Dearborn Academy is committed to providing a school environment that promotes children’s health, wellbeing and ability to learn by supporting healthy eating and physical activity.
It is the policy of Dearborn Academy that:
- The school will provide nutrition education and physical education designed to promote student wellness.
- All students in Grades 3-12 will have opportunities and encouragement to be physically active on a regular basis.
- Food and beverages served at school will meet the nutrition recommendations of the U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
- Child Nutrition Programs will comply with federal, state and local requirements and will be accessible to all children.
- Regular monitoring will ensure that the school is in compliance with the federal mandates.
Wellness Policy Recommended Guidelines
A. Nutrition Education
- Wellness curriculum standards and guidelines will include nutrition education and physical education.
- Students in Grades 3-12 will receive interactive nutrition education that teaches students the skills they need to adopt healthy eating behaviors and is culturally sensitive.
- Nutrition education will be integrated into the core curriculum such as math, science, language arts and social studies.
- The students will receive consistent nutrition messages throughout the school, classroom, cafeteria and information sent home.
- Teaches the importance of lifelong fitness and stress management.
- Teaches the consequences of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs on a healthy lifestyle.
B. Nutritional Guidelines
- Menus will be prepared and foods will be served to incorporate variety, appeal, taste and safety to ensure high-quality meals. These meals will be accessible to all children.
- All foods made available at Dearborn Academy will comply with the current USDA Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
- All foods made available will adhere to food safety and security guidelines.
- Nutritional information, age-appropriate daily requirements and portion size information will be available on all foods offered.
- Child Nutrition Programs will offer a variety of milk, meat/poultry, fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains on a daily basis.
- Emphasis will be placed on healthy food choices, portions and age-appropriate selections.
- Emphasize that food not be used as a reward or punishment for student behaviors, unless it is detailed in a student’s Individual Educational Plan.
- Food service staff will be provided with the names of students with food allergies or special dietary requirements. Accommodations will be made for the students with food allergies and special dietary needs.
- Minimize the risk of exposure to food allergens that pose a threat to students.
- Provide student’s access to hand washing or hand sanitizing before they eat meals and snacks.
- Train all food service staff annually in hand washing and universal precautions.
C. Physical Activity
- All students in Grades 3-12, including students with disabilities, special health-care needs, and in alternative educational settings, will receive weekly physical education for the entire school year.
- Physical Education courses will provide an environment where children learn, practice, and are assessed on developmentally appropriate motor skills, social skills, and knowledge.
- Student involvement in other activities involving physical activity (e.g., recess, interscholastic or intramural sports) will not be substituted for meeting the physical education requirement.
- All elementary school students will have at least 20 minutes a day of supervised recess, preferably outdoors, where moderate to vigorous physical activity is encouraged, with the provision of space and safe equipment.
- Teachers and other school and community personnel will not use physical activity as a disciplinary measure. Physical Education will not be withheld as punishment or to make up classroom work.
- Classroom teachers will be encouraged to provide short physical activity breaks between lessons or classes, as appropriate.
- Recess or other physical activity time is to be used on a limited basis for instructional make-up time.
- Elementary, middle, and high schools will encourage extracurricular physical activity programs, such as physical activity clubs or intramural programs.
- High schools and middle schools will encourage interscholastic sports programs that meet the needs, interests, and abilities of all students, including boys, girls, students with disabilities, and students with special health-care needs.
- Physical Education includes the instruction of cooperative and competitive games, gymnastics, and dance, in individual, group, and team settings to encourage life-long physical activity.
- Physical Education shall guide students through a process that will enable them to achieve and maintain a health-enhancing level of physical fitness.
- Physical Education classes will have a student:teacher ratio similar to other classes.
- Adequate equipment will be available for all students to participate in Physical Education.
D. Health Services
- The school nurse will promote healthy eating for students and staff with individual and classroom education.
- The school nurse shall be prepared to recognize disordered eating conditions and other nutrition-related health problems in students.
- Will plan for meeting the needs of children with special health care needs in the school setting.
- Will communicate with school staff to ensure the safety of students with special health care needs.
- Staff training for Epi-Pen administration for students with diagnosed life-threatening food allergy.
- Will conduct preventative health screenings to include height, weight and B.M.I.
- Will act to prevent and control communicable disease.
- Will provide emergency care of the ill and injured.
- Will provide health and safety education.
- Will identify health and safety concerns.
- Will advocate for a safe and healthy school environment.
- Will refer students and staff to appropriate health-related services.
- Will collaborate with school staff, parents and community members to promote wellness.
E. Other School-Based Activities
- Health and wellness advertising and marketing will send positive healthy foods and physical activity messages.
- Primarily non-food items are sold for fundraising efforts and used for celebrations. Vending products support healthy eating.
- School dining areas will be clean, safe, and pleasant environments that reflect the value of the social aspect of eating.
- Students will be given adequate time to enjoy eating healthy meals.
- Ongoing professional training and development will be provided for food service staff, teachers, and nurses in areas of nutrition, wellness, and physical education.
- Ongoing professional training and development will be provided for food service staff, teachers, and nurses in the area of nutrition, wellness, and physical education.
- Planning of school-sanctioned events such as field trips, field days will include consideration of student’s health-care and dietary needs.
F. Monitoring and Policy Review
- The Program Director will ensure compliance with established wellness policies.
- The Director of Food Service will ensure compliance with nutrition policies within school food service areas.
- The Program Director will ensure compliance with the nutrition education, health and physical education policies within the wellness department.
- The Nurse will ensure compliance with the health services policies within the school health services department.
- The School Director, will, as necessary, revise the wellness policies and develop plans to facilitate their implementation.
References
M.G.L. C.71:3
M.G.L. C.71:53; 53A; 54; 54A
Massachusetts Department of Education
Massachusetts Comprehensive Curriculum Health Frameworks
National Physical Education Standards
MDPH Comprehensive School Health Manual
P.L. 89-642 Sub Chapter A
Child Nutrition Programs Part 210 National School Lunch Program
USDA Team Nutrition: A Menu Planner for Healthy School Meals
Massachusetts Action for Healthy Kids
Massachusetts A LA Carte Food and Beverage Standards to Promote a Healthier School Environment
USDA National Food Service Management Institute
HACCP Based Standard Operating Procedures
(Food Code 2001, 2005)
www.schoolwellnesspolicies.org.school
Adopted: December 2007
Revised: December 2010
Revised 3/23/12 kmm –DAWP.doc
KMM-2019