WELLNESS | Policy Manual | Mauston, School District of

8510 - WELLNESS

As required by law, the Board for the Mauston School District (hereto referred to as the District) establishes the following wellness policy.

Policy Preamble

The Board supports the health and well-being of the District’s students by promoting nutrition and physical activity at all grade levels. In accordance with federal law, it is the policy of the Board to provide students access to healthy foods and beverages; provide opportunities for developmentally appropriate physical activity; provide nutrition education, and require that all meals served by the District meet or exceed the federal nutritional guidelines issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Wellness Policy Leadership

The designated official for oversight of the wellness policy is the Superintendent. The official shall convene the Wellness Committee and lead the review, updating, and evaluation of the policy.

The District shall convene a Wellness Committee that meets at least four times during the school year to establish goals and oversee school health policies and programs, including development, implementation, and periodic review and update of this Wellness Policy. The District shall invite a diverse group of stakeholders to participate in the development, implementation, and periodic review and update of the wellness policy. Collaborators may include:

Administrator;
Board member;
Classroom teacher;
Physical education teacher;
School food service representative;
School nurse;
Community member/parent;
Student;
Medical/healthcare professional;
Nutrition and/or health education teachers;
School counselor.

Nutrition Standards 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 Meals

The District is committed to ensuring that:

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).
All meals are accessible to all students.
Withholding food as a punishment shall be strictly prohibited.
All meals are appealing and attractive and served in clean and pleasant settings.
Drinking water is available for students during mealtimes. 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.

In addition, the District’s nutrition services 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.

Standards for Foods and Beverages Sold Outside of the School Meals Program

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. The standards are available at https://fns-prod.azureedge.us/sites/default/files/resource-files/smartsnacks.pdf
The District adheres to the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction fundraiser exemption policy and allows two exempt fundraisers per student organization per school per year. All other fundraisers 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.

Marketing

Schools will restrict food and beverage marketing to only those foods and beverages that meet the nutrition standards set forth by USDA’s Nutrition Standards for All Food 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, fundraisers, or sports teams; educational incentive programs such as contests or programs; and free samples or coupons displaying advertising of a product.

Foods 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 a list of ideas is available.

Nutrition Education

Schools shall provide nutrition education that helps students develop lifelong healthy eating behaviors. Nutrition education shall follow the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction Model Academic Standards for Nutrition.

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

The District shall provide students with age and grade appropriate opportunities to engage in physical activity. As such:

The District shall utilize the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction's Active Schools: Core 4+ resources.
Elementary schools shall offer at least 20 minutes of recess on all or most days during the school year (early dismissal/late arrival days are exempt).
Recess monitors/teachers shall encourage students to be active during recess.
Teachers shall incorporate movement and kinesthetic learning approaches into “core” subject instruction when possible.
The District shall support active transport to and from school by engaging in the following activities: Crossing guards are used.

Physical Education

All District elementary students in each grade shall receive at least ninety (90) minutes of physical education per week throughout the school year.
All District middle school students in each grade shall receive at least ninety (90) minutes of physical education per week throughout the school year.
All District high school students are required to receive 1.5 credits of physical education prior to graduation.
All physical education classes are taught by licensed teachers who are certified to teach physical education.
Physical education staff shall receive professional development on a yearly basis.
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 School-Based Activities that Promote Wellness

As appropriate, schools shall support students, staff, and parents’ efforts to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Students shall be allowed to bring and carry throughout the day approved water bottles filled with only water.

Staff Wellness

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

Educational activities for school staff members on healthy lifestyle behaviors.
Distribution of an employee health newsletter to promote healthy behaviors.
Administration of flu shots at school.

Community Engagement

The District shall work with community partners, including the county health department and UW-Extension Nutrition Coordinator to support district wellness. The District shall inform and invite parents to participate in school-sponsored activities throughout the year.

Update/Inform the Public

The District will inform families and the public of any updates to the policy through the school website and the Board of Education meetings.

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 and how the policy compares to a model policy, as established by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

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:

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

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.