POLICY REGARDING WELLNESS It is the policy of the Bozrah Board of Education to promote the health and wellbeing of district students. In furtherance of this policy, the Board has created an Advisory Council on Wellness ( Advisory Council ) to review any available state or federal guidance on wellness issues and to assist in formulating recommendations for specific goals and guidelines aimed at promoting lifelong wellness practices among district students. This Advisory Council involves parents, students, representatives from the school food authority (i.e. any private company employed to provide food services), school administrators, the board of education, and members of the public. I. GOALS AND GUIDELINES The Bozrah Board of Education, following consultation with the Advisory Council, adopts the following goals and guidelines in order to promote student wellness: A. Nutrition Education and Promotion Bozrah Board of Education will support and promote good nutrition for students consistent with applicable federal and state guidelines. Bozrah Board of Education will foster the positive relationship between good nutrition, physical activity, and the capacity of students to develop and learn. Nutrition education will be part of the comprehensive health education curriculum that is provided for every grade level, prekindergarten through eighth grade. One class period per week will be used to discuss the Wellness program. Nutrition education at all the levels includes, but is not be limited to: age appropriate nutritional knowledge, including benefits of healthy eating, essential nutrients, weight management principles, understanding calories, food labels, food safety and sanitation and serving sizes. Nutrition concepts shall be integrated into the instruction of other subject areas where possible. The health teacher works with the classroom teacher yearly on how to integrate nutrition education into other basic subjects. Nutrition education may be provided in district or through school newsletters, presentations, school website or other appropriate means. The program shall engage families as partners in their children s education. School staff will collaborate, whenever possible, with agencies and groups conducting nutrition education in the community to inform students and their families with a consistent message. Page 1 of 6
B. Physical Activity and Other School-Based Activities Bozrah Board of Education will support and promote an active lifestyle for students. Physical education will be taught in grades K-8 for a minimum of 45 minutes per week and shall include a developmentally planned and sequential curriculum that fosters the development of movement skills, enhances healthrelated fitness, increases students knowledge, offers direct opportunities to learn how to work cooperatively in a group setting, and encourages healthy habits and attitudes for a healthy lifestyle. Unless otherwise exempted, all students will be required to engage in the physical education program. FMS will try to provide every student with opportunities to voluntarily participate in extracurricular physical activities. Some include, but are not limited to FMS soccer and basketball teams, cheerleading, Bozrah/Norwich recreational teams, and after school activity programs. FMS will plan to provide information and/or offer activities to promote physical activity among staff members and promote the benefits of regular physical activity. FMS will work with other community organizations to enhance opportunities available to all community members for physical activity outside of the school day. Examples: adult basketball, volleyball, indoor soccer. Schedules shall provide time within every school day for all elementary and middle school students to enjoy supervised recess. Recess will not substitute for PE classes. Physical activity during recess should involve at least moderate physical intensity to provide the health benefits to students. Minimum requirements for recess, include 20 minutes per day and recess will be outdoors whenever possible. The cafeteria displays healthy food in ways that increase its appeal Physical activity will not be used in school as a form of punishment. C. Prohibition on Deprivation of Physical Exercise Period as a Form of Discipline: For elementary school students, the Board includes a time of not less than twenty (20) minutes in total, during the regular school day, to be devoted to physical exercise, except that a planning and placement team ( PPT ) may develop a different schedule for students requiring special education and related services. In an effort to promote physical exercise, the Board prohibits school employees from disciplining elementary school students by preventing them from participating in the full 20 minutes of time devoted to physical exercise during the regular school day, except in instances where the student s behavior poses a health and/or safety concern. Page 2 of 6
C-1 Prohibition n Compulsion of Physical Activity as a Form of Discipline: For all students, the Board prohibits school employees from disciplining students by requiring students to engage in physical activity as a form of discipline during the regular school day. C-2 Definition: For the purposes of this policy, a school employee is defined as (1) a teacher, substitute teacher, school administrator, school superintendent, guidance counselor, psychologist, social worker, nurse, physician, school paraprofessional or coach employed by the Board or working in the district schools, or (2) any other individual who, in the performance of his or her duties, has regular contact with students and who provides services to or on behalf of students enrolled in the district schools pursuant to a contract with the Board. C-3 Disciplinary Action for Failure to Follow Policy: Any employee who fails to comply with the requirements of this policy may be subject to discipline, up to and including termination of employment. Any contracted individual who provides services to or on behalf of students enrolled in the district and who fails to comply with the requirements of this policy may be subject to having his/her contract for services suspended by the district. D. Nutritional Guidelines for School Food At a minimum, all reimbursable school meals (i.e. free and reduced lunches) including breakfast shall meet the program requirements and nutritional standards established by the USDA regulations applicable to school meals and provides extra fruit to students. Bozrah Board of Education will promote nutritious food and beverage choices in appropriate portions or sizes in a welcoming cafeteria environment consistent with the current Dietary Guidelines for Americans and Food Plate System published jointly by the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Agriculture and guidelines promulgated by the Connecticut Department of Education in addition to federal and state statutes. Page 3 of 6
Parents are provided information regarding the school meals program through newsletters and school menus which are sent home monthly and are available on line. A sticker day also encourages students and families to participate in the school lunch program. Scheduling of meals is optimized to improve student nutrition and access to hand washing prior to the meals. Free water is always available. Three 22 minute lunch waves (6-8, K-2, and 3-5) are scheduled. Food service staff is provided appropriate ongoing training regarding nutrition and sanitation requirements. Bozrah Board of Education supports the Summer Nutrition on the Move Program and encourages eligible families to participate. All beverages sold to students will meet the beverage requirements of state statute CGS Section 10-221q. Beverages not meeting the requirements of the state statute will only be permitted at those events that begin after the conclusion of the instructional day or on weekends. Such beverage sales will take place at the location of the event and shall not be sold from any school stores. There are no vending machines for students and all beverages are 100 calories or less. Milk is skim / 1 %. In addition, in order to promote student health and reduce childhood obesity, the Superintendent or designee shall establish such administrative procedures to control food sales that compete with the Bozrah Board of Education s non-profit food service in compliance with the Child Nutrition Act. Food service rules shall restrict the sale of foods of minimal nutritional value as defined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the State Department of Education in the food service areas during the meal period. The sale of soda, artificially sweetened drinks, caffeinated beverages or any beverages other than those listed as approved in the state statute, will be permitted at those events that begin after the conclusion of the instructional day or on weekends. Such beverage sales may take place at the location of the event under the following three conditions: 1) the sale is in connection with an event occurring after the end of the regular school day or on the weekend; 2) the sale is at the location of the event; 3) the beverages are not sold from a vending machine or school store The sale or distribution of candy is not allowed anywhere on school grounds during the period of 30 minutes before any meal program and up until 30 minutes after the end of the meal program. (Section 10-215b-1) Page 4 of 6
E. Goals for Physical Education The goals for addressing physical education include the following: Physical education will be taught weekly for a minimum of 45 minutes in all grades and shall include a developmentally planned and sequential curriculum that fosters the development of movement skills, enhances health-related fitness, increases students knowledge, offers direct opportunities to learn how to work cooperatively in a group setting, and encourages healthy habits and attitudes for a healthy lifestyle. Unless otherwise exempted, all students will be required to engage in the physical education program. The students should be engaged in physical activity at least 50% of class time, with as much time as possible spent in moderate to vigorous activity. All students shall be regularly assessed on PE learning objectives. Course grades shall be awarded in the same way as other subject areas and shall be included in the students GPA. CT Mastery PE tests will be integrated into the curriculum as an instructional tool, except in the early elementary grades. The test results will be available to the students and their parents. The districts will provide PE training opportunities to their staff. will not be exempt from PE courses based on participation on an athletic team, recreation program or other school or community activity. Teacher/student ratios are comparable to those in other curricular areas. There shall be safe and adequate equipment facilities for all PE classes. The PE program should emphasize the knowledge and skills needed for a lifetime of regular physical activity. It will be consistent with the state guidelines and national standards that define what students should know and be able to do. It will meet the needs of all students regardless of their athletic ability II. MEASURING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE WELLNESS POLICY Pursuant to this policy, the Board shall designate at least one (1) individual to be responsible for the oversight of the school district s wellness program. This [these] individual[s] will be responsible for ensuring that the goals and guidelines relating to nutrition education, physical activity, school-based wellness activities and nutritional value of school-provided food and beverages are met, that there is compliance with the wellness policy, and that all school policies and school-based activities are consistent with the wellness policy. Page 5 of 6
LEGAL REFERENCES: State Law: Public Law 06-63 An Act Concerning Healthy Food and Beverages in Schools Federal Law: Pub. L. 108-265, 204, codified at 42 U.S.C. 1751 Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act 9(f)(1) and 17(a), codified at 42 U.S.C. 1758(f)(1) and 42 U.S.C. 1766. ADOPTED: 11/03/09 BOZRAH PUBLIC SCHOOLS REVISED: 06/05/12 Bozrah, Connecticut REVISED: 02/10/15 12/10/06 419882 V. 03 Page 6 of 6