8510 - WELLNESS

As required by law, the Board for the Pardeeville Area School District 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.

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.

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 meals are accessible to all students.
4. All school campuses are “closed” meaning that students are not permitted to leave the school grounds during the school day.

Standards for Foods and Beverages Sold Outside of School Meals

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 

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.

Fund-Raising

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.

Marketing

Schools may 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 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. Nutrition education, a component of comprehensive health education, shall be offered every year to all students of the District. The District aims to teach, model, encourage, and support healthy eating by providing nutrition education.
2. Nutrition education shall be included in the sequential, comprehensive health curriculum in accordance with the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction Model Academic Standards for Nutrition.
3. Nutrition education shall be integrated into other subject areas of the curriculum, when appropriate, to complement, but not replace, the standards and benchmarks for health education.
4. Nutrition education shall include enjoyable, developmentally appropriate and culturally relevant participatory activities, such as contests, promotions, taste testing, and others.
5. Nutrition education shall include opportunities for appropriate student projects related to nutrition, involving, when possible, community agencies and organizations.
6. Nutrition education shall extend beyond the classroom by engaging and involving the school's food service staff.
7. Nutrition education posters, such as the MyPlate Guide, will be displayed in the cafeteria.
8. Nutrition education shall extend beyond the school by engaging and involving families and the community.
9. Nutrition education shall reinforce lifelong balance by emphasizing the link between caloric intake (eating) and exercise in ways that are age-appropriate.
10. Nutrition education benchmarks and standards include a focus on media literacy as it relates to food marketing strategies.
11. 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.
12. Instruction related to the standards and benchmarks for nutrition education shall be provided by highly qualified teachers.

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. The District shall provide students with age and grade-appropriate opportunities to engage in physical activity.
2. Physical activity during the school day shall not be withheld as punishment.
3. Physical activity and movement shall be integrated, when possible, across the curricula and throughout the school day.
4. Schools shall encourage families to provide physical activity outside the regular school day, such as outdoor play at home, participation in sports sponsored by community agencies or organizations, and in lifelong physical activities like bowling, swimming, or tennis.

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. Planned instruction in physical education shall be sufficient for students to achieve a proficient level with regard to the standards and benchmarks adopted by the State.
4. 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.
5. The physical education curriculum shall provide sequential instruction related to the knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary to participate in lifelong, health-enhancing physical activity.
6. The sequential, comprehensive physical education curriculum shall stress the importance of remaining physically active for life.
7. The K-12 program shall include instruction in physical education as well as opportunities to participate in competitive and non-competitive team sports to encourage lifelong physical activity.
8. Planned instruction in physical education shall require students to be engaged in moderate to vigorous physical activity for at least fifty percent (50%) of scheduled class time.
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.
10. Planned instruction in physical education shall teach cooperation, fair play, and responsible participation.
11. Planned instruction in physical education shall meet the needs of all students, including those who are not athletically gifted.
12. Planned instruction in physical education shall be presented in an environment free of embarrassment, humiliation, shaming, taunting, bullying, or harassment of any kind.
13. Planned instruction in physical education shall include cooperative as well as competitive games.

Other Activities That Promote School Wellness:

1. Students, parents, and other community members shall have access to, and be encouraged to use, the school's outdoor physical activity facilities outside the normal school day.
2. The school may provide opportunities for staff, parents, and other community members to model healthy eating habits by dining with students in the school dining areas.
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.
4. The District supports the implementation of other programs that help create a school environment that conveys consistent wellness messages in an effort to promote student well-being.
5. As appropriate, schools shall support students, staff, and parents’ efforts to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

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. Administration of flu shots at school.
3. Periodic screening at school for blood pressure, blood cholesterol, body mass index, and/or other health indicators.

Additional Strategies for Consideration:

1. The schools shall schedule mealtimes so there is minimum disruption by bus schedules, recess, and other special programs or events.
2. The school shall provide attractive, clean environments in which the students eat.
3. Activities, such as tutoring or club meetings, shall not be scheduled during mealtimes, unless students may eat during those meetings.
4. 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.
5. 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, and reducing childhood obesity, 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. All foods available on campus at any time shall comply with the current USDA nutrition guidelines, including competitive foods that are available to students a la carte in the dining area, as well as foods that are served as classroom snacks, from vending machines, for fund-raisers, for classroom parties, at holiday celebrations, at concession stands, or at any school-related event.
6. The food service program shall be administered by a director who is properly qualified, certificated, licensed, or credentialed, according to current professional standards.
7. All food service personnel shall receive pre-service training in food service operations.
8. 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.

The District Administrator shall be responsible for informing the public, including parents, students and community members, on the content and implementation of this policy. In order to inform the public, the District Administrator shall distribute information at the beginning of the school year to families of school children, 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;
4. documentation of efforts to review and update the policy, including identification of the participating and invited stakeholders.

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 11/2/15
Revised 2/5/18
Revised 2/21/22
T.C. 10/16/23
Revised 11/18/24

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