Dougherty County Schools Business Management Wellness Policy

Dougherty County Schools

Business Management

Wellness

Policy EEE

Preamble

Dougherty County School Systems (hereto referred to as the District) is committed to the optimal

development of every student. The District believes that for students to have the opportunity to achieve

personal, academic, developmental, and social success, we need to create positive, safe, and health-

promoting learning environments at every level, in every setting, throughout the school year.

Research shows that two components, good nutrition and physical activity before, during, and after the

school day, are strongly correlated with positive student outcomes. For example, student participation in

the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) School Breakfast Program is associated with higher grades

and standardized test scores, lower absenteeism, and better performance on cognitive tasks.

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Conversely, less-than-adequate consumption of specific foods including fruits, vegetables, and dairy

products, is associated with lower grades among students.

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In addition, students who are physically

active through active transport to and from school, recess, physical activity breaks, high-quality physical

education, and extracurricular activities – do better academically.

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This policy outlines the District’s approach to ensuring environments and opportunities for all students to

practice healthy eating and physical activity behaviors throughout the school day while minimizing

commercial distractions. Specifically, this policy establishes goals and procedures to ensure that:

 Students in the District have access to healthy foods throughout the school day—both through

reimbursable school meals and other foods available throughout the school campus—in accordance

with Federal and state nutrition standards;

 Students receive quality nutrition education that helps them develop lifelong healthy eating behaviors;

 Students have opportunities to be physically active before, during, and after school;

 Schools engage in nutrition and physical activity promotion and other activities that promote student

wellness;

 School staff are encouraged and supported to practice healthy nutrition and physical activity

behaviors in and out of school;

 The community is engaged in supporting the work of the District in creating continuity between school

and other settings for students and staff to practice lifelong healthy habits; and

 The District establishes and maintains an infrastructure for management, oversight, implementation,

communication about, and monitoring of the policy and its established goals and objectives.

This policy applies to all students, staff, and schools in the District.

Bradley, B, Green, AC. Do Health and Education Agencies in the United States Share Responsibility for Academic

Achievement and Health? A Review of 25 years of Evidence About the Relationship of Adolescents’ Academic

Achievement and Health Behaviors, Journal of Adolescent Health. 2013; 52(5):523–532.

Meyers AF, Sampson AE, Weitzman M, Rogers BL, Kayne H. School breakfast program and school performance. American

Journal of Diseases of Children. 1989;143(10):1234–1239.

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Murphy JM. Breakfast and learning: an updated review. Current Nutrition & Food Science. 2007; 3:3–36.

Murphy JM, Pagano ME, Nachmani J, Sperling P, Kane S, Kleinman RE. The relationship of school breakfast to

psychosocial and academic functioning: Cross-sectional and longitudinal observations in an inner-city school sample.

Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine. 1998;152(9):899–907.

Pollitt E, Mathews R. Breakfast and cognition: an integrative summary. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 1998;

67(4), 804S–813S.

Rampersaud GC, Pereira MA, Girard BL, Adams J, Metzl JD. Breakfast habits, nutritional status, body weight, and

academic performance in children and adolescents. Journal of the American Dietetic Association. 2005;105(5):743–760,

quiz 761–762.

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Taras, H. Nutrition and student performance at school. Journal of School Health. 2005;75(6):199–213.

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MacLellan D, Taylor J, Wood K. Food intake and academic performance among adolescents. Canadian Journal of Dietetic

Practice and Research. 2008;69(3):141–144.

Neumark-Sztainer D, Story M, Dixon LB, Resnick MD, Blum RW. Correlates of inadequate consumption of dairy products

among adolescents. Journal of Nutrition Education. 1997;29(1):12–20.

Neumark-Sztainer D, Story M, Resnick MD, Blum RW. Correlates of inadequate fruit and vegetable consumption among

adolescents. Preventive Medicine. 1996;25(5):497–505.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The association between school-based physical activity, including physical

education, and academic performance. Atlanta, GA: US Department of Health and Human Services, 2010.

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Singh A, Uijtdewilligne L, Twisk J, van Mechelen W, Chinapaw M. Physical activity and performance at school: A

systematic review of the literature including a methodological quality assessment. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med, 2012;

166(1):49-55.

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Haapala E, Poikkeus A-M, Kukkonen-Harjula K, Tompuri T, Lintu N, Väisto J, Leppänen P, Laaksonen D, Lindi V, Lakka T.

Association of physical activity and sedentary behavior with academic skills – A follow-up study among primary school

children. PLoS ONE, 2014; 9(9): e107031.

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Hillman C, Pontifex M, Castelli D, Khan N, Raine L, Scudder M, Drollette E, Moore R, Wu C-T, Kamijo K. Effects of the

FITKids randomized control trial on executive control and brain function. Pediatrics 2014; 134(4): e1063-1071.

Change Lab Solutions. (2014). District Policy Restricting the Advertising of Food and Beverages Not Permitted to be Sold

on School Grounds. Retrieved from http://changelabsolutions.org/publications/district-policy-school-food-ads.

I. School Wellness Committee

Committee Role and Membership

The District will convene a representative district wellness committee (hereto referred to as the DWC) that

meets at least four times per year to establish goals for and oversee school health and safety policies and

programs, including development, implementation, and periodic review and update of this district-level

wellness policy (heretofore referred as “wellness policy”).

The DWC membership will represent all school levels (elementary and secondary schools) and include

(to the extent possible), but not be limited to: parents and caregivers; students; representatives of the

school nutrition program (ex., school nutrition director); physical education teachers; health education

teachers; school health professionals (ex., health education teachers, school health services staff [i.e.,

nurses, physicians, dentists, health educators, and other allied health personnel who provide school

health services], and mental health and social services staff [i.e., school counselors, psychologists, social

workers, or psychiatrists]; school administrators (ex., superintendent, principal, vice principal), school

board members; health professionals (ex., dietitians, doctors, nurses, dentists); and the general public.

To the extent possible, the DWC will include representatives from each school building and reflect the

diversity of the community.

Each school within the District will establish an ongoing School Wellness Committee (SWC) that

convenes to review school-level issues, in coordination with the DWC. All schools will be expected to

have an active SWC, as all schools have technical assistance from the Alliance for a Healthier

Generation.

Leadership

The School Nutrition Director or designee (chair or co-chair of the DWC) will convene the DWC and

facilitate development of and updates to the wellness policy. Each school will designate a school wellness

policy coordinator, who will ensure compliance with the policy.

The contact information of these individuals is as follows:

Name

Title

Email address

Role

II. Nutrition

School Meals

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 schools within the District participate in USDA child nutrition programs, including the National School

Lunch Program (NSLP), the School Breakfast Program (SBP), Special Milk Program (SMP), Summer

Food Service Program (SFSP), and Supper Program (3

Meal Program) The District also operates

additional nutrition-related programs and activities including Farm to School program and school gardens.

All schools within the District are committed to offering school meals through the NSLP and SBP

programs, and other applicable Federal child nutrition programs, that:

 Are accessible to all students;

 Are appealing and attractive to children;

 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.)

 All food served on school campus is handled according to established food safety guidelines

 The district supports the School Nutrition Program as the sole food service provider for students

during the school day

 A health professional is consulted as needed for Special Diets and Individualized Health Plans

 All schools will maintain a closed campus policy in that no outside fast foods or restaurant foods can

be ordered in or brought in by parents to students or faculty to consume in the cafeteria areas during

the meal periods.

Food sold in schools must:

1. Comply with the general criteria:

 Be a “whole grain-rich” grain product containing 50% or more whole grains by weight, or have

whole grains as the first ingredient; or

 Have as the first ingredient a fruit, a vegetable, a dairy product, or a protein food; or

 Be a combination food that contains at least ¼ cup fruit and/or vegetable.

 Contain 10% of the Daily Value (DV) of one of the nutrients of public health concern in the

2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (calcium, potassium, vitamin D, or dietary fiber).

If water is the first ingredient, the second ingredient must be one of the items above.

2. And meet, at a minimum, the Nutrition Standards for all foods sold in schools:

Calorie limits:

° Snack items: ≤ 200 calories

° Entrée items: ≤ 350 calories

Sodium limits:

° Snack items: ≤ 200 mg

° Entrée items: ≤ 480 mg

Fat limits:

° Total fat: ≤35% of calories

° Saturated fat: < 10% of calories

° Trans fat: zero grams

Sugar limit:

° ≤ 35% of weight from total sugars in foods

Accompaniments such as cream cheese, salad dressing and butter must be included in the

nutrient profile as part of the food item sold.

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. The foods and beverages sold and served

outside of the school meal programs (i.e., “competitive” foods and beverages) will meet the USDA Smart

Snacks in School nutrition standards, at a minimum. Smart Snacks aim to improve student health and

well-being, increase consumption of healthful foods during the school day, and create an environment

that reinforces the development of healthy eating habits. A summary of the standards and information

are available at: http://www.fns.usda.gov/healthierschoolday/tools-schools-smart-snacks. The Alliance for

a Healthier Generation provides a set of tools to assist with implementation of Smart Snacks available at

www.healthiergeneration.org/smartsnacks.

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 or exceed the USDA Smart Snacks nutrition standard.. 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

Foods and beverages that meet or exceed the USDA Smart Snacks in Schools nutrition standards may

be sold through fundraisers on the school campus* during the school day*. The District will make

available to parents and teachers a list of healthy fundraising ideas [examples from the Alliance for a

Healthier Generation and the USDA].

Fundraisers are approved with the priority that non-food sales are considered before food sales.

Exempted Fundraisers

Exempted fundraisers are fundraisers that are sold directly to students during the school day and do not

meet Smart Snack Guidelines.

Per the State Board Rule 160-5-6-.01, the Board of Education for the district will allow 5 fundraisers per

school per school year not to exceed 3 days in length. Exempted fundraisers will not occur 30 minutes

prior until 30 minutes after the end of breakfast or lunch meal service.

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. 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.

Food as a reward or punishment is not an option.

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. This promotion will occur through

at least:

Promoting foods and beverages that meet the USDA Smart Snacks in School nutrition standards.

Additional possible promotion techniques that the District and individual schools may use are available at

www.healthiergeneration.org/smartsnacks.

Nutrition Education

The District aims to teach, model, encourage, and support healthy eating by students. Schools will

provide nutrition education 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);

 with school meal programs, cafeteria nutrition promotion activities, school gardens, Farm to School

programs, other school Link 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.

III. Physical Activity

All students in grades K-12 shall be provided opportunities, support and encouragement to be physically

active on a regular basis. The district will provide physical education consistent with federal and state

requirements and engage in promotion of physical activities aimed at attainment of the following goals:

 Physical activity is an integral part of every school day in elementary schools.

 District policy for physical education and health meets or exceeds state policy and strive to meet

the requirements of the Healthier US School Challenge.

 The benefits of physical activity as well as the health issues related to inactivity are taught as life

skills.

 Adults and parents are encouraged to be role models for physical activity and to engage in physical

activity with students

 Qualified teachers are hired to teach physical education. Adults with appropriate training will

supervise other physical activities in the District.

 Resources are available for students, teachers and parents about promoting physical activity for a

healthy lifestyle.

 District policy for health and physical education is consistent with State policies and Healthier US

Schools Challenge guidelines.

 Students are provided many choices of physical activity which are appropriate for their grade level.

 Students are provided with physical activity choices that take into account the gender and cultural

differences among children.

 District encourages physical activity outside of the school day.

 District encourages teachers and other adults in the school setting to serve as role models for

students.

 School physical education facilities and activity areas are safe, clean and accessible for all

students.

 Each elementary school will provide 20 minutes of recess daily. Recess or other physical activity

time is not cancelled or withheld for instructional make-up time, remediation, or as punishment.

Recess is encouraged to be unstructured play time whenever possible.

IV. Other Activities that Promote Student Wellness

Community Partnerships

The District will continue and enhance relationships with community partners (i.e. hospitals,

universities/colleges, local businesses, etc.) in support of this wellness policy’s implementation.

Existing and new community partnerships and sponsorships will be evaluated to ensure that they are

consistent with the wellness policy and its goals.

Glossary:

School Campus - areas that are owned or leased by the school and used at any time for school-related

activities such as the school building or on the school campus, including on the outside of the school

building, school buses or other vehicles used to transport students, athletic fields, and stadiums (e.g. on

scoreboards, coolers, cups, and water bottles), or parking lots.

School Day - midnight the night before to 30 minutes after the end of the instructional day.