5141.251
6142.101
Students
Student Nutrition and Physical Activity (Wellness)
The Newington Public Schools Board of Education recognizes the importance of promoting good student nutrition and a healthy school environment. The Board of Education promotes healthy schools by supporting wellness, good nutrition and regular physical activity as a part of the total learning environment. To this end, the Board authorizes the administration to develop an integrated nutrition program to provide students with the skills and support to adopt healthy eating behaviors, obtain positive nutritional status and achieve improved academic success.
Additionally, the District shall take the appropriate measures to implement a comprehensive nutrition/health curriculum, promote healthful student eating through the provision of a well balanced and nutritionally sound school lunch program, promote the consumption of appropriate portions of healthy foods and beverages at designated times in classrooms, and encourage increased physical activity for students during and after the school day where appropriate.
The Newington Public School District is determined to create a healthful environment for our students. With a collaboration of health, physical education, support services, and food services, we believe that we can educate our students to make healthy and positive choices regarding physical activity, nutrition and overall wellness.
The school administration and school wellness committee shall develop guidelines indicating a plan of action for implementing this policy.
Legal References: Federal Law
Child Nutrition & WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004, Pub. L. l08 § 204 Child Nutrition Act § 10(a)-(b), codified at 42 U.S.C. § 1799
Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act § 9(0(1) and § 17(a) codified at 42 U.S.C. § 1758 and 42 U.S. C. § 1766
Connecticut General Statutes
PA 06-63 An Act Concerning Healthy Food and Beverages in Schools
10-221o Lunch periods. Recess
10-221p Boards to make available for purchase nutritious low fat foods and drinks.
Policy adopted: May 24, 2006
5141.251
6142.101
Students
Student Nutrition and Physical Activity (Wellness)
The Newington Public School District shall undertake the following actions to promote sound nutrition and health practices for students in school consistent with Board policy.
The health/wellness curriculum will provide comprehensive and sequential nutrition education to:
a. Promote positive nutritional standards dealing with healthy lifestyle management, eating disorders, body image, and adequate nutrient intake (such as carbohydrates, proteins, fats), and weight management practices
b. Promote consumer education in developing skills, such as label reading and evaluating influence of media on food selection, enabling students to evaluate food products
c. Consider recommendations from the Nutrition Advisory Committee in developing curriculum
The physical education/wellness curriculum will be in compliance of state physical education and health requirements and will promote:
a. The benefits of physical activity, good nutrition and fitness;
b. Physical activity being incorporated into classroom routines where appropriate;
c. Physical education classes to include at least 50% of moderate to vigorous activity in all or most lessons;
d. Rubrics that objectively evaluate and encourage active participation in physical education;
e. During inclement weather, efforts should be made to provide an indoor back-up plan for physical education;
f. Periodic and ongoing programs to increase the activity and positive nutritional choices for students
Newington Public Schools will maintain a School Wellness Advisory Committee that will meet periodically. Members shall include Board of Education representative(s), teachers, nurse, wellness staff, representative of the cafeteria food services provider, students and community members. The mission of the committee is:
To promote physical, nutritional, and social well-being among our children and adolescents, by creating an environment that promotes physical activity, models positive behaviors and attitudes, and establishes a healthy foundation that allows students to reach their full academic potential.
The committee should create and review school food practices in the following areas to support its mission statement:
A. Food Service Program
1. Review annually the food services price structure to ensure that it encourages healthy choices and maintains the quality of the food service program.
2. All full day students will have a daily lunch period of not less than 20 minutes.
3. Encourage menu choices linked with nutrition education curriculum.
a. Continue to promote pre-cut raw fruit and vegetable offerings
b. Limit high fat choices
c. Limit oil-fried foods with the future goal of eliminating
d. Increase vegetarian and cultural choices
e. Limit the sale of beverages to include only the following:
i. milk, which may be flavored but contains no artificial sweeteners and no more than 4 grams of sugar per ounce;
ii. nondairy milks, such as soy or rice milk, which may be flavored but contains no artificial sweeteners, no more than 4 grams of sugar per ounce, no more than 35% of calories from fat per serving, an no more than 10% of calories from saturated fat per serving;
iii. 100% fruit or vegetable juice or combination of such juices, containing no added sugars, sweeteners, or artificial sweeteners;
iv. beverages that contain only water and fruit or vegetable juice and have no added sugars, sweeteners, or artificial sweeteners; and
v. water, which may be flavored but must contain no added sugars, sweeteners, artificial sweeteners, or caffeine.
f. A la carte items will meet the following criteria:
i. Low fat, low sugar, high nutrient snacks (such as baked chips and crackers, graham crackers, frozen fruit bars, low fat string cheese, low fat yogurt, dried fruits) will be promoted
ii. High fat, high sugar, and lower nutrient snack foods will be limited
iii. Fresh fruits and/or vegetables will continue to be offered daily
4. Conduct student & family food preference surveys to develop and revise school lunch menu items.
5. Maximize utilization of food service provider resources such as nutritional planning, healthy eating promotions, special events, etc.
6. Recognize and accommodate individual student’s medical concerns.
B. Nutrition Practices in Classroom
1. Encourage the use of healthy snacks in appropriate portion sizes.
2. Encourage the use of non-food items as an incentive or a reward for good behavior or academic performance.
3. Encourage healthy party menus and non-food alternatives for birthday celebrations.
C. Fundraising Activities
1. Encourage non-food promotional activities
D. Parent/Guardian Information
Nutritional information should be provided to parents through newsletters, publications, and other activities focusing on – but not limited to:
a. Healthy snack ideas
b. Healthy lunch ideas
c. Healthy breakfast ideas
d. Non food birthday celebration ideas
e. Calcium needs of children
f. Healthy portion sizes
g. Food label reading guidelines
h. Fun activities to encourage increased physical activity inside and outside of school
E. Other Foods Offered or Sold
Beverages, other than those listed in this regulation, and foods not meeting nutrition standards may be sold if the sale is in connection with a school sponsored event occurring after the end of the regular school day or on the weekend; the sale is at the event location; and the food or beverages are not sold from a vending machine or school store.
F. Monitoring of Wellness Policy
The wellness policy will be reviewed annually by the Director of Curriculum and/or the Nursing Coordinator.
Regulation approved: May 24, 2006
Regulation amended: September 27, 2006
Regulation revised: March 6, 2008