inactivity are required (mandated testing sessions or inclement weather), schools should plan breaks where students are allowed to engage in moderately active behavior.

Physical Activity Before and After School

All elementary, middle and high schools are encouraged to offer extra curricular physical activity programs, such as jogging clubs or intramural sports occurring before and/or after school.  Schools will offer a range of activities to meet the needs, interests and abilities of all students.

Before or after school childcare programs will provide daily periods of moderate to vigorous activity for participants.

All elementary, middle and high schools are encouraged to establish one evening each week (e.g. Friday) where the only homework assigned to students involves moderate to vigorous physical activity for an appropriate amount of time.  Each school will develop a tracking and grading system to encourage student participation to a similar degree as homework assigned in other academic areas.

Physical Education and Activity as Punishment

Employees of the NUSD shall not use exclusion from physical education or physical activity for punitive purposes.  Employees of the NUSD shall not assign physical activity or exercise for punitive purposes. (Education Code 49001)

Employees of the NUSD may provide alternative physical education or activities as a result of student misbehavior.  For example, elementary students may participate in recess in a different location and with limited activity choices (e.g. walking, or jump ropes) but may not be “benched” for an entire recess period.  Elementary students may be “benched” for part of a recess providing they are able to participate in moderate to vigorous physical activity for a majority of the recess period.  At the middle and high school level, students may participate in a modified or alternative activity as a result of misbehavior.  However, the alternate activity should be of a similar rigor as the originally planned activity.  For example, jogging in a line could be substituted for team basketball games, but push-ups, sprints or “suicides” could not.

Students shall be referred to the school’s Student Support Team (SST) for the development of a behavior modification plan after the fifth occurrence of alternative physical education and/or activity.

Physical Education Testing

During the months of February – May, students in grades 5, 7, and 9 shall complete physical performance testing designated by the State Board of Education.  Students with physical disabilities shall undergo as much of the testing as possible given the nature of the disability. (Education Code 60800)

At their request students shall be provided individual results after completing the physical education testing providing confidentiality is maintained.  Results shall be mailed to parents in the same manner as other state mandated test results.

Use of School Facilities Outside of School Hours

School facilities shall be made available to students, staff and community members before, during and after school in accordance with BP 1330 (a) and AR 1330 (a).

VI.      Health Education 

Nutrition education is part of the overall health education curriculum taught in the NUSD.  Health education is integrated into other areas of study and is also included in curriculum for preschool and after school programs.  Students in grades Kindergarten – 12 are provided standards based instruction as required by law.  The overall goal of the health education program is to help students improve and maintain their health, prevent disease and avoid health related risk behaviors.

Students in grades 7 – 12 are provided HIV Aids education a minimum of once in middle and once in high school in compliance with law.  (ed code 51934)

VII.    Monitoring and Policy Review  

Monitoring

The superintendent or designee (District Wellness Committee) will ensure compliance with established district-wide nutrition and physical activity wellness policies. In each school, the principal or designee will ensure compliance with those policies in his/her school and will report on the school’s compliance to the school district superintendent or designee (District Wellness Committee).

School food service staff, at both the school and district level, will ensure compliance with nutrition policies within school food service areas and will report on this matter to the superintendent. In addition, the school district will report on the most recent USDA School Meals Initiative (SMI) review findings and any resulting changes.

Beginning in 2008 – 2009 the superintendent or designee (District Wellness Committee) will develop a summary report every two years on district-wide compliance with the district’s established nutrition and physical activity wellness policies, based on input from schools within the district. That report will be provided to the school board and made available to the District Wellness Committee, parent/teacher organizations, school principals, and school health services personnel in the district.

Policy Review.

To help with the initial implementation of the district’s wellness policies, each school in the district will conduct a baseline assessment of the school’s existing food/beverage sales and physical activity environments and procedures. The Student Nutrition Program will conduct a baseline assessment of the existing food/beverage sales and school meal programs. The results of those assessments will be compiled by the superintendent or designee (District Wellness Committee) to identify and prioritize needs.

Assessments will be repeated every two years to help review policy compliance, assess progress, and determine areas in need of improvement. As part of that review, the superintendent or designee (District Wellness Committee) will review the nutrition and physical activity policies; provision of an environment that supports healthy eating and physical activity; and nutrition and physical education policies and program elements. The superintendent or designee (District Wellness Committee) will, as necessary, submit for Board approval, revisions to the Student Wellness Policy and develop work plans to facilitate their implementation.