JLC Student Wellness Policy

SOUTH PORTLAND STUDENT WELLNESS POLICY

The South Portland School Department is committed to creating a healthy school environment that enhances the development of lifelong wellness practices to promote healthy eating and physical activity.

Nutrition Education
Nutrition education will be integrated into the instructional program through the health education program and/or the curriculum as aligned with the content standards of the Maine Learning Results. Nutrition education should focus on skills students need to adopt and maintain healthy eating behaviors. Students should receive consistent nutrition messages throughout the schools, including classrooms, cafeteria, and school-home communications.

Nutrition Standards
The South Portland School Department will ensure that meals provided by its Food Services Program meet the nutrition standards established by federal regulations. Sales of foods and beverages that compete with the Food Services Program must be in compliance with the Board’s policy EFE, Competitive Food Sales/Sales in Competition with the School Food Services Program.

Assurance
This policy serves as assurance that school unit guidelines for reimbursable meals are not less restrictive than regulations and guidance issued by the Secretary of Agriculture pursuant to the National School Lunch Act and the Child Nutrition Act.

Physical Education and Physical Activity Opportunities
The South Portland School Department will strive to provide all students developmentally appropriate opportunities for physical activity through physical education classes, recess periods for elementary school students, and extracurricular activities (clubs, intramural and interscholastic athletics). School programs are intended to guild and maintain physical fitness and to promote healthy lifestyles. The schools should encourage parents to support their children’s participation in physical activities, including available before-and after-school programs.

Other School-Based Wellness Activities
The schools, with prior approval of the Superintendent/designee, may implement other appropriate programs that support consistent wellness messages and promote healthy eating and physical activity.

Implementation and Monitoring
The Superintendent shall develop and implement administrative rules consistent with this policy. Input from teachers (including specialists in healthy and physical education). Parents/guardians, students, representative of the school food service program, the school board, school administrators, and the public shall be considered before implementing such rules. A sustained effort is necessary to implement and enforce this policy. The Superintendent shall measure how well this policy is being implemented, managed, and enforced. The Superintendent shall report to the Board, as requested, on the District’s programs and efforts to meet the purpose and intent of this policy.

Appointment and Role of the Wellness Committee
The South Portland School department shall establish a Wellness Committee to provide an ongoing review and evaluation of the South Portland School Department Local Wellness Policy.

The Wellness Committee will include representation from each of the following:
Health education,
Physical education,
Health services,
Food services,
Administration,
Board of Education,
Parent, student and community.

The Wellness Committee shall serve as an advisory committee in regard to student wellness issues and will be responsible for making recommendations related to the wellness policy, wellness goals, administrative or school regulations and practices, or raising awareness of student health issues.

The Wellness Committee shall provide periodic reports to the Superintendent/designee and, as requested, to the Board.

Wellness Goals - The Board has identified the following goals associated with student wellness:

Nutrition Education:
The schools will provide nutrition education that focuses on the skills students need to adopt and maintain healthy eating behaviors.

The school’s nutrition education will be provided in a sequential, comprehensive healthy education program aligned with the content standards of the Maine Learning Results.

Nutrition education will be integrated into other subjects as appropriate to complement, not replace, the health education program.
Consistent nutrition messages will be disseminated throughout the school unit in the classroom, the cafeteria, and school-home communications.

Physical Activity:
The physical education program will provide all students with the knowledge and skills needed to be physically fit and take part in healthful physical activity on a regular basis.

Students will develop motor skills and apply them to enhance their coordination and physical performance.

Students will demonstrate responsible personal and social behaviors in physical activity settings.

The physical education curriculum will be aligned with the content standards of the Maine Learning Results.

Physical education classes will keep all students involved in purposeful activity for a majority of the class period.

Physical education classes will provide opportunity to learn for students of all abilities.

The schools will provide opportunities for physical activity through physical education classes, recess periods for elementary school students, and extracurricular activities (clubs, intramural and interscholastic athletics).

Other School-Based Activities:
Goals of the wellness policy will be considered when planning school or classroom parties, celebrations or events.

Parents will be encouraged to provide nutritionally sound snacks from home and a balance of nutritionally sound snacks for classroom parties or events.

Schools will encourage parents and students to take advantage of developmentally appropriate community-based after-school programs that emphasize physical activity.

School administrators, staff, parents, students and community members will be encouraged to serve as role models in practicing healthy eating and being physically active, both in the school environment and at home.

Legal Reference: Section 204 of Public Law 108-265
Cross References: EFE – Competitive Food Sales – Sales of Foods in Competition With the School Food Service Program.

Adopted: June 12, 2006