DBS CODE: 6142.101 DBS CODE: 6142.101School Wellness Policy
The Somers school district is committed to the optimal physical and academic development of every student. For students to achieve personal, academic, developmental and social success, we strive to create positive, safe and health-promoting learning environments at every level, in every setting, throughout the school year. The district will align health and wellness efforts with other school improvement endeavors to ensure the optimal health and academic success of all students.
This school wellness policy (SWP) outlines the district's approach to ensuring that the school environment provides opportunities for all students to practice healthy eating and physical activity behaviors throughout the school day.
District Wellness Council
Purpose of the Council
The district will convene a representative District Wellness Council (DWC) that meets 3 times a year to oversee school health and safety policies and programs -- including the development, implementation and periodic review and update of this local school wellness policy.
Council Membership
The superintendent (or designee) will convene the DWC, facilitate development of and updates to the SWP and ensure each school's compliance with the policy. The names and contact information of the superintendent (or designee) and the council members will be made readily available to the public.
The DWC membership for the district includes:
Superintendent
Head nurse
School board member
Physical Education teacher
Community member
Public Involvement
The district is committed to ensuring that the school community is aware of and involved in the development and implementation of the SWP. The district will actively communicate the ways in which representatives of the DWC periodically review and update of the school wellness policy.
Policy Updates
The district will update the SWP based upon the following:
• district priorities
• community needs
• emerging scientific information
• new federal or state regulations or guidance
Notification to the Public
The district will inform caregivers and the school community of basic information about the SWP, including but not limited to the following:
• its content and any updates
• an explanation of why updates were made and who was involved
• the effective dates of any policy changes
• the names and contact information of the district and school officials leading and coordinating the DWC
• information about DWC meetings including meeting minutes
The district will use multiple methods to distribute this information to the community, including but not limited to the following:
• electronic mechanisms (e.g., email)
• displaying notices on the district and school websites
• non-electronic mechanisms (e.g., newsletters)
Nutrition Services
School Meals
The district will consult the nutrition guidelines set forth in the National School Lunch.
In addition, the district will ensure the following:
• School meals will be accessible to all students, and the district will accommodate special dietary needs and food allergies as required by federal regulations to the extent possible.
• The schools shall comply with state and local food safety and sanitation regulations.
• The district will make every effort to ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, that the method of payment does not identify a student as eligible for free or reduced-price meals.
The district/schools will:
• ensure that eating settings are clean
• establish practices related to feeding students with unpaid meal balances that do not embarrass children or increase social stigma related to being of low-income
• prohibit the use of food as a reward or the withholding of foods as a punishment
• post menus on the district website and/or individual school websites and include nutrient content and ingredients
• ensure that students are served lunch at a reasonable and appropriate time of day
• encourage staff to model healthy eating behaviors
Water
Free, safe, unflavored drinking water will be available to all students during mealtimes where school meals are served.
The district will implement the following:
• Free, safe and unflavored drinking water is available to students during the school day and during the extended school.
• Students may be allowed to bring and carry approved water bottles filled with only water before, during and after the school day across the school campus.
• All water sources and containers (e.g., drinking fountains, water jugs, hydration stations and water jets) will be maintained regularly to ensure adherence to health and safety standards.
Competitive Foods and Beverages
The district will encourage that all foods and beverages sold to students on the school campus during the school day support healthy eating.
Celebrations and Rewards
Celebrations and rewards should be consistent with best nutrition policies.
This includes foods and beverages offered during celebrations and parties, for classroom snacks and as rewards and incentives. The district recommends utilizing rewards that promote physical activity and/or promote educational messages. Foods and beverages will not be withheld as a punishment for any reason.
A list of suggested foods and activities are included in Appendices 1-3.
Celebrations shall be approved in advance by the building principal or designee.
Nutrition and Health Education
The district will teach, model, encourage and support healthy eating among students. Schools will provide nutrition education as part of health education.
The district will ensure it will meet the following goals for nutrition education:
• Nutrition and physical activity education is taught using evidence-based curricula that are aligned with the National Health Education Standards and address the essential healthy eating and physical activity topics.
• The curricula used are designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to promote and protect their health.
• Nutrition and physical activity education may be integrated into classroom subjects such as math, science, language arts, social studies and art, and are also included as part of health education classes and elective subjects.
• Nutrition and physical activity education includes developmentally appropriate, culturally relevant and participatory activities, addresses a clear set of behavioral outcomes that promote healthy eating and physical activity behaviors.
Nutrition Promotion
The district and all schools will promote healthy food and beverage choices for all students across the school campus.
The district will ensure it will meet the following goals:
• Periodic school announcements, newsletters and website postings will promote healthy food and beverage choices.
Physical Activity
The district will ensure that a combination of physical activity opportunities will be offered to students in the form of the following:
• daily recess, physical education
• before- and after-school activities
The district prohibits the use or withholding of physical activity (including recess) as a punishment during the school day and during the extended school day (including during out-of-school time and before and after school).
Daily Recess
The district will implement the following:
• Recess will be offered at the elementary school for 20 or more minutes on all days during the school year which will complement, not substitute for, physical education class.
• Schools and students will be provided with adequate spaces, facilities, equipment and supplies for recess.
• Spaces and facilities for recess will meet or exceed recommended safety standards.
• Staff will provide strategic inclusion and oversight of opportunities for students with special needs or disabilities to participate in recess.
• The accessibility of playgrounds and outdoor play areas will be assessed, and changes made to improve access.
• Equipment will be provided to allow for inclusion of students with disabilities into activities.
Physical Education
Physical education teachers will assess student knowledge, motor and social skills and provide instruction in a safe and supportive environment.
Though important for increasing physical activity, other physical activity experiences such as recess, intramural sports or recreational endeavors should not be used as a replacement for physical education.
The district will ensure all PE classes are based upon age-appropriate, sequential physical education curricula that are consistent with national and state standards, promote the benefits of a physically active lifestyle and help students develop skills to engage in lifelong healthy habits.
The district will ensure it will meet the following goals:
• All elementary students, including students with disabilities, will receive PE instruction throughout the school year.
• All middle school students, including students with disabilities, will receive PE during all academic years.
• All high school students, including students with disabilities, will receive PE during their academic years based on graduation requirements.
• All PE classes are taught by licensed teachers who are certified or endorsed to teach PE.
• PE teachers provide appropriate accommodations to ensure that all students, including students with disabilities, are provided with an equal opportunity to participate.
Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC)
Social-emotional Climate (School Climate)
The district is committed to creating a positive social emotional climate across all schools during the school day.
The district will promote a positive social-emotional climate in the following ways:
• establishing anti-bullying policies and identifying and implementing school-wide approaches to prevent and address harassment, bullying and cyber bullying
• establishing school safety and violence prevention policies and strategies
• connecting social and emotional learning standards and academic standards
• ensuring that school staff are promoting positive relationships between students and employees
• training school staff on incorporating trauma-sensitive and trauma-informed approaches into school policies and practice
Counseling, Psychological and Social Services
The district is committed to ensuring that the SEB needs of all students are met. The district will support students' social, emotional and/or behavioral needs (SEB) needs in the following ways:
• ensuring that a process for identifying students with SEB needs is in place
• ensuring access by students to highly qualified, mental health professionals in the school setting and a referral pathway for connecting students to community-based providers as needed
• coordinating with school and community-based mental health providers to address students' SEB needs
• implementing programs and practices which support a positive social-emotional climate
• implementing interventions for students in need of additional SEB support
• ensuring that suicide prevention policies and programs are in place and that school staff are trained in identifying students at risk and referring them to appropriate services
• providing appropriate training to all school staff on meeting students SEB needs
• coordinating with caregivers and students to address students' SEB needs
• providing appropriate resources and training for continuous improvement
Health Services
The district is committed to ensuring that the physical health needs of all students are met. The district may support students' physical health in the following ways:
• conducting assessments and planning for meeting the individual chronic disease management needs of students
• ensuring students have access to highly qualified nurses or other medical professionals in the school setting and referrals to and collaboration with community services as needed
• coordinating with caregivers and community medical providers to address students' health needs
• ensuring that school-based health staff consult and collaborate with teachers and other school staff regarding pertinent student health information
• disseminating health information resources to students and caregivers (e.g., pamphlets, flyers and posters)
• providing student physical health screenings (e.g., vision and hearing)
• addressing management of acute health incidents (e.g., allergic reactions, asthma attacks and low blood sugar) in the school setting
• providing education regarding high-risk behaviors such as sexual activity and substance use
• coordinating with caregivers to address students' health needs
• regularly assessing and reporting on the district- and building-level implementation of these practices and providing appropriate resources and training for continuous improvement
Physical Environment
The district is committed to ensuring that the school environment protects the health and safety of students and staff. The district will support healthy and safe school environments within and around all district facilities in the following ways:
• identifying regular cleaning and maintenance practices and ensuring compliance with safety standards
• addressing prevention and safe removal (if applicable) of mold and moisture
• addressing reduction/minimization of student and staff exposure to toxins (e.g., vehicle exhaust, mold, air pollution, pesticides, and cleaning products)
• addressing the physical condition of buildings and grounds (e.g., lighting, noise, ventilation, and air quality)
• establishing tobacco-free building and grounds
• specifying physical safety measures and procedures
• requiring the establishment of an ongoing school safety team for the district and in each school building
• specifying a crisis preparedness and response plan for the district
• regularly assessing district and building-level implementation of these practices and providing appropriate resources and training for continuous improvement
Employee Wellness
The district is committed to supporting the physical and mental health and well-being of all district employees. The district may support employee health and well-being in the following ways:
• engaging educators as stakeholders in the school improvement and planning processes
• designating employee wellness (both physical and mental) as a priority in the district organizational structure
• disseminating physical and mental health information resources to school staff (e.g., pamphlets, flyers and posters)
• encouraging participation in and use of physical and mental health programs/resources for:
o healthy eating and weight management
o physical activity
o stress management
o tobacco avoidance and cessation
o social-emotional health
• promoting a positive workplace climate
• designating a consistent and systemic approach for employee conflict resolution
• addressing space and break time for lactation/breastfeeding
Family Engagement
The district may support caregiver engagement in the following ways: making the SWP available to the public
• ensuring that schools are providing opportunities for ongoing, sustained family engagement throughout the school year
• ensuring that schools are providing opportunities for two-way communication with caregivers
• ensuring that schools are using culturally responsive practices to engage caregivers
• disseminating health information resources to caregivers (e.g., pamphlets, flyers, and posters)
• providing school-based volunteer opportunities for caregivers (e.g., PTA/PTO, school wellness committee, and other school committees)
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.
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.
10-215e Nutrition standards for food that is not part of lunch or breakfast program.
10-215f Certification that food meets nutrition standards.
10-221o Lunch periods. Recess.
10-221p Boards to make available for purchase nutritious, low-fat foods.
10-221q Sale of beverages.
Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies
10-215b-1 Competitive foods.
10-215b-23 Income from the sale of food items.
National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program; Competitive Food Services. (7 CFR Parts 210.11 and 220.12,)
The Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004, Public Law 108-265
Nutrition Standards in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs, 7 CFR Parts 210 & 220
Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, P.L. 111-296, 42 U.S.C. 1751
Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (as amended by P.L. 108-269, July 2, 2004)
School Breakfast Program, 7 C.F.R. Part 220 (2006)
National School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program: Nutrition Standards for All Foods Sold in School (Federal Register, Vol. 78, No. 125, June 28, 2013)
Child Nutrition Programs: Flexibilities for Milk, Whole Grains and Sodium Requirements (Federal Register, Vol. 83, No. 238, December 12, 2018)
Local School Wellness Policy Requirements, 42 U.S.C. 1758b
Adopted: August 28, 2006
Revised: June 27, 2022