6142.101 6142.101Instruction
Student Wellness and Nutrition
The Bethel Board of Education recognizes that according to the CDC, childhood obesity is a serious problem in Connecticut and throughout the country. Overweight children are at a higher risk for developing severe long-term health problems, and overweight children are affected by discrimination, psychological stress, and low self-esteem. However, research indicates that obesity and subsequent diseases are largely preventable through diet and regular physical activity. Research also indicates that becoming physically active and maintaining a regular physical activity program significantly reduces the risk of obesity, and some cancers, diabetes, and other chronic diseases.
In order to respond appropriately and efficiently to these serious nutrition and health issues, the Bethel Public Schools has established an ongoing District Climate and Wellness Committee that will meet at least twice a year. The district will place a notice in the district's newsletter inviting members of the community to join the wellness committee. Parents, students, community members, food service staff, PE teachers, school health professionals, school board members, school administrators, and teachers will be invited to join and be included in the development, implementation, periodic review, and update of the wellness policy including the following:
A. Health promotion for all staff members, including education and health assessments, for the purpose of encouraging staff commitment as positive role models. School staff members shall be encouraged to model healthy eating and physical activity behaviors. Staff members are encouraged to join exercise programs, such as the district walking challenge, and utilize school physical activity equipment and facilities before or after school to support employee wellness;
B. K-12 health education that is carefully planned, sequential, and addresses the physical, mental, emotional, and social dimensions of health;
C. School health services which focus on prevention and early intervention, the management of acute and chronic health conditions, and referrals to community health services, if needed;
D. Counseling, psychological, and social services which include school-based interventions as well as referral services to private and public mental health services in the community;
E. Nutrition services (school cafeteria) responsible for providing nutritious and appealing meals and snacks for students and staff, maintaining an environment that promotes healthy food choices, and supporting nutrition instruction in the classroom and cafeteria;
F. Physical education in a planned, sequential, K-12 curriculum promoting physical fitness, movement skills, sports skills, and lifelong physical activity;
G. Family and community involvement through educational programming in order to support the health and well-being of children;
H. The Superintendent or his/her designee shall act as a district school liaison to guide the improvement of adverse circumstances and behaviors that may impede student well-being and learning.
Children who eat well-balanced meals and are healthy are more likely to be successful learners in the classroom. The Bethel Board of Education supports increased emphasis on nutrition as well as physical activity, at all grade levels to enhance the well-being of our District's youth.
Therefore, it is the intention of the Bethel Board of Education to:
A. Provide students and staff with access to nutritious food at meals and snacks served on school grounds;
B. Provide opportunities for recess in grades K through 5, regular physical activity through physical education and developmentally appropriate exercise for grades K through 12; and
C. Provide accurate and timely information through the developmental guidance program and the health curriculum about what constitutes a healthy, balanced lifestyle.
The Superintendent or his/her designee shall develop and implement a comprehensive district-wide nutrition program consistent with state and federal requirements for districts sponsoring the National School Lunch Program. To implement the program, the Superintendent or designee shall adopt and implement a comprehensive curriculum on health, fitness, and nutrition consistent with the Connecticut Frameworks and the USDA National School Lunch and School Breakfast Program requirements. The curriculum will provide opportunities for developmentally appropriate instruction for grades PreK through 12. The input of staff, students, parents, and public health professionals in the development of the curriculum will be included in any revision.
Nutrition, health, and fitness topics shall be integrated within the sequential, comprehensive health education curriculum taught at every grade level, kindergarten through grade 12, and coordinated with the District's nutrition, physical education, developmental guidance, and food services programs.
Evaluation procedures will utilize classroom-based assessments and other measures of progress including student fitness profile testing (grades 6 through 9) and the use of the School Health Index at all grade levels. Schools will also be assessed on their progress toward the goals set in their School Improvement Plans.
Nutrition Standards
Our school district is committed to serving healthy meals to children, with plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fat-free and low-fat milk; moderate in sodium, low in saturated fat, and zero grams trans fat per serving (nutrition label or manufacturer's specification); and to meet the nutrition needs of school children within their calorie requirements. The school meal programs 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 while accommodating cultural food preferences and special dietary needs. All meals served through the District's food service program shall comply with the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and the School Breakfast Program (SBP) standards for meal patterns, nutrient levels, and calorie requirements for the ages/grade levels served, as specified in 7 CFR 210.10 or 220.8, as applicable. All schools within the District are committed to offering school lunch through the USDA NSLP and school breakfast through the USDA SBP, and other applicable Federal child nutrition programs, that:
• Are accessible to all students;
• Provide a cashless payment system using a card scan or pin pad at the POS registers to protect the privacy of students eligible for free or reduced-price meals:
• Are appealing and attractive to children including student input through surveys and taste testings of new healthy foods;
• Provide taste tests of locally grown produce when available:
• Allow for 20 minutes to eat lunch after obtaining food;
• Are served in clean and pleasant settings;
• Meet or exceed current nutrition requirements established by local, state, and Federal statutes and regulations. (The District offers reimbursable school meals that meet USDA nutrition standards.)
• Are served by food and nutrition staff members who are trained in accordance with the USDA Professional Standards for Child Nutrition Professionals. All school nutrition program directors, managers, and staff will meet hiring and annual continuing education/training requirements of these standards and refer to USDA's Professional Standards for School Nutrition Professionals website to search for training that meets their learning needs.
Monthly Menus will be posted on the District's website. The District child nutrition program will accommodate students with special dietary needs. Additionally, participation in Federal child nutrition programs will be promoted among students and families to help ensure that families know what programs are available in their children's school. Schools will reach out to the family of a child with an unpaid balance to assess whether the child is eligible for free or reduced-price meals. Applications for free/reduced-priced meals are available on the district website, are included in the district newsletter, and are available at each school and the district central office.
Water
To promote hydration, free, safe, unflavored potable drinking water will be available to all students throughout the school day and throughout every school building ("school day" is defined in the glossary). The District will make free drinking water available where school meals are served during mealtimes. In addition, students will be allowed to bring and carry water bottles filled with only water with them throughout the day.
Competitive Foods and Beverages
The District is committed to ensuring that all foods and beverages available to students on the school campus during the school day support healthy eating and are in compliance with all federal and state nutrition standards for all foods served in schools. It is the policy of the School District that all foods and beverages sold to students during the school day (from the midnight prior, to 30 minutes after the end of the official school day) on any property under the jurisdiction of the district will meet the U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA) school meal and Smart Snacks in School (Smart Snacks) nutrition standards.USDA Smart Snacks standards for beverages sold in elementary and middle schools shall also be applied in the high school.
The nutrients addressed in the Connecticut Nutrition Standards are based on current nutrition science and national health recommendations from the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and national organizations, such as the National Academy of Sciences Institute of Medicine, American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, American Academy of Pediatrics. The Connecticut Nutrition Standards are reviewed annually by the CSDE state nutrition standards committee and are updated as needed to reflect changes in nutrition science and national health recommendations. They are published in January of each year to be effective for the following school year (July 1 through June 30).
The Connecticut Nutrition Standards focus on:
• Limiting fat, saturated fat, trans fat, sodium, and sugars;
• Moderating portion sizes; and
• Promoting increased intake of nutrient-dense foods such as whole grains, fruits, vegetables, low-fat/nonfat dairy products, lean meats, legumes, nuts, and seeds.
To support healthy food choices and improve student health and well-being, all foods and beverages outside the reimbursable school meal programs that are sold to students on the school campus during the school day will meet Smart Snacks standards. These standards will apply in all locations and through all services where foods and beverages are sold, which may include, but are not limited to, a la carte options in cafeterias, vending machines, school stores, and snack or food carts.
Fundraising
All food items served or offered (for sale) to students during the school day (from midnight prior, to 30 minutes after the end of the official school day) will meet all federal, state, and local standards for all nutrient and competitive food guidelines. There will be no exemptions from the Smart Snacks standards. Fundraisers must also comply with Connecticut's competitive food regulations (sections 10-215b-1 and 10-215b-23 of Regulations of CT State Agencies). Non-food and beverage fundraising is strongly encouraged.
Rewards
Food/Beverages will not be used as a reward or withheld as punishment for any reason such as performance or behavior. Whenever feasible, physical activities such as extra recess, dance breaks, or similar activities are strongly recommended as a reward. Physical activity, recess, or PE may not be assigned to or withheld from students as a consequence of poor behavior or as a punishment for any reason. Classroom celebrations should be focused on activities rather than food due to concerns about food safety and food allergies.
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. The healthiest choices, such as fruits and vegetables, will be prominently displayed in the cafeterias to encourage students to make healthy choices. Students and staff will receive consistent nutrition messages throughout schools, classrooms, gymnasiums, and cafeterias. Nutrition promotion also includes marketing and advertising nutritious foods and beverages to students and is most effective when implemented consistently through a comprehensive and multi-channel approach by school staff and teachers, parents, students, and the community. 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. Allowable school-based marketing shall be consistent with Smart Snacks nutrition standards. Advertising of any food or beverage that may not be sold on campus during the school day including on containers used to serve food or in the area where food is purchased is prohibited. The advertising of foods and beverages that are not available for sale in district schools will not be advertised on any school property. All advertisements for foods or beverages in any school publication or media outlet must be approved by the school principal.
Information regarding applications for free or reduced-price meals is available on the district website, in the district newsletter, at any school, or at the district office.
Nutrition Education
The District aims to teach, model, encourage and support healthy eating by students. Schools will provide standards-based nutrition education at every grade level (K-12) and engage in nutrition promotion that:
• Is designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to promote and protect their health;
• Is part of not only health education classes, but also integrated into other classroom instruction through subjects such as math, science, language arts, social sciences, and elective subjects;
• Include enjoyable, developmentally-appropriate, culturally relevant, and participatory activities, such as cooking demonstrations or lessons, promotions, taste-testing, farm visits, and school gardens;
• Promote fruits, vegetables, whole-grain products, low-fat and fat-free dairy products, and healthy food preparation methods;
• Emphasize caloric balance between food intake and energy expenditure (promotes physical activity/exercise);
• Link with school meal programs, cafeteria nutrition promotion activities, school gardens, Farm to School programs, other school foods, and nutrition-related community services;
• Teach media literacy with an emphasis on food and beverage marketing; and
• Include nutrition education training for teachers and other staff.
The district will provide standards-based nutrition education that is sequential and comprehensive in scope.
Physical Activity and Physical Education Standards
The physical education comprehensive, standards-based curriculum for grades K-12 will be aligned with established state physical education standards and will follow a periodic review cycle congruent to other academic subjects. All schools will provide physical education that fosters lifelong habits of physical activity. All students in the elementary schools will have regularly scheduled physical education periods that provide standards-based instruction in physical fitness, movement skills, and sports skills. All students in the middle school will have an average of 100 minutes of physical education per week that provide the same developmentally appropriate standards-based instruction. All high school students are required to complete one and a half credits of physical education through a variety of class offerings which meet physical education curriculum standards.
Physical Education for grades K-12 will be taught by a certified/licensed teacher with a Physical Education endorsement. All Physical Education teachers will be provided with annual professional development opportunities that are focused on physical education/physical activity topics and competencies geared towards physical education teachers.
In addition to required physical education, students at the K-5 level have a recess of at least 20 minutes. Teachers are encouraged to provide students with physical activity breaks during the school day, as appropriate.
Schools will not allow students to be exempt from or make substitutions for required physical education class time or credit requirements. Suitable adapted physical education shall be included as part of individual education plans for students with chronic health problems, other disabling conditions, or other special needs that preclude such student's participation in regular physical education instruction or activities.
The District shall also provide co-curricular physical activity programs, including intramural and interscholastic athletic programs, during before and after school hours, as appropriate, within available resources. The District shall also promote the use of school facilities for physical activity programs offered by District schools and/or community-based organizations, such as the Town's Parks and Recreation department, outside of regular school hours. Families and community members are encouraged to participate in these physical activity opportunities and utilize these facilities regularly.
Monitoring
The Superintendent or designee shall ensure compliance with established district-wide nutrition and physical activity policies. In each school, the Principal or designee shall ensure compliance.
At a minimum annually, the District will promote the wellness policy to faculty, staff, parents, and students by directing them to its availability on the District's website. The District Wellness Committee, in collaboration with individual schools, will conduct a quantitative assessment of policy implementation every three years using the Wellness School Assessment Tool-Implementation (WellSAT-I). The District will compile and then publish the triennial progress report on the district website. The report will include an assessment on compliance, the extent to which our wellness policy compares to model wellness policies, and the progress made in achieving goals. Every two to three years, the wellness committee will review the latest national recommendations pertaining to school health and will update the wellness policy accordingly.
(cf. 3542.1 - Food Service)
(cf. 6142.10 - Health Education)
Legal Reference: Connecticut General Statutes
10-16b Prescribed courses of study.
10-215 Lunches, breakfasts and the feeding programs for public school children and employees.
10-221 Boards of education to prescribe rules, policies and procedures.
10215a Nonpublic school participation in feeding program.
10215b Duties of state board of education re: feeding programs.
10216 Payment of expenses.
10-215b-1 State board of education regulation - Competitive foods
PA 04-224 An Act Concerning Childhood Nutrition in Schools, Recess, and Lunch Breaks
National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program; Competitive Foods. (7 CFR Parts 210 and 220, Federal Register, Vol. 45, No. 20, Tuesday, January 29, 1980, pp. 67586772)
Public Law 108-265, The Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004
Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010
Policy adopted: 6/22/06
Policy Revised: 5/10/07
Policy Revised: 2/19/15
Policy Revised: 9/16/21
BETHEL PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Bethel, CT