Brookline School Wellness Policy

Context

The Child Nutrition and WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) Reauthorization Act of 2004 requires all schools to develop a local wellness policy and establish a plan for measuring the implementation of the policy. Children need access to healthful foods and educational content and experiences that promote wellness. The School Committee recognizes the relationship between student well-being and student achievement. PSB will have a coordinated sequentially and developmentally appropriate nutrition and physical education program.

Wellness Committee

The Superintendent shall appoint a Wellness Committee, subject to existing laws and managed by a Chair from the Administration with the appropriate background. The Chair will work with the Superintendent and/or designee to create procedures in connection with this policy. This includes creating measurable objectives, implementation and evaluation of activities that support this policy.

Nutrition Education

Nutrition will be taught at each level, K-8 and high school, in order to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to promote and protect health. Nutrition instruction will be developmentally and culturally appropriate, and integrated with existing curriculum where appropriate and feasible.

Physical Activity Goals

Students will be encouraged to participate in physical activity during the school day through physical education classes, daily recess periods for elementary school students, and the integration of physical activity into the academic curriculum where appropriate. Students will also be encouraged to participate in physical activity through a range of before and after school programs including, but not limited to, intramurals, interscholastic athletics, and physical activity clubs. In general, a physical rather than sedentary lifestyle will be encouraged.

School Administration procedures connected with this policy will address the following:

• Duration, frequency, and intensity of physical education;
• Duration and timing of recess in the elementary schools.
• Where appropriate, data from the Health Education Program Review will be used to develop or revise these procedures.
When safe, and when age appropriate, walking and biking to school will be encouraged.

Nutrition Guidelines

• Maximize nutritional value by decreasing fat and added sugars while increasing nutrient density.
• Moderate portion size of each individual food or beverage sold within the school environment.
• Specify that its procedures will be based on nutrition goals, not profit motives.

The same food and beverage criteria will be applied in the following situations:

• Foods and beverages sold in snack bars, school stores, concession stands and distributed during extended day programs.
• Foods and beverages sold as part of school-sponsored fundraising activities.
• Refreshments served at parties, celebrations, and meetings during the school day.

Other School-Based Activities

Other school based activities will include encouraging the improvement of wellness. School administration procedures will address:

• Eating environments at all times to be clean, safe and promote a healthy and enjoyable dining experience. This includes ensuring adequate supervision during lunch periods.
• The adequacy of meal periods scheduled at appropriate times.
• Involvement of school administration staff in town-wide wellness activities.

Measurement and Evaluation

The Superintendent, in consultation with the Wellness Committee, will be responsible for devising a plan for implementation and evaluation of this wellness program. The Superintendent will report to the School Committee upon request, but no less than every three years.

(Note: The expectation is that Administration will report to School Committee by end of year with procedures, implementation plans, and performance measurements.)

New Policy Adopted by Brookline School Committee: 9/28/06, #06-88