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בס''ד 122 Cutter Mill Road Great Neck, N.Y. 11021Tel. (516) 466-3656 Fax (516) 466-0774www.lihagn.org · [email protected] PolicyTable of Contents1. Introduction2. Nutrition Goals3. Fitness Goals4. Promoting Student Wellness5. School Wellness Committee5a. Wellness Policy Implementation & Monitoring5b. Community Engagement1. IntroductionGood nutrition and physical activity before, during, and after the school day, are stronglyconnected with positive student outcomes. For example, students who eat a proper meal for breakfastand lunch have proven to score higher grades and better test scores. However, when students eat lesshealthy foods or below the recommended amounts, they achieve lower grades on average. In addition,students who are physically active through walking or biking to and from school, recess, physical activitybreaks, and extracurricular activities – do better in school overall.This policy details our school’s Wellness goals for all students to practice healthy eating and physicalactivity behaviors throughout the school day. Specifically, this policy ensures that: Students in our school have access to healthy foods throughout the school day—throughreimbursable school meals (and other foods available throughout the school campus)—following Federal and state nutrition standards;Students receive quality nutrition education that helps them develop lifelong healthy eatingbehaviors;Students have opportunities to be physically active before, during, and after school;A schedule is set up to review management, implementation, and communication about, andmonitoring of the Wellness policy.Staff Qualifications and Professional DevelopmentAll new school nutrition program directors, managers, and staff will meet or exceed hiring andannual continuing education/training requirements in the USDA professional standards for childnutrition professionals. This policy applies to all students and staff in the school.
2. Nutrition GoalsSchool MealsOur school is committed to serving healthy meals to children, with plenty of fruits, vegetables,whole grains, and fat-free and low-fat milk; moderate in sodium, low in saturated fat, and zero gramstrans fat per serving (nutrition label or manufacturer’s specification); and to meet the nutrition needs ofschool children within their calorie requirements. Our school meal programs aim to improve the dietand health of school children, help lessen childhood obesity, model healthy eating and support healthychoices.Our school participates in USDA child nutrition programs, including: National School Lunch Program (NSLP) School Breakfast Program (SBP) School Snack ProgramOur school will make sure that meals served through the above programs: Are accessible to all students;Are appealing and attractive to children;Are served in clean and pleasant settings;Meet or exceed current nutrition requirements established by local, state, and Federal statutesand regulations. (Our school offers reimbursable school meals that meet USDA nutritionstandards.)Our school makes healthy choices more attractive by: Displaying fruit in attractive bowls or basketsDaily fruit options are displayed in a location in the line of sight and reach of studentsEncouraging the students to eat the healthy options.Alternative options (e.g., salad bar, yogurt parfaits, etc.) are highlighted on posters or signswithin all service and dining areas (where applicable).Our child nutrition program accommodates students with special dietary needs.Where possible, lunch will follow the recess period to better support learning and healthyeating.Participation in Federal child nutrition programs will be promoted among students and familiesto help ensure that families know what programs are available in their children’s school.WaterTo encourage students to drink water, our school will make drinking water available whereschool meals are served during meal times. Water cups/jugs will be available in the cafeteria if there isno drinking fountain.Foods and Beverages outside of the CafeteriaOur school is committed to ensuring that all foods and beverages available to students duringthe school day support healthy eating. The foods and beverages served outside of the school meal
programs will meet the USDA Smart Snacks in School nutrition standards, at a minimum. There are noadditional meals or food sold outside the cafeteria. Class Parties & Fundraising Foods brought for partiesor fundraising must follow the Smart Snack standards. Party examples include Rosh Chodesh, a Siyum,and Birthday parties. Our school will provide a list of healthy party and fundraising ideas to parents andteachers, including non-food celebration ideas.Nutrition EducationOur school aims to teach, model, encourage, and support healthy eating by students. We willprovide nutrition education that: Is integrated into other classroom instruction through subjects such as math, science, languagearts, social sciences, and elective subjects;Include enjoyable activities such as cooking demonstrations or lessons, promotions, tastetesting, farm visits, and school gardens where applicable;Promote fruits, vegetables, whole-grain products, low-fat and fat-free dairy products, andhealthy food preparation methods;Include nutrition education training for teachers and other staff.Essential Healthy Eating TopicsOur school will try and include the following topics on healthy eating in the classroom curriculum: The relationship between healthy eating and personal health and disease preventionEating a variety of foods every dayBalancing food intake and physical activityEating more fruits, vegetables, and whole grain productsChoosing foods that are low in fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol and do not contain trans fatChoosing foods and beverages with little added sugarsEating more calcium-rich foodsHow to prepare healthy meals and snacksThe importance of drinking waterThe importance of eating breakfast, lunch and supper Food Marketing in Schools Care will betaken to avoid any food marketing in the school and where applicable, make sure that it isappropriate and promoting healthy eating standards.Withholding Food as PunishmentOur school will provide teachers and other school staff with a list of alternative ways to rewardchildren. Foods and beverages will not be used as a reward, or withheld as punishment for any reason,such as for performance or behavior.3. Fitness GoalsChildren and teenagers should try and participate in 60 minutes of physical activity every daythrough: Physical education,Recess,
Classroom-based physical activity,Walk or bicycle to school,Out-of-school time activities.To the extent possible, our school will ensure that its grounds and facilities are safe and thatequipment is available to students to be active.Physical EducationWhere possible, our school will provide students with physical education using a physicaleducation curriculum consistent with national and state standards for physical education. All studentswill be provided equal opportunity to participate in physical education classes. Our school will aim toprovide all elementary students in each grade with physical education for at least 60-89 minutes perweek throughout the school year. All secondary students (middle and high school) are required to takethe equivalent of one academic year of physical education.Physical Activity Topics in School CurriculumOur school will work to include the following topics on physical activity in the school curriculum: How physical activity can contribute to a healthy weightHow physical activity can contribute to the academic learning processOpportunities for physical activity in the communityPreventing injury during physical activityWeather-related safety, for example, avoiding heat stroke, hypothermia, and sunburn whilebeing physically activeRecess ElementaryAll elementary schools will offer at least 20 minutes of recess on all or most days during theschool year.Withholding Physical Activity as PunishmentPhysical activity during the school day (including but not limited to recess, physical activitybreaks, or physical education) will not be withheld as punishment for any reason. Our school will provideteachers and other school staff with a list of ideas for alternative ways to discipline students.4. Promoting Student WellnessBefore and After School ActivitiesOur school encourages students to participate in physical activity either before and/or after theschool day (or both) through a variety of methods.Our school will also have various after school programs where students can participate inphysical activity, such as sports or dance.
5. School Wellness CommitteeOur school will put together a Wellness committee that meets at least four times per year to overseedevelopment, implementation, and regular review and update of this Wellness policy. The committeewill represent all school levels (elementary and secondary schools) and include: parents; students;School Food Director; school health professionals (i.e., nurses, physicians, dentists); mental health andsocial services professionals [i.e., school counselors, psychologists, social workers, or psychiatrists];school administrators (ex., principal, vice principal), community or parent body health professionals (ex.,dietitians, doctors, dentists); and the general public.5a. Wellness Policy Implementation & Monitoring Implementation PlanOur school will develop and maintain a plan for the implementation of this wellness policy. Theplan includes information about who will be responsible for changes, as well as specific goals fornutrition standards for all foods and beverages available on the school campus, nutritioneducation, physical activity, physical education, and other activities that promote studentwellness. Wellness Documents This wellness policy can be found at: www.lihagn.org OR at theschool’s office. The following documents are available upon request:oooooThe written wellness policy;Information about involvement in the implementation and review of the policy;Documentation of annual policy progress reports;Documentation of the triennial assessment of the policy;Documentation demonstrating compliance with public notification requirements,including:o Methods by which the wellness policy, annual progress reports, and assessmentsare made available to the public (For example: newspaper article, parent letter,school newsletter or email);o Efforts to actively notify families about the availability of wellness policy.Annual Progress ReportsOur school will compile and publish an annual report to share basic information about thewellness policy. This annual report will be published around the same time each year inSeptember. This report will include:ooooThe website address for the wellness policy and/or how the public can receive/access acopy of the wellness policy;A description of the school’s progress in meeting the wellness policy goals;The name, position title, and contact information of the School Food Director.Information on how individuals and the public can get involved. The annual report willbe available in all relevant languages.Our school will actively notify households/families of the availability of the annual report.Wellness Implementation Assessment ToolAt least once every three years, the school will complete a Wellness ImplementationAssessment Tool. The Assessment will be completed by the Food Service Director and amember of the Wellness Committee. We will actively notify households/families of the
availability of the Wellness Implementation Assessment. Revisions and Updating thePolicy The wellness policy will be updated if needed based on the results of the annualprogress reports and triennial assessments, and/or as school priorities change;community needs change; wellness goals are met; new health science, information, andtechnology emerges; and new Federal or state guidance or standards are issued.5b. Community Engagement Community InvolvementOur school is committed to being responsive to community input, which begins withawareness of the wellness policy. We will actively communicate ways in which the communityand others can participate in the development, implementation, and periodic review and updateof the wellness policy. We will also inform parents of the availability of child nutrition programsand how to apply. We will send emails and/or newsletters to ensure that all families know aboutthe Wellness Policy and how to get involved. We will actively notify the public about the contentof or any updates to the wellness policy annually, at a minimum.In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, theUSDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited fromdiscriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in anyprogram or activity conducted or funded by USDA.Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print,audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individualswho are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found onlineat: http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint filing cust.html, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide inthe letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992.Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:(1) Mail: U.S. Department of AgricultureOffice of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights1400 Independence Avenue, SWWashington, D.C. 20250-9410;(2) Fax: (202) 690-7442; or(3) Email: program.in[email protected] institution is an equal opportunity provider.
www.lihagn.org · [email protected] Wellness Policy Table of Contents 1. Introduction 2. Nutrition Goals 3. Fitness Goals 4. Promoting Student Wellness 5. School Wellness Committee . Our school is committed to serving healthy meals to children, with plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grai
