School District Wellness Policy

The School Committee recognizes the relationship between student wellbeing and student achievement as well as the importance of a comprehensive district wellness program. Therefore, the school district will provide developmentally appropriate and sequential nutrition and physical education as well as opportunities for physical activity. The wellness program will be implemented in a multidisciplinary fashion and will be evidence based.

Wellness is a dynamic process involving the harmony of physical, emotional, social, intellectual, environmental, and nutritional well-being. It enables individuals, families, and communities to function to the best of their ability within their environment. Wellness is an important and integral part of the North Adams School District curriculum. The intent of the North Adams Wellness Policy is to outline the wellness goals of the district. The goals include making sure all students have access to affordable healthy food, nutritional information, physical activity, and resources for lifelong healthy habits. Students are presented with the knowledge necessary to make positive decisions, and to be responsible for their own health and well-being. Our curriculums are designed to enhance the intellectual, physical, nutritional, and social/emotional skills of every student.

The food service director, who is properly qualified, certified and/or credentialed according to current professional standards, will administer the school food service program and satisfy reporting requirements, and will be responsible for ensuring that the North Adams Public Schools meets the local wellness policy.

To ensure that the wellness policy is being properly implemented, the food service director will review the implementation on a quarterly basis.

Objective:

To integrate and unify the health, physical education, family and consumer science, nutritional, social and emotional learning (SEL) programs to meet and complement the Massachusetts Health Curriculum Frameworks so that students develop positive lifelong habits towards WELLNESS that are current and up to date.

Vision:

Our vision is to develop, implement, and support a comprehensive K-12 wellness education curriculum that promotes a healthy lifestyle within the school district and the community in a way that:

Develops articulated K-12 philosophy, methods, and activities.

Develops an assessment program that coordinates with Massachusetts State Standards.

Provides professional development that relates to the visions of our curriculum and programs.

Develops and implements efficient and effective uses of facilities and equipment district-wide that relate to the vision of our curriculum.

Educates and involves the school district and community in accordance with our vision.

Develops a comprehensive policy for nutrition education, physical activity, nutritional guidelines for all foods on campus, and quality of foods and beverages.

So that:

When a student leaves our school system he or she has the skills and knowledge available to choose a lifelong healthy, active lifestyle with social competence.

Nutrition Education:

Nutrition education is to be integrated into other areas of the curriculum such as math, science, language arts and social studies. High School students receive Vi year of Health as a required course. Nutrition education is recommended during classroom snack times, not just during meals. Foods and beverages sold at fundraisers include healthy choices and provide age appropriate selections for elementary schools, middle schools and high schools. Advertising messages are consistent with and reinforce the objectives of the education and nutrition environment goals of the school

Recess is a Right

Recess is a necessary break in the day for optimizing a child's social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development. In essence, recess should be considered a child's personal time, and it should not be withheld for punitive reasons. All elementary students will engage in a daily recess period for a minimum of 20 minutes. Recess may be withdrawn only as a consequence of a student's behavior when that behavior jeopardizes the health and safety of the student or others, and only after all other means of addressing the behavioral issue have been exhausted. Recess should not be withheld for entire classes based on behavior issues. It is the expectation that other more effective interventions will be utilized to address classroom behavior. Whenever possible recess should be planned before lunch since research indicates that physical activity prior to lunch can increase the student's nutrient intake, increase student attention to academic work, and reduces food waste. (see Recess Handbook for detailed regulations.)

Nutritional Guidelines for All Foods On Campus:

All foods made available on campus will comply with the current USDA Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the Massachusetts a La Carte and Beverage Standards. Food providers will take every measure to ensure that student access to foods and beverages meets federal, state and local laws and guidelines. Food providers will offer a variety of age appropriate healthy food and beverage selections for elementary schools, middle schools and high schools.

Celebrations-Classrooms shall omit food and beverages from classroom holiday and birthday celebrations during the school day. Each

elementary school will celebrate "Birthday Friday" once per month with a special nutritionally compliant treat provided by the food services department for all students.

Rewards-North Adams Public Schools employees and volunteers shall not use foods or beverages as a reward in the classroom or common area for academic performance or good behavior. Students that have food-based accommodations in their IEP or 504 plans will be exempt. Parents, teachers, and staff are encouraged to think creatively and utilize non-food rewards. Additional non-food reward suggestions can be found on the NAPS website Food Services Department Wellness tab.

Quality of Foods and Beverages:

The child nutrition program will ensure that all students have affordable access to the varied and nutritious foods they need to stay healthy and learn well. The school will strive to increase participation in the available Federal Child Nutrition programs (e.g. school lunch, school breakfast, and afterschool snack. All foods made available on campus comply with the state and local food safety and sanitation regulations. Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points plans and guidelines are implemented to prevent food illness in schools.

LEGAL REFS.: The Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004, Section 204,108 -265

The Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act, 42 USC. 1751 - 176911

The Child Nutrition Act of 1966, 42 U.S.C.        1771 - 1789

The Child Nutrition Reauthorization Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010

111 USC. Section 3307, PL 111-296

CROSS REFS.. EFC Free and Reduced Price Food Services

IF-IAMB, Teaching About Drugs, Alcohol and Tobacco

KHA/KHB, Public Solicitations/Advertising in the Schools

• ADF School District Wellness Program