ADF

School Wellness

The Buena Vista School District promotes student wellness and healthy schools by supporting student wellness education. The District recognizes that healthy students are better learners, and therefore aims to promote student wellness and overall health through practices such as good nutrition, health and physical education, physical activity and mental health. Schools facilitate learning and contribute to the basic health status of students with the support and promotion of healthy eating habits, physical activity and other student wellness education. Children who practice healthy wellness choices are more likely to benefit from improved health and an increase in learning and performance potential.

To support the implementation of this policy, the District has created the Wellness Advisory, which will include representation from the following:  students, parents, counselors, nurses, food service director, community partners, administrators, physical education teachers and other District employees.

The purpose of the Wellness Advisory is to support and enhance student wellness in the Buena Vista School District. The Wellness Advisory will serve as a resource for the schools to support the maintenance and implementation of this policy and the accompanying Regulation ADF-R under the direction of the superintendent or designee

The Wellness Advisory will meet at least twice annually to review and monitor the action plans associated with this policy in ADF-R.   The superintendent shall annually review this policy and the accompanying Regulation ADF-R.  At a minimum, every three years, the superintendent will work cooperatively with Wellness Advisory to revise the plan for implementing the policy in ADF-R.  Development and revision of the implementation plan shall include consideration of collected data, and shall require compliance with the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 at both the school and the District level. Compliance results shall be taken into consideration when revising the policy and regulation.

To further the Buena Vista School District’s beliefs stated above, the district adopts the following goals:

Goal #1

The district will provide a learning environment for teaching, developing and practicing lifelong wellness behaviors.

The entire school environment, not just the classroom, shall be aligned with healthy school goals to positively influence staff and student understanding, beliefs and habits as they relate to good physical and mental health. Such learning environments will teach students and staff to use appropriate resources and tools to make informed and educated decisions about lifelong wellness choices.

Goal # 2

The school district will support and promote healthy eating habits and nutritional education programs that contribute to an increase in student wellness and academic performance.

The school district will comply with USDA and CDE rules and regulations for the administration of Healthy Foods and Beverages Policies. In addition, the district will support and promote healthy eating habits. Food as a reward shall be limited and rarely used to manage behavior. Whenever possible, healthy foods shall be used. Foods and Beverages cannot be used as discipline in classrooms, on school district property or in school sponsored activities. Foods and Beverages may not be withheld, forced or modified as a form of punishment in any classroom, on school district property or in school sponsored activities.

Goal #3

The district will provide opportunities for students to engage in physical activity.

A quality physical education program is an essential component for all students to learn about and participate in physical activity. Physical activity shall be included in a school's daily education program from grades pre-kindergarten through 12. Physical activity should include regular instructional physical education, in accordance with the district's and state’s content standards, and may include, but need not be limited to exercise programs, fitness/brain breaks, recess, field trips that include physical activity and classroom activities that include physical activity.

Adopted by the superintendent:  June 5, 2007

Revised by the superintendent:  June 2011

Revised by the superintendent:  April 2013

Revised by the superintendent:  January 6, 2014

Revised by the superintendent:  February 22, 2018

Revised by the superintendent:  August 10, 2020

Revised by the superintendent: September 2023

LEGAL REFS.:        Section 204 of P.L. 111-296 (Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act)

        C.R.S. 22-32-134.5 (healthy beverages requirement)

        C.R.S. 22-32-136 (policies to improve children's nutrition and wellness)

        C.R.S. 22-32-136.5 (3)(a) and (b) (physical activity requirement)

        1 CCR 301-79 (State Board of Education - healthy beverages rules)

CROSS REFS.:

        Administrative policies:

                EF, School Nutrition Program

                EFC, Free and Reduced-Price Food Services

                EFEA, Nutritious Food Choices

                IHAM and IHAM-R, Health and Family Life/Sex Education

                JLJ, Physical Activity