Wellness Policy
ISD # 4146 Northern Lights Community School
P.O. Box 2829 Warba, MN 55793
Wellness Committee Members:
· Ellen Coffel, Food Service Manager
· LaDonna Hanson, Physical Education, Advisor
· Jill Hawk, Project Manager & Community Member
· Todd Hassell, Kitchen Volunteer & President of Building Committee
· Parent TBD
· Student TBD
Purpose: to assure a school environment that promotes student health, students’ ability to learn and reduce childhood obesity among kids.
-
Nutritional Education Goals
*Nutrition Education will be integrated into advisory projects, seminars and individual projects at every grade 6-12.
*Students will be encouraged to choose activities that foster healthy lifestyles and promote knowledge of nutrition through the project based learning model.
*Students will utilize the school garden produce to enhance nutrional values of school meal program. This will also be used as a learning lab for a variety of cross-curricular activities at every grade level 6-12.
*Opportunities within our community will be utilized to demonstrate healthy, food safety procedures and apply nutritional topics that have been integrated across the curriculum throughout the year.
`
*Families, friends and community members are invited to attend presentation nights where student projects are on exhibit demonstrating topics related to nutrition, healthy lifestyles and physical fitness.
*It is the expectation that nutrition education be integrated into the broader curriculum at all grade levels. Students are required to master .715 credit hours in health related education aligned with the MN standards for graduation and documented in Project Foundry.
*NLCS staff shall be offered 4 hours of staff development for continuing education credits focusing on nutrition education for all licensed staff throughout the school year.
-
Standards for USDA Child Nutrition & School Meals
*The food service program at NLCS will provide school breakfast and lunches that meet nutrional standards required by the USDA. Specific standards such as: 3 fruits and or non-fried vegetables, only 1% and fat-free milk, at least half of the grains served will be whole grain. All cooking methods will be used to decrease fat, calories and sodium levels in foods.
*All students’, families, and staff will have the opportunity to provide input via school breakfast/lunch surveys available at presentation nights.
*Students will be encouraged to taste test new healthy foods being introduced on the school menu.
*All students will be served USDA approved lunches or an alternative under “special” circumstances per written doctors orders.
*All staff/students are required to eat within the cafeteria. Breakfast is served from 8:20-8:45 and lunch is served between 11:40-12:00. Events or meetings are prohibited during lunch time unless staff/students are allowed to eat during that time.
*After obtaining food, students will be provided at least 20 minutes to eat lunch; NLCS feels this is an adequate amount of time to eat.
*Food service manager (s) must have appropriate food handling degree & certification according to current standards, and will be the only person(s) administering the child nutrition program.
*Food service personnel will have adequate training in food service operations and be allowed to partake in professional development opportunities that arise.
*All persons will be directed and reminded to practice healthy hand washing before eating and having access to convenient facilities.
*NLCS will strive to get 90% participation in school meal programs by sending multiple mailings, student surveys conducted annually, and enforcing a closed campus. Students are not allowed to leave school grounds.
*NLCS will share & publicize school menus and information about the nutritional content of school meals with anyone interested. Available upon request.
*NLCS strives to provide a pleasant environment in which to eat lunch; by consistently enforcing safe behaviors and ensuring adequate space, and appropriate supervision.
-
Nutrition Standards for Other Foods and Beverages Offered or Available on School Grounds.
NOTE: This section relates to sale or service of foods outside of USDA school meal program.
NOTE: This will regulate foods “sold” at school, or foods served at special fundraising events or exceptions like prom or graduation celebrations.
*All food & beverages served during the school day or at district sponsored events shall comply with state and federal guidelines.
*Vending machines are not permitted on campus.
*Foods of minimal nutritional value shall not be sold until after 2:00pm.
*Wellness committee will provide staff, students and parents a suggested list of food items allowed and a comprehensive list of unhealthy foods that will be prohibited to be sold for fundraising purposes.
*The wellness committee must pre-approve food related items to be “sold” on campus. The nutrional quality of the item will be assessed to regulate the amount of calories, sugars, sweetened beverages, and saturated fat content.
*No more than 35% sugar by weight.
*No more than 35% calories from fat.
*No more than 240 mg. of Sodium per serving.
*Individual snacks shall not exceed 200 calories per package.
*The school wellness committee will encourage healthy snack choices in appropriate portions.
*The use of food or candy as a reward for student achievement is strongly discouraged.
*The wellness committee may enforce a rule that prohibits energy drinks, beverages containing sugar or other calorie sweeteners as first ingredient and allow only 100% fruit juice, milk, caffeine free soda or water.
*NLCS is committed to providing access to free, safe and fresh drinking water throughout the day.
-
Physical Activity Goals
*A quality physical education program will be offered to all students 6-12 and taught by a licensed physical education teacher, throughout the school year.
*NLCS will promote active recreational activities for 6-12 grades daily that incorporate a variety of lifelong physical activities through team sports, individual and dual games, sport skills, personal fitness, and a number of recreational games.
*Rec time will meet the needs of all students, including those who are not athletically gifted. The goal will be to teach participation, cooperation, fair play & sportsmanship.
*NLCS requires 2.86 credits in physical education to graduate with the improvised standards to meet a PBL school.
*NLCS will devote 4 hours of staff development time to educate, learn and participate in a variety of team building activities.
*All staff/students on campus are expectated to participate and model healthy behaviors, promote physical activities.
*The physical education/recreational activities shall be provided with adequate space and equipment. If equipment is unavailable students may be taken off campus to foster opportunities in the outdoors.
*During rec time academic activities shall not take the place of physical activities.
*Physical activity may not be used as punishment.
-
Evaluation
*Present to board for approval, implement wellness policy throughout the school year. Re-evaluate annually.
*The wellness committee will meet semi-annually and report to the NLCS board annually.
*The food service manager will provide an annual report to the director setting forth the nutritional guidelines and procedures for the selection of all foods made available on campus.
*The director of NLCS will ensure compliance with this policy within the Northern Lights Community School, and report to the board the district’s compliance with the policy, in an annual report.
