File: ADF - WELLNESS POLICY

Statement of Purpose

The School Committee recognizes the relationship between student well-being and student achievement as well as the importance of a comprehensive district wellness program.  It is the purpose of the Billerica School District Wellness Policy to promote healthy behaviors and decision-making, and to encourage lifelong patterns of balanced nutrition, exercise, and emotional and physical well being. The wellness program will be implemented in a multidisciplinary fashion and will be evidence based.

Wellness Committee

The Health and Wellness Advisory Committee consists of a parent, student, nurse, school food service representative, school committee member, school administrator, member of the public, teachers of health and physical education, and a representative from a community youth agency.

Nutrition Education Goals

The faculty and staff of the Billerica Public Schools are responsible for educating our students with age-appropriate nutritional knowledge and skills. This can be attained in a variety of ways in many different contexts.

•  Provide food and nutrition education consistent with the Massachusetts State Curriculum Frameworks.

•  Promote healthy nutritional decision making by creating lessons in the content area that are focused on nutrition. For example, calculating calories in math class, science lessons about how food is digested or creating balanced menus in Spanish class.

•  The District´s teaching staff and food service personnel will work together to promote a consistent, coordinated message about nutrition and healthy eating choices.

•  Throughout our school district´s educational programs and activities we endeavor to promote healthy lifestyle choices.

Physical Activity Goals

We are committed as a district to providing students with a formal physical education program, as well as encouraging physical activity throughout the day.

•  Physical activity will be integrated into the classroom day by seizing opportunities throughout the curriculum such as taking a walk to observe nature, taking a stretch break during transitions, incorporating kinesthetic learning activities throughout the lesson,  and movement/dancing/marching with music-related activities.

•  Physical education and an active recess/break are an important part of a student´s learning process.

•  Students are given opportunities for physical activity through a range of before- and/or after-school programs including, but not limited to, intramurals, interscholastic athletics, and physical activity clubs.

•  Fundraisers that promote physical activity (e.g. Walk-a-Thon, Walk for Hunger, Relay for Life, Turkey Trot, etc.) are strongly recommended.

•  Parents and guardians are encouraged to support their children´s participation in physical activity at least 30 minutes a day beyond school hours, to be physically active role models, and to include physical activity in family events.

Other School-Based Activities and Goals Designed to Promote Wellness

Throughout the school day, staff should be promoting healthy habits.

•  The district provides physical activities and/or nutrition services or programs designed to benefit staff health (e.g. Lighten-Up Challenge, smoking cessation programs, Walking Works)

•  All staff should be diligent in making sure that students don´t share food with each other.

•  Provide two annual special events promoting physical fitness for students, employees, parents and the public.  For example the High School Health Fair and the Annual Turkey Trot for Education. 

•  Proper hand washing will be reinforced.

Nutrition Guidelines

All foods and beverages made available during the school day are consistent with state and national standards found in law and regulation.

These nutrition standards apply to all foods and drinks provided in public schools during the school day, including thirty minutes before and thirty minutes after the school day ends.

The district will provide guidelines to promote healthy fundraisers, curriculum-based celebrations, and the promotion of non-food rewards.   

Monitoring and Evaluation of the Policy

Evaluation of this policy will be directed by the Billerica Public Schools Health and Wellness Advisory Committee. The Committee will assess all education curricula and materials pertaining to wellness for accuracy, completeness, balance and consistency with the state and district´s educational goals and standards.  Wellness program coordinators shall be responsible for devising a plan for implementation and evaluation of the district wellness policy and are charged with operational responsibility for ensuring that schools meet the goals of the district wellness policy. Wellness program coordinators will report to the School Committee at least annually on the results of the program and at any time they or the Wellness Advisory Committee may wish to recommend changes to the policy.

LEGAL REFS.:  The Child Nutrition Act of 1966, 42 U.S.C. §§ 1771 - 1789

The Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004, Section 204,

P.L. 108 -265

The Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 1751 - 1769h

The Healthy Hunger Free Kids Act of 2010 - P.L.111-296;

M.G.L. 30B:4; 69:1D; 69:1I; 111:222; 111:223; 105 CMR 225

CROSS REFS.:  EFC, Free and Reduced-Cost Food Services

IHAMA, Teaching About Alcohol, Tobacco and Drugs

KI, Public Solicitations/Advertising in District Facilities