OESJ Central Schools

The District is committed to providing a school environment that promotes and protects children’s health, well-being, and the ability to learn by fostering healthy eating and physical activity.
The District has established a wellness committee to develop the District’s proposed local wellness policy, making such policy recommendations for review and adoption by the Board. The District Wellness Committee includes, but is not limited to, representatives from each of the following groups:
a) Parents;
b) Students;
c) Physical Education teachers;
d) School health professionals;
e) The District’s food service program;
f) The Board;
g) School administrators; and
h) Members of the public.
The District Wellness Committee will also be responsible for assessing current activities, programs, and policies available in the District, and providing mechanisms for implementation, evaluation, and revision of the policy. In so doing, the Wellness Committee will evaluate and make recommendations which reflect the specific needs of the District and its students.

Goals to Promote Student Wellness
The District seeks to ensure all of its students obtain the knowledge and skills necessary to make nutritious food selections and enjoy life-long physical activity. To this end, the District sets forth the following goals relating to nutrition promotion and education, physical activity, and other school-based activities.

Nutrition Promotion and Education
a) Classroom Teaching: Nutrition topics will be integrated within the comprehensive health education curriculum and other instructional areas, as appropriate, and taught at every grade level, K through 12. Nutrition instruction will follow applicable New York State Standards and be designed to help students acquire:
1. Nutrition knowledge, including, but not limited to: the benefits of healthy eating; essential nutrients; nutritional deficiencies; principles of healthy weight management; the use and misuse of dietary supplements; and safe food storage, handling, and preparation.
2. Nutrition-related skills, including, but not limited to: planning healthy meals; understanding and using food labels; critically evaluating nutrition information, misinformation, and commercial food advertising; assessing personal eating habits; and setting and achieving goals related to these concepts.
b) Education, marketing, and promotion
1. As appropriate, the District will promote nutrition education activities that involve parents, students, and the community.
2. The District will promote school and community awareness of this policy through various means, such as a publication on the District website.
3. The District will encourage and promote wellness through social media, newsletters, and an annual family wellness event.
4. Marketing and advertising on school campuses during the school day will be consistent with nutrition education and health promotion. As such, schools will restrict food and beverage marketing to the promotion of those foods and beverages that meet the nutrition standards set forth by the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act’s “Smart Snacks in Schools” Rule.
5. The District is cognizant of the fact that certain scoreboards, signs, and other durable equipment it employs may market foods and beverages in a way that is inconsistent with the aims of this policy. While the immediate replacement of such equipment may be impossible due to existing contracts or prohibitive costs, the District will consider replacing or updating such equipment over time to ensure the message it delivers to students regarding nutrition, health, and well-being is consistent.
c) Additional provisions
1. Parents will be encouraged to send in healthy treats for classroom celebrations.
2. School personnel are strongly discouraged from using food as a reward or withholding food as punishment under any circumstance.

Physical Activity
a) The District will provide opportunities for every student to participate in physical education and to be involved in physical activities. In doing so, the District aims to promote among students the development of knowledge and skills for specific physical activities, the maintenance of physical fitness, regular participation in physical activity, and an understanding of the short-term and long-term benefits from a physically active and healthy lifestyle.
b) The District will ensure that the following standards are met to achieve its goals relative to physical education and physical activity:
1. The District will have a Board-approved Physical Education Plan on file with the New York State Education Department that meets or exceeds the requirements set forth in Section 135.4 of the Commissioner’s regulations.
2. The District recognizes the importance of physical education classes in providing students with meaningful opportunities for physical exercise and development. Consequently, the District will ensure:
(a) All physical education classes are taught or supervised by a certified physical education teacher;
(b) All physical education staff receive professional development on a yearly basis;
(c) Interscholastic sports, intramural sports, and recess do not serve as substitutes for a quality physical education program;
(d) Students are afforded the opportunity to participate in moderate to vigorous activity for at least 60% of physical education class;
(e) It provides adequate space and equipment for physical education and conforms to all applicable safety standards;
(f) A sequential physical education course of study consistent with national standards for physical education is implemented, with a focus on students’ development of motor skills, movement forms, and health-related fitness;
(g) A physical and social environment is provided that encourages safe and enjoyable activity for all students, including those who are not athletically gifted.
(h) Activities are adapted to meet the needs of students who are temporarily or permanently unable to participate in the regular program of physical education. In doing so, the District will abide by specific provisions in 504 Plans and/or individualized education programs (IEP).
(i) All students, including students in need of adaptive physical education, will be encouraged to participate in physical fitness programs and competitions.
3. All students will be required to fulfill the physical education requirements set forth in the Commissioner’s regulations as a condition of graduating from the District’s schools.
c) All classroom teachers, and particularly those engaged in the instruction of K through 5 students, are strongly encouraged to incorporate into the school day short breaks for students that include physical activity, especially after long periods of inactivity. Additionally, all elementary students will be offered one daily period of recess for a minimum of 20 minutes. This requirement will not apply on days where students arrive late, leave early, or are otherwise on campus for less than a full day. Where weather and/or facilities allow, recess will be offered in a place that accommodates moderate to vigorous physical activity.
d) Physical activity will not be withheld for disciplinary action unless the student is a danger to him or herself or others. Recess or other physical activity time will not be cancelled for instructional make up time.

Other School-Based Activities
The District is committed to establishing a school environment that is conducive to healthy eating and physical activity for all. The District will, therefore, adopt the following standards:
a) Federal School Meal Programs
1. The District will participate to the maximum extent practicable in available federal school meal programs (including the School Breakfast Program, National School Lunch Program, and Summer Food Service Program). Food served through these programs will meet all applicable federal and state standards.
2. The District will ensure that food service directors, managers, and staff are provided with annual professional development in the areas of food and nutrition consistent with USDA Professional Standards for State and Local Nutrition Programs. District food service staff will meet with students in grades 4 through 12 twice annually to solicit feedback on the school breakfast and/or school lunch program(s).
b) Access to School Nutrition Programs
The District will utilize a system of student payment that ensures all eligible students have access to free/reduced meals in a non-stigmatizing manner.
c) Meal Environment
The District will ensure:
1. School dining areas have sufficient space for students to sit and consume meals;
2. School dining areas are clean, safe, and pleasant environments that reflect the social value of eating;
3. Enough serving areas are provided to ensure student access to school meals with a minimum of wait time;
4. All students have a scheduled lunch period;
5. Lunch times are scheduled near the middle of the school day;
6. Students are given adequate time to eat healthy meals;
7. Students and staff have access to free, safe, and fresh drinking water throughout the school day and where school meals are served.
d) Community Access to District Facilities for Physical Activities
School grounds and facilities will be available to students, staff, community members and organizations, and agencies offering physical activity and nutrition programs consistent with District policy, including provisions regarding conduct on school grounds and administrative approval of use by outside organizations.
e) Community Partnerships
The District will develop relationships with community partners in support of this wellness policy’s implementation. Existing and new community partnerships will be evaluated to ensure they are consistent with this policy and its goals.

Nutrition Guidelines
In an effort to encourage healthy life-long eating habits by providing foods that are high in nutrients, low in fat and added sugars, and of moderate portion size, the District Wellness Committee will recommend nutrition standards to be set for all foods and beverages available on school campus. For purposes of this section, the school day is defined as the period from the midnight before, to 30 minutes after the end of the official school day.

School Meals
School meals will, at a minimum, meet the program requirements and nutrition standards of the School Breakfast and National School Lunch Programs.

Fundraising
a) All food and beverages sold as a fundraiser during the school day will meet the nutritional requirements listed in the USDA Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act “Smart Snacks in Schools” Rule.
b) School-sponsored fundraisers conducted outside of the school day will be encouraged to support the goals of this policy by promoting the sale of healthy food items (fresh fruit and produce) and/or non-food items, such as water bottles, plants, etc., and by promoting events involving physical activity.
c) School administrators, with the assistance of the District Wellness Committee, will create and promote a list of approved fundraising activities. All fundraisers taking place during the school day must be approved by the appropriate building principal prior to their being conducted.

Competitive Foods
a) Competitive foods–which include all foods and beverages sold outside the school meal programs, on the school campus in student accessible areas, and at any time during the school day–will follow, at a minimum, the nutrition standards specified by the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act. These standards will apply to all foods and beverages sold individually and outside of the reimbursable school meal, including vending machines, school stores, and cafeteria a la carte lines.
b) Additionally, the District will not sell foods of minimal nutritional value in the student store, from a machine, or anywhere in the building from the beginning of the school day until the end of the last lunch period. Prohibited foods include: soda water, water ices (excluding ices containing fruit or fruit juices), chewing gum, hard candy, jellies, gums, marshmallow candies, licorice, fondants (soft mints, candy corn), cotton candy, and candy-coated popcorn.

Foods and Beverages Sold or Served at Events Outside of the School Day
a) All foods and beverages sold or served at school-sponsored events will be a single serving.
b) At events where food and beverages are sold, 50% of items sold must meet the USDA Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act “Smart Snacks in Schools” Standards.

Implementation and Evaluation of the Wellness Policy
a) The District will establish an implementation and evaluation plan for this policy in order to monitor its effectiveness and the possible need for modification over time. To this end, the District designates the following individual to have operational responsibility for ensuring that the District meets the goals and mandates of this policy: District Health Coordinator.
b) This designated staff member will also serve as a liaison with community agencies in providing outside resources to help in the development of nutritional education programs and promotion of physical activities.
c) The District will annually report on the progress each of its schools has made toward meeting the goals of this policy. Such report will include:
1. The website address for the wellness policy and/or information on how the public can access a copy;
2. A description of each school’s progress in meeting the wellness policy goals;
3. A summary of each school’s local school wellness events or activities;
4. Contact information for the leader(s) of the Wellness Committee; and
5. Information on how individuals can get involved in the Wellness Committee’s work.
This report will be provided to the Board and also distributed to the Wellness Committee, parent-teacher organizations, building principals, and school health services personnel within the District. The report will be available to community residents upon request.
d) Evaluation and feedback from interested parties, including an assessment of student, parent, teacher, and administration satisfaction with the wellness policy, are welcomed as an essential part of the District’s evaluation program.
e) The District will document the financial impact, if any, to the school food service program, school stores, and vending machine revenues based on the implementation of the wellness policy.
f) Assessments of the District’s wellness policy and implementation efforts will be repeated on a triennial basis. The assessment will include:
1. Compliance with the wellness policy;
2. How the wellness policy compares to model wellness policies; and
3. Progress made in attaining the goals of the wellness policy.
g) The District will, as necessary, revise this wellness policy and develop work plans to facilitate its implementation.
42 USC § 1758(b)
7 CFR § 210.11
79 FR 10693
Education Law § 915
8 NYCRR § 135.4
Adopted: 7/1/13
Revised: 9/4/14; 1/4/17

Charles Sherman
Food Service Director
Charles.sherman@oesj.org
518-920-2008
518-727-6125