Health and Wellness School Board Policy for School Based Activities
Fundraisers- School fundraising activities that take place during the school day, defined as midnight to a half hour after school, will either not involve food or will use only foods that meet the USDA Smarts Snacks guidelines. The school principal may authorize a maximum of 2 school-wide events involving rewards including food or beverage per year (ex: Jog-a-thon incentives). The school district Child Nutrition Services department will serve as a resource to determine if foods and beverages at fundraisers comply with food and beverage restrictions. School fundraising activities that take place outside of the school day will not be subject to these restrictions.
Student organization sales must meet all of the following USDA Smart Snack guidelines:
1. Only one food or beverage item per sale.
2. The food or beverage item must be pre-approved by the governing board of the school district (For a list of compliant foods and beverages, please refer to pages 4 and 5 of this policy).
3. The sale must occur after the lunch period has ended.
4. The food or beverage item cannot be prepared on campus.
5. The food or beverage item cannot be the same item sold in the food service program at that school during the same school day.
Snacks- Snacks served during the school day or in after-school care or enrichment programs will make a positive contribution to children's diets and health, with an emphasis on serving fruits and vegetables as the primary snacks and water as the primary beverage. Schools will assess if and when to offer snacks based on timing of school meals, children's nutritional needs, children's ages, and other considerations. The district will disseminate a list of healthful snack items to teachers, after-school program personnel, and parents.
If eligible, schools that provide snacks through after-school programs will pursue receiving reimbursements through the National School Lunch Program.
Rewards- Schools will not use foods or beverages as classroom rewards for academic performance or good behavior, (unless this practice is allowed by a student's individual education plan) and will not withhold food or beverages (including food served through school meals) as a punishment. Schools are encouraged to provide non food rewards as an alternative (ex: themed dance parties, glow stick parties).
Birthday Celebrations-Individual classrooms may have up to one birthday celebration each month. School sites are encouraged to use alternatives to food and beverages for classroom celebrations and it is recommended that parents and teachers consider non-food focused events (ex. races, games). If food is preferred, it is strongly encouraged to select a healthy food or beverage alternative (ex. healthy popsicles, fresh fruit, smoothies).
School sites and individual teachers are encouraged to acknowledge an individual child's birthday through alternative means (ex: a song, announcement on the loud speaker, homework pass, choosing a P.E. game, or other special activities), allowing for the student to be acknowledged on their actual birthday as well as during the monthly celebration. Classrooms may also coordinate and elicit feedback from parents/room parents to individualize classroom birthday celebrations
Classroom Celebrations- Schools must limit celebrations* that involve food or beverage during the school day to no more than 4 per year per classroom (ex: Fall, Winter or Spring celebrations), as specified by the USDA Smart Snacks guidelines. The following guidelines are to be followed when classroom celebrations do occur:
* Classroom celebrations must occur after the lunch hour.
* Parents must be notified of the date and time of these celebrations at least 5 days in advance and can choose to provide alternative foods or beverages for their child(ren).
* Store bought foods must contain an ingredients label, or if prepared at home, foods must be accompanied by a list of ingredients.
* Parents are asked to be mindful of the students with nut allergies and to notify the classroom if their food contains this ingredient.
* Parents, teachers and staff who bring in food for classroom celebrations are encouraged to provide items that meet the USDA Smart Snack guidelines for healthy snacks and entrees.
Curriculum based activities involving food or beverage are not considered classroom celebrations (ex: Gold Rush Day, Teaching Kitchens, Garden Science, etc.). The Child Nutrition Department can provide a list of healthy snack ideas for sites requesting assistance. At the principals' discretion, there may be reasonable exceptions to this policy (ex. lunch with the principal).
School-Sponsored Events(such as, but not limited to, athletic events, dances, or performances) - Foods and beverages offered or sold at school-sponsored events outside the school day will meet the nutrition standards for meals or for foods and beverages sold individually (above). A school-sponsored event where students will be involved and consuming food will follow the nutrition standards outlined above.
Fundraisers- School fundraising activities that take place during the school day, defined as midnight to a half hour after school, will either not involve food or will use only foods that meet the USDA Smarts Snacks guidelines. The school principal may authorize a maximum of 2 school-wide events involving rewards including food or beverage per year (ex: Jog-a-thon incentives). The school district Child Nutrition Services department will serve as a resource to determine if foods and beverages at fundraisers comply with food and beverage restrictions. School fundraising activities that take place outside of the school day will not be subject to these restrictions.
Student organization sales must meet all of the following USDA Smart Snack guidelines:
1. Only one food or beverage item per sale.
2. The food or beverage item must be pre-approved by the governing board of the school district (For a list of compliant foods and beverages, please refer to pages 4 and 5 of this policy).
3. The sale must occur after the lunch period has ended.
4. The food or beverage item cannot be prepared on campus.
5. The food or beverage item cannot be the same item sold in the food service program at that school during the same school day.
Snacks- Snacks served during the school day or in after-school care or enrichment programs will make a positive contribution to children's diets and health, with an emphasis on serving fruits and vegetables as the primary snacks and water as the primary beverage. Schools will assess if and when to offer snacks based on timing of school meals, children's nutritional needs, children's ages, and other considerations. The district will disseminate a list of healthful snack items to teachers, after-school program personnel, and parents.
If eligible, schools that provide snacks through after-school programs will pursue receiving reimbursements through the National School Lunch Program.
Rewards- Schools will not use foods or beverages as classroom rewards for academic performance or good behavior, (unless this practice is allowed by a student's individual education plan) and will not withhold food or beverages (including food served through school meals) as a punishment. Schools are encouraged to provide non food rewards as an alternative (ex: themed dance parties, glow stick parties).
Birthday Celebrations-Individual classrooms may have up to one birthday celebration each month. School sites are encouraged to use alternatives to food and beverages for classroom celebrations and it is recommended that parents and teachers consider non-food focused events (ex. races, games). If food is preferred, it is strongly encouraged to select a healthy food or beverage alternative (ex. healthy popsicles, fresh fruit, smoothies).
School sites and individual teachers are encouraged to acknowledge an individual child's birthday through alternative means (ex: a song, announcement on the loud speaker, homework pass, choosing a P.E. game, or other special activities), allowing for the student to be acknowledged on their actual birthday as well as during the monthly celebration. Classrooms may also coordinate and elicit feedback from parents/room parents to individualize classroom birthday celebrations
Classroom Celebrations- Schools must limit celebrations* that involve food or beverage during the school day to no more than 4 per year per classroom (ex: Fall, Winter or Spring celebrations), as specified by the USDA Smart Snacks guidelines. The following guidelines are to be followed when classroom celebrations do occur:
* Classroom celebrations must occur after the lunch hour.
* Parents must be notified of the date and time of these celebrations at least 5 days in advance and can choose to provide alternative foods or beverages for their child(ren).
* Store bought foods must contain an ingredients label, or if prepared at home, foods must be accompanied by a list of ingredients.
* Parents are asked to be mindful of the students with nut allergies and to notify the classroom if their food contains this ingredient.
* Parents, teachers and staff who bring in food for classroom celebrations are encouraged to provide items that meet the USDA Smart Snack guidelines for healthy snacks and entrees.
Curriculum based activities involving food or beverage are not considered classroom celebrations (ex: Gold Rush Day, Teaching Kitchens, Garden Science, etc.). The Child Nutrition Department can provide a list of healthy snack ideas for sites requesting assistance. At the principals' discretion, there may be reasonable exceptions to this policy (ex. lunch with the principal).
School-Sponsored Events(such as, but not limited to, athletic events, dances, or performances) - Foods and beverages offered or sold at school-sponsored events outside the school day will meet the nutrition standards for meals or for foods and beverages sold individually (above). A school-sponsored event where students will be involved and consuming food will follow the nutrition standards outlined above.