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Wellness Policy

Local Wellness Policy  

 

Preface 

The Michigan State Board of Education recognizes and acknowledges that “schools cannot achieve their primary mission of education if students and staff are not physically, mentally and socially healthy.” The Board believes that schools should provide a campus-wide environment where students are taught healthy eating and physical activity knowledge, skills, and values. In addition, the campus-wide environment should provide ample opportunity to practice these skills on a daily basis. 

A local school wellness policy is a written document that guides a school’s efforts to establish a school building environment that promotes students’ health, well-being, and ability to learn. The wellness policy requirement was established by the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004, and further strengthened by the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 (HHFKA). It is specific to schools, as opposed to School Food Authorities that participate in the National School Lunch Program and/or School Breakfast Program. The responsibility for developing, implementing, and evaluating a wellness policy is placed at the local level so the unique needs of each school can be addressed.

This State Board of Education Model Local School Wellness Policy was developed to assist Michigan school districts in developing their own local wellness policies. This document supersedes the 2005 model policy and must be modified to reflect local school district policy and procedure. Evidence-based goals must be specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time based (SMART). 

Wellness Committee and Policy Leadership

Committee Role and Membership 

The school will convene a representative wellness committee to establish goals for and oversee school health policies and programs, including development, implementation, and periodic review and update of this wellness policy. 

The committee will represent all school building levels and include to the extent possible, but not be limited to: parents and caregivers, students, representatives of the school nutrition program, physical education teachers, health education teachers, school health professionals (e.g., nurses, physicians, dentists, health educators, and other allied health personnel who provide school health services), mental health and social services staff (e.g., school counselors, psychologists, social workers, or psychiatrists), school administrators, school board members, health professionals (e.g., dietitians, doctors, nurses, dentists), and the general public. When possible, membership will also include Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed) coordinators. To the extent possible, the committee will reflect the diversity of the community.

Wellness Policy Leadership 

The school will establish wellness policy leadership of one or more district and/or school building official(s) (e.g., superintendent, building principal) who have the authority and responsibility to ensure the school building complies with this policy.

The designated official for oversight is Ismail Yurtdakal, Compliance Director [email protected]

 

Nutrition 

Nutrition Education 

Every year, all students shall receive nutrition education that is aligned with the Michigan Health Education Grade Level Content Expectations and the Michigan Merit Curriculum Guidelines for Health Education. Nutrition education that teaches the knowledge, skills, and values needed to adopt healthy eating behaviors shall be integrated into the curriculum. Nutrition education information shall be offered throughout the school campus including, but not limited to, school dining areas and classrooms. Staff members who provide nutrition education shall have the appropriate training.

School’s evidence-based SMART goal(s) for Nutrition Education: 

  • Students can bring in bottled water from home, may have water bottles at their desks, and are given ample opportunities to refill water containers.
  • Lunch will follow the recess period to better support learning and healthy eating.

Nutrition Promotion 

Nutrition promotion and education positively influence lifelong eating behaviors by using evidence-based techniques and nutrition messages, and by creating food environments that encourage healthy nutrition choices and participation in school meal programs. Students and staff will receive consistent nutrition messages throughout school buildings, classrooms, gymnasiums, and cafeterias. Nutrition promotion also includes marketing and advertising nutritious foods and beverages to students and is most effective when implemented consistently through a comprehensive and multi-channel approach by school building staff, teachers, parents, students, and the community.

 The school will promote healthy food and beverage choices for all students throughout the school campus, as well as encourage participation in school meal programs.

School’s evidence-based SMART goal(s) for Nutrition Promotion: 

  • School hosts field trips to local farms and makes farm-to-table connections.
  • All school cafeterias will have a minimum of three taste tests per school year for locally grown products.

Standards and Nutrition Guidelines for all Foods and Beverages 

The school shall encourage students to make nutritious food choices and ensure that all foods and beverages sold to students on the school campus during the school day are consistent with federal and state regulations. 

Reimbursable school meals must meet requirements found in United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s Nutrition Standards for School Meals. All foods and beverages sold to students outside the federally regulated child nutrition programs (referred to as “competitive” foods and beverages) must be consistent with USDA’s Smart Snacks in School nutrition standards and Michigan Department of Education Administrative Policy No. 21 regarding Non-Compliant Food Fundraiser Guidance. These standards apply in all areas where foods and beverages are sold which may include, but are not limited to, à la carte lines, fundraising events, school stores, snack carts, and vending machines. 

The school will establish nutrition standards for all foods and beverages provided, but not sold, to students during the school day (e.g., classroom parties, classroom snacks provided by parents, or other foods used as incentives).

School’s evidence-based nutrition standards for all foods and beverages provided, but not sold, to students during the school day:

  • School provides a variety of fruits and vegetables.  
  • School requests healthy snacks provided for class field trips and celebrations.
  • School provides students with information about healthy snacks.

Food and Beverage Marketing 

Food and beverage marketing is defined as advertising and other promotions in schools. Food and beverage marketing often includes oral, written, or graphic statements made for the purpose of promoting the sale of a food or beverage product made by the producer, manufacturer, seller, or any other entity with a commercial interest in the product.

It is the intent of the school to protect and promote student’s health and to provide consistent health-related messaging. Any foods and beverages marketed or promoted to students on the school campus during the school day will meet the USDA Smart Snacks in School nutrition standards.

As the school reviews existing contracts and considers new contracts, equipment and/or product purchasing and replacement, decisions will reflect these marketing guidelines.

Physical Activity and Physical Education 

The school shall offer physical education opportunities that include the components of a quality physical education program. Physical education shall equip students with the knowledge, skills, and values necessary for lifelong physical activity. Physical education instruction shall be aligned with the Michigan Physical Education Grade Level Content Expectations and the Michigan Merit Curriculum Guidelines for Physical Education.

School’s evidence-based SMART goal(s) for Physical Education: 

  • Planned instruction in physical education shall teach cooperation, fair play, and responsible participation.

Students shall have the opportunity to participate regularly in supervised physical activities, either organized or unstructured, intended to maintain physical fitness and to understand the short- and long-term benefits of a physically active and healthy lifestyle.

School’s evidence-based SMART goal(s) for Physical Activity: 

  • Physical activity and movement shall be integrated across the curricula and throughout the school day.
  • Students participate regularly in supervised physical activities intended to maintain physical fitness.

Other School-based Activities that Promote Student Wellness 

The school will implement other evidence-based programs across the school setting to create environments that are conducive to healthy eating and physical activity and convey consistent health messages. 

School’s evidence-based SMART goal(s) for other school-based activities that promote student wellness:

  • The school will promote to families the benefits of healthy eating and physical activity.
  • The school provides classroom Quest self-esteem activities.

 

 

Implementation, Assessment, Documentation, and Updates

Implementation 

The school will develop and maintain a plan to manage and coordinate the implementation of this wellness policy. The plan will delineate roles, responsibilities, actions, and timelines. It is recommended that school buildings use the Healthy School Action Tool (HSAT) to complete a school-level assessment and create an evidence-based action plan that fosters implementation. 

Triennial Assessment 

The school will conduct an assessment of the wellness policy every three years, at a minimum. The assessment will determine: building level compliance with the wellness policy, how the wellness policy compares to model wellness policies, and progress made in attaining the goals of the wellness policy.

The person responsible for the Triennial Assessment is Ismail Yurtdakal, Compliance Director [email protected].

Documentation 

The school will retain records to document compliance with the wellness policy requirements. Documentation maintained will include: a copy or web address of the current wellness policy, documentation on how the policy and assessments are made available to the public, the most recent assessment of implementation of the policy, and documentation of efforts to review and update the policy, including who was involved in the process, their relationship to the school, and how stakeholders were made aware of their ability to participate.

This wellness policy can be found at https://www.mimmsad.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=2652240&type=d&pREC_ID=2667880

Required documentation will be maintained at the School Office.

Updates to the Policy 

The school will update or modify the wellness policy as appropriate based on the results of the HSAT and Triennial Assessments; as school priorities change; community needs change; wellness goals are met; new health science, information, and technology emerges; and new federal or state guidance or standards are issued. The wellness policy will be updated at least every three years, following the Triennial Assessment.

Public Updates 

The school will inform the public annually about the local wellness policy, including its content and any updates to and about the policy. The Triennial Assessment, including progress toward meeting the goals of the policy, will also be made available to the public. The school will provide information on how the public can participate on the wellness committee and assist with the development, implementation, and periodic review and update of the wellness policy. All communication will be culturally and linguistically appropriate and will be available via the school’s website and/or school communications (email, newsletters, mailings).