DBS CODE:  6142.10

Instruction

Health Education Program

The Board 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, 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 District's program will be developed in cooperation with staff, parents, members of the community and state and local agency representatives, as appropriate, and adopted by the Board.

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. In addition, all students enrolled in grades kindergarten through five, inclusive, shall have included in the regular school day, time devoted to physical exercise, of not less than twenty minutes in total, except that this requirement may be altered by a Planning and Placement Team (PPT) for a child requiring special education and related services according to state and federal law, as may be amended from time to time.

Note: the new legislation requiring the daily period of physical activity for students in grades K through 5 does not spell out types of activity. It can be a combination of planned physical education classes, recess, and/or teacher-directed classroom activities.

In addition, it is the intent of the Board that District 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.  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 and fresh or dried fruit at all times when food or drink is available for purchase by students during the school day.

(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 Non public 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)

Adopted:  November 26, 2012