6142.10

Instruction

Health Education Program

The Bethel Board of Education recognizes that student health and success in school are interrelated. Schools cannot achieve their primary mission of education if students are not healthy and fit physically, mentally, and socially. In order to play a proactive role in preventing disabling chronic health conditions, unnecessary injury, and disease, and to help students learn to take responsibility for their own health and to adopt health-enhancing attitudes and behaviors, the District shall adopt a comprehensive health education program consistent with the requirements of state and federal law.

The input of students will be encouraged. Development of the District's program will be guided by the following goals:

1.  Each District school shall be a safe and healthy place for students and employees to learn and work, with a climate that nurtures learning, achievement and growth of character;

2.  All students shall be taught the essential knowledge and skills they need to become health literate - that is, to make health-enhancing choices and avoid behaviors that can damage their health and well-being;

3.  Each District school shall be organized to reinforce students' adoption of health-enhancing behaviors and staff shall be encouraged to model healthy lifestyles; and

4.  School leaders shall ensure that the nutrition health services and social services students need in order to learn are provided, either at the school site or in cooperation with other community agencies.

Contributing to the fulfillment of the above-stated goals and in conformity with state statute, the Board requires that in all District schools, full-time students shall be provided a daily lunch program of not less than twenty (20) minutes.   All Bethel's schools have 25 to 30-minute lunches. 

In addition, all students enrolled in Bethel's elementary schools have included in the regular school day time devoted to physical activity.  Bethel's three elementary schools (grades kindergarten through grade five) have recess time of not less than twenty minutes daily.  However, this requirement for recess/physical activity may be altered only by a Planning and Placement Team (PPT) for a child requiring special education and related services according to state and federal law.  

School employees shall refrain from withholding a student's participation in activities devoted to physical exercise in the regular school day as a form of discipline or punishment, and shall refrain from canceling it for instructional or homework makeup time. In addition, any student in kindergarten through grade twelve shall not be required to engage in physical activity as a form of discipline.

It is the intent of the Board that Bethel schools take a proactive effort to encourage students to make nutritious food choices.  Food and beverages sold or served in District schools shall include nutritious food choices as defined by the Healthy, Hungry-Free Kids Act (2010).  Food and beverages sold or served in District schools shall include nutritious, low-fat foods and drinks, which may include, but shall not be limited to, low-fat dairy products, natural fruit juices, fresh or dried fruit at all times when food or drink is available for purchase by students during the school day.

The Superintendent will develop administrative regulations as needed for the implementation of this policy, including a process for the regular review and evaluation of the District's program.

(cf. 3542 - Food Service)
(cf. 3542.33 - Food Sales Other Than National School Lunch Program)
(cf. 3542.34 - Nutrition Program)
(cf. 3452.45 - Vending Machines)
(cf. 6141.61 - Physical Activity)
(cf. 6142.101 - Wellness)
(cf. 6142.6 - Physical Education)

Legal Reference:  Connecticut General Statutes

10-215 Lunches, breakfasts, and the feeding programs for public school children and employees.

10-215a Nonpublic school participation in feeding program.

10-215b Duties of state board of education re-feeding programs.

10-216 Payment of expenses.

10-215b-1 State board of education regulation

10-221o Lunch periods. Recess (as amended by P.A. 12-116, An Act Concerning Educational Reform, and P.A. 13-173, An Act Concerning Childhood Obesity and Physical Exercise in Schools)

Policy adopted:  October 17, 2013
Revised:  September 16, 2021