8510 - WELLNESS

As required by law, the Board for the School District of Jefferson establishes the following wellness policy.

Policy Preamble

The Board recognizes that good nutrition and regular physical activity affect the health and well-being of the District's students. Furthermore, research suggests that there is a positive correlation between a student's health and well-being and their ability to learn. Moreover, schools can play an important role in the developmental process by which students establish their health and nutrition habits by providing nutritious meals and snacks through the schools' meal programs, by supporting the development of good eating habits, and by promoting increased physical activity both in and out of school.

Schools alone, however, cannot develop in students healthy behaviors and habits with regard to eating and exercise cannot be accomplished by the schools alone. It will be necessary for not only the staff, but also parents and the public at large to be involved in a community-wide effort to promote, support, and model such healthy behaviors and habits.

The Board sets the following goals in an effort to enable students to establish good health and nutrition choices to:

1. promote nutrition education with the objective of improving students’ health;

2. improve the health and well-being of our children, increase consumption of healthful foods during the school day, and create an environment that reinforces the development of healthy eating habits;

3. promote nutrition guidelines, a healthy eating environment, child nutrition programs, and food safety and security on each school campus with the objective of promoting student health;

4. provide opportunities for every student to develop the knowledge and skills for specific physical activities, maintain physical fitness, regularly participate in physical activity, and understand the short and long-term benefits of a physically active lifestyle;

5. promote the health and wellness of students and staff through other school based activities.

Wellness Policy Leadership

The District Administrator shall implement and ensure compliance with the policy by leading the review, update, and evaluation of the policy and is authorized to designate a staff member or members with responsibility to assure that wellness initiatives are followed in the District's schools. 

Required Public Involvement

The District Administrator shall obtain the input of District collaborators to participate in the development, implementation, and periodic review and update of the policy. The collaborators may include parents, students, representatives of the school food authority, educational staff (including physical education teachers), school health professionals, Board members, members of the public, medical/health care professionals, and other school administrators. School-level health advisory or wellness committees may assist in the planning and implementation of these Wellness initiatives.

District Wellness Committee

To assist in the creation of a healthy school environment, the District shall establish a Wellness Committee that will provide an ongoing review and evaluation of the Wellness Policy. The Committee shall meet annually during the school year to implement, assess and review, and make recommendations for changes to the Wellness Policy.

Committee Representatives

The District shall invite a diverse group of collaborators to participate in the development, implementation, and periodic review and update of the Wellness Policy.

Collaborators may include:

1. administrator(s);
2. Board member(s);
3. classroom teacher(s);
4. physical education teacher(s);
5. school food service representative(s);
6. school nurse(s);
7. community member/parent(s);
8. student(s);
9. medical/health care professional(s);
10. nutrition and/or health education teacher(s);
11. school counselor(s).

Nutrition Standard for All Foods

The District is committed to serving healthy meals to our students. The school meal programs aim to improve the diet and health of school children, model healthy eating patterns, and support healthy choices while accommodating cultural food preferences and special dietary needs.

School Meal Programs

Standards and Guidelines for School Meal Programs

1. All meals meet or exceed current nutrition requirements established under the Healthy Hunger-free Kids Act of 2010. (https://www.fns.usda.gov/nslp/national-school-lunch-program-meal-pattern-chart)
2. Drinking water is available for students during mealtimes.
3. All schools in the District participate in USDA child nutrition programs, including NSLP, SBP, SFSP
4. All meals are accessible to all students.
5. Withholding food as a punishment shall be strictly prohibited.
6. When drinking fountains are not present in the cafeteria, water cups/jugs are available.
7. Students are provided at least 10 minutes to eat breakfast (if offered) and at least 20 to eat lunch after being seated.
8. Menus shall be posted on the District website.
9. Menus shall be created/reviewed by a Registered Dietitian or other certified nutrition professional.
10. All school nutrition program directors, managers, and staff shall meet or exceed hiring and annual continuing education/training requirements in the USDA professional standards for child nutrition professionals.

School Meal Program Participation

The District:

1. shall notify parents of the availability of the breakfast, lunch, and summer food programs and shall be encouraged to determine eligibility for reduced or free meals;
2. shall allow students the opportunity to provide input on menu items
3. may explore the use of nontraditional breakfast service models (such as breakfast in the classroom) to increase breakfast participation.

Standards for Foods and Beverages Sold Outside of School Meals

1. All food and beverages sold and served outside of the school meal programs (“competitive” foods and beverages) shall, at a minimum, meet the standards established in USDA’s Nutrition Standards for All Foods Sold in Schools (Smart Snacks) rule. https://fns-prod.azureedge.us/sites/default/files/resource-files/smartsnacks.pdf
2. All food and beverages sold to students during before and after school programs shall meet the USDA Smart Snack nutrition standards.
3. The sale of foods and/or beverages containing caffeine (with the exception of trace amounts of naturally occurring caffeine) at all grade levels during the school day are prohibited

Foods Offered/Provided but Not Sold

The District encourages foods offered on the school campus meet or exceed the USDA Smart Snacks in School nutrition standards including those provided at celebrations and parties and classroom snacks brought by staff or family members. Non-food celebrations will be promoted and guidelines will be established with a list of healthy classroom snack idea

Fund-Raising

1. The District adheres to the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction fund-raiser exemption policy and allows two (2) exempt fund-raisers per student organization per school per year. All other fund-raisers sold during the school day will meet the Smart Snacks nutrition standards. No restrictions are placed on the sale of food/beverage items sold outside of the school day.
2. The District encourages those fund-raisers promoting physical activity (such as walk-a-thons, jump rope for heart, fun runs, etc.)

Marketing

Schools will restrict food and beverage marketing during the school day to only those foods and beverages that meet the nutrition standards set forth by USDA’s Nutrition Standards for All Foods Sold in Schools (Smart Snacks) rule. Marketing includes brand names, trademarks, logos, or tags except when placed on a food or beverage product/container; displays, such as vending machine exteriors; corporate/brand names, logos, trademarks on cups, posters, school supplies, education materials, food service equipment, and school equipment (e.g. message boards, scoreboards, uniforms); advertisements in school publications/mailings; sponsorship of school activities, fund-raisers, or sports teams; educational incentive programs such as contests or programs; and free samples or coupons displaying advertising of a product.

Nutrition Education

1. The primary goal of nutrition education is to influence students’ lifelong eating behaviors.
2. Nutrition education, a component of comprehensive health education, shall be offered every year to District students in grades K-5, 6, and 9. The District aims to teach, model, encourage, and support healthy eating by providing nutrition education.
3. Nutrition education posters, such as the MyPlate Guide, will be displayed in the cafeteria.
4. Nutrition education standards and benchmarks promote the benefits of a balanced diet that includes fruits, vegetables, whole grain products, and low-fat and fat-free dairy products

Nutrition Promotion

The District is committed to providing a school environment that encourages students to practice healthy eating and physical activity. Students shall receive consistent nutrition messages that promote health throughout schools, classrooms, cafeterias, and school media

Physical Activity

1. Children and adolescents should participate in sixty (60) minutes of physical activity every day. The District shall provide students with physical education, using an age-appropriate, sequential physical education curriculum consistent with national and State standards for physical education. The District shall also provide opportunities for students to participate in physical activity in addition to physical education.
2. The District shall provide students with age and grade-appropriate opportunities to engage in physical activity.
3. All students in grades K-5 shall be provided with a daily recess period at least twenty (20) minutes in duration. Recess shall not be used as a reward or punishment.
4. Opportunities to participate in physical activity shall be promoted throughout the school.
5. In addition to planned physical education, the school shall provide age-appropriate physical activities (e.g., recess during the school day, intramurals and clubs before and after school, and interscholastic sports) that meet the needs of all students, including males, females, students with disabilities, and students with special health care needs.

Physical Education

1. A sequential, comprehensive physical education program shall be provided for students in K-12 in accordance with the physical education academic content standards and benchmarks adopted by the State.
2. The sequential, comprehensive physical education curriculum shall provide students with opportunities to learn, practice, and be assessed on developmentally appropriate knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary to engage in lifelong, health-enhancing physical activity.
3. All District elementary students in each grade shall receive at least 90 minutes of physical education per week throughout the school year.
4. All District middle school students in each grade shall receive at least 80 minutes of physical education per week throughout the school year.
5. All-District high school students are required to receive at least 1.5 credits of physical education prior to graduation unless the District allows for the substitution of 0.5 credit per Policy 5460 - Graduation Requirements.
6. Students shall be moderately to vigorously active for at least fifty percent (50%) of class time during all physical education class sessions.
7. Planned instruction in physical education shall promote participation in physical activity outside the regular school day.
8. All physical education classes are taught by licensed teachers who are certified to teach physical education.
9. In health education classes, the District shall include topics of physical activity, including: the physical, psychological, or social benefits of physical activity; how physical activity can contribute to a healthy weight; how physical activity can contribute to the academic learning process; how an inactive lifestyle contributes to chronic disease; and decreasing sedentary activities.

Other Activities That Promote School Wellness

1. Students shall be allowed to bring and carry throughout the day approved water bottles filled with only water.
2. Staff is strongly encouraged to model healthful eating habits, and are discouraged from eating in front of children/sharing food with children during regular class time, outside of activities related to the nutrition education curriculum.
3. The schools may demonstrate support for the health of all students by hosting health clinics and screenings and encouraging parents to enroll their eligible children in Medicaid or in other children's health insurance programs for which they may qualify

Staff Wellness

The District will implement the following activities below to promote healthy eating and physical activity among school staff.

1. Educational activities for school staff members on healthy lifestyle behaviors.
2. Distribution of an employee health newsletter to promote healthy behaviors.
3. Administration of flu shots at school.
4. Encouragement of staff members to set medical appointments for screening for cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and other diseases

Community Engagement

1. The District shall work with community partners, including local healthcare providers, the county health department, and other organizations to support District wellness.
2. The District shall inform and invite parents to participate in school-sponsored activities throughout the year.
3. The District shall actively inform families and the public about the content of and any updates to the policy through School Board Meetings

Additional Strategies for Consideration:

1. The schools may use environmentally friendly practices, such as the use of locally grown foods.
2. Schools in our system utilize electronic identification and payment systems, therefore, eliminating any stigma or identification of students eligible to receive free and/or reduced meals.
3. Students are discouraged from sharing their foods or beverages with one another during meal times, given concerns about allergies and other restrictions on some students' diets

Furthermore, with the objectives of enhancing student health and well being the following guidelines are established:

1. In accordance with Policy 8500 - Food Service, the food service program shall comply with Federal and State regulations pertaining to the selection, preparation, consumption, and disposal of food and beverages as well as to the fiscal management of the program.
2. As set forth in Policy 8531 - Free and Reduced Price Meals, the guidelines for reimbursable school meals are not less restrictive than the guidelines issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
   
   All foods available on campus during the school day shall comply with the current USDA nutrition guidelines, including competitive foods that are available to students a la carte in the dining area, as classroom snacks, from vending machines, for classroom parties, or at holiday celebrations.
3. The food service program will provide all students affordable access to the varied and nutritious foods they need to be healthy and to learn well, regardless of unpaid meal balances without stigma.
4. The food service program will strive to be financially self-supporting; however, if it is necessary to subsidize the operation, it will not be through the sale of competitive foods.
5. The food service program shall be administered by a director who is properly qualified, certificated, licensed, or credentialed, according to current professional standards.
6. All food service personnel shall receive pre-service training in food service operations.
7. Continuing professional development shall be provided for all staff of the food service program

Monitoring and Evaluation - Triennial Assessment

The District will evaluate compliance with the Wellness Policy no less than once every three years. The assessment will include the extent to which each school is in compliance with the policy, progress towards meeting policy goals, and how the policy compares to a model policy, as established by the USDA. The District will use the Wisconsin Local Wellness Policy Triennial Assessment Report Card to fulfill the triennial assessment requirement. The results of the triennial assessment will be made available to the public

Update/Inform the Public

The District will actively inform and update the public about the content of and any updates to the policy through the District website and Board meetings and post the wellness policy on the District’s website, including the assessment of the implementation of the policy prepared by the District.

Record Retention

The District Administrator shall require that the District retains documentation pertaining to the development, review, evaluation, and update of the policy, including:

1. copy of the current policy;
2. documentation pertaining to the most recent assessment of implementation of wellness initiatives identified in the policy;
3. documentation of efforts to publicize the policy;

Nondiscrimination Statement

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity. 

Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.

To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ad-3027.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:

1. Mail:
   U.S. Department of Agriculture
   Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
   1400 Independence Avenue, SW
   Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or
2. Fax:
   (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or
3. E-mail: 
   program.intake@usda.gov.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

Revised 11/25/24

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