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This regulation implements the District goals and objectives for wellness as outlined in Policy EEE-Wellness Program. Schools and staff shall comply with the requirements contained herein. I. NUTRITIONAL STANDARDS AND GOALS A. Nutrition Education and Promotion. The Walton County School District aims to teach, encourage, and support healthy eating. Schools should incorporate nutrition education and engage in nutrition promotion that is in accordance with the state curriculum. Schools may use the following means to deliver nutrition education to students, parents, and other stakeholders: - Signs, posters, banners, handouts, school PA systems/TV, brochures and other means
- Incorporate nutrition education across the curriculum in health and physical education programs and in other areas where appropriate
- On the District website, provide wellness information links to quality nutrition education websites, and parent and teacher resources
- Participate in one or more of the following: Let’s Move, Healthier US School Challenge, Farm to School, Team Nutrition, School Gardens, Alliance for a Healthier Generation, Center for Disease Control and Prevention's School Health Index assessment for physical activity, Eat Smart—Live Strong.
B. Quality of District Meals and Cafeteria Settings. Meals served in District schools shall: - be age appropriate, appealing and attractive to children;
- be served in clean and pleasant settings;
- meet, as a minimum, nutritional requirements established by local, state, and federal statutes and regulations;
- offer a variety of fruits and vegetables at each meal;
- be limited to fat free, low fat, (1%) milk;
- comply with age appropriate nutrition standards for limits on calories and sodium; and
- The District shall limit and work to eliminate the amount of fried foods served.
In addition: - Limit non-fresh fruit desserts.
- At least half of the served grains will be whole grain.
- The District should include a request for trans fat information in all product specifications and should strive to ensure meals have no more than 35% of its calories from fat (excluding nuts, seeds, peanut butter, and other nut butters) and 10% of its calories from saturated and trans fat combined. Bid specifications will specify the lowest amounts of saturated fat and zero trans fat.
Students and parents are encouraged to participate in meal planning in order to identify new, healthful, and appealing food choices. The school nutrition program will continually evaluate and procure items which can enhance the nutritional value of District meals. Information regarding the nutritional content of meals shall be made available on the District website and on serving lines. Students should be discouraged from ordering food from commercial establishments during school hours. Parents may provide or bring lunches for their students to school in accordance with guidelines established by the school. C. District Meal Schedules and Time Allocation. District schools shall serve breakfast and lunch meals that consist of items which fulfill established minimum nutritional requirements for reimbursable school meal programs. Breakfast and lunch options may include sale of a la carte items, and should meet the nutritional standards outlined in paragraph H, below. Such items should be offered in addition to the meal, not as a substitute for the District's planned meal. Breakfast should be scheduled to begin at least 30 minutes prior to the start of school. To the extent practical, depending on the arrival times of buses, students should be given at least 10 minutes after being seated to eat breakfast. When necessary, principals may allow breakfast to be taken to areas outside the cafeteria. Schools should attempt to schedule lunch between the hours of 10:30 A.M. and 2:00 P.M., depending on class schedules, number of students, and other influencing factors. Students should be given no less than 20 minutes after being seated to eat lunch. D. Sharing of Foods and Beverages. Schools shall discourage students from sharing or trading their foods or beverages with others, given concerns about allergies and restrictions on some children's diets. Trading foods can create an unhealthy imbalance in the nutritional value of a child's meal. E. Foods and Beverages Sold or Provided Individually During School Hours. The following standards apply to beverages available to students outside of reimbursable school meals, to include a la carte items sold during meal periods, items available to students in vending machines, and items available in school stores. These guidelines do not apply to vending machines located in teacher lounges which are not accessible by students. 1. Beverages.
Allowed: beverages without added caloric sweeteners, specifically water; fruit and vegetable juices and fruit-based drinks that contain at least 50% fruit juice and that do not contain additional caloric sweeteners; diet beverages; unflavored or flavored low-fat or fat-free fluid milk and nutritionally-equivalent nondairy beverages. Sports drinks for re-hydration purposes at the discretion of school.
Not allowed: carbonated beverages containing caloric sweeteners; sweetened iced teas; fruit-based drinks that contain less than 50% real fruit juice or that contain additional caloric sweeteners. Advertisements on vending machines shall be limited to the allowed items outlined above. Vending machines which contain allowed items may be made accessible to students throughout the day.
2. Foods. Individual food items:
- should have no more than 35% of its calories from fat (excluding nuts, seeds, peanut butter, and other nut butters) and 10% of its calories from saturated and trans fat combined;
- should contain no more than one serving based on the Nutrition Facts on the packaging; and
- should contain no more than 230 mg of sodium per serving.
- Vending machines which dispense food items that are not in compliance with the Smart Snacks rule shall not be available to students until after school hours.
F. Extra-Curricular and Fundraising Events Outside of School Hours. While there are no restrictions on the types of food items which may be sold during fundraisers, schools should consider healthy options. Concessions which provide food and beverages during optional-attendance school events, including after school events such as dances, sporting events, talent shows, PTA events are exempt from the guidelines contained herein, but are encouraged to also offer healthy choices. The School Nutrition Department shall establish and post on the District web site a list of healthy choices. G. Snacks. The Director of School Nutrition will develop a list of healthy food and beverages to disseminate, at the beginning of each academic year, to teachers, after-school program personnel, parents and guardians as well as established fundraising groups at each school. In addition, the list will be available on the School District web site. Snacks served by school district staff during the school day or in after-school care or enrichment programs should make a positive contribution to children's diets and health, with an emphasis on serving healthy foods and beverages. 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. H. Individual Rewards. Schools shall discourage the use of food, especially candy, as an individual reward or incentive. Schools shall encourage the use of non-food alternatives. I. Classroom and School Parties and Celebrations. Classroom parties and celebrations should occur only on a limited basis. School administrators shall determine ways to highlight seasonal events and birthdays in a way that is age appropriate and provides equal opportunity for each student to be involved. When food and beverages are provided during such activities, the use of healthy foods and beverages choices is encouraged. II. PHYSICAL EDUCATION STANDARDS AND GOALS A. Compliance with State Requirements. The District and all schools shall meet the requirements for physical education as determined by the Georgia Department of Education. All students in grades K-12, including students with disabilities and those with special health-care needs, will receive physical education in compliance with the Georgia Department of Education guidelines. Because elementary age children are in the early stages of growing, physical education schedules shall be made according to the developmental needs of the children. - All schools are strongly recommended to incorporate twenty-five minutes of daily physical education.
- Students in grades three through five will utilize a system approved evaluation tool annually to test and evaluate their fitness levels; students in grade six through twelve will utilize a research-based test.
- All schools will conduct the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's School Health Index assessment for physical activity, healthy eating, and a tobacco-free lifestyle annually.
B. Daily Recess and Breaks. All District elementary schools should work diligently to provide supervised recess, preferably outdoors, during which students are engaged in physical activity. Food should not be served during recess. Schools should make an effort to avoid extended periods (i.e., periods of two or more hours) of inactivity. When sedentary activities such as mandatory school-wide testing make it necessary for students to remain indoors for long periods of time, and as permitted by testing protocols, schools should give students periodic breaks. When weather disrupts outdoor activities appropriate in-class activities should be substituted. C. Physical Activity Opportunities after School. To the extent that staffing and other resources permit, schools shall offer extracurricular physical activity programs, such as sports clubs or intramural programs. All high schools, and middle schools as appropriate, will offer interscholastic sports programs. Schools should offer a range of activities that meet the needs, interests, and abilities of all students. III. HEALTHY SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT Each School is encouraged to create an environment that enhances a healthy lifestyle encouraging behavior and academic achievement in school. - Cafeterias include enough serving areas and seating areas to prevent students from having to spend too much time waiting in line.
- Drinking water is available to students during meals.
- Food and/or physical activity are not used as a reward or punishment for student behaviors.
- Students have access to safe, clean, hygienic restrooms.
- Proper hand washing is encouraged.
- Schools proactively reinforce a drug and alcohol free lifestyle.
- Each school is represented by a person credentialed in food safety.
IV. POLICY COMPLIANCE Evaluations of policy and its implementation shall occur at least triennially. Results shall be made available to the public. School principals shall be responsible for communicating the contents of this policy as well as implementing this policy in their respective schools. Principals shall report on their compliance as directed by the Superintendent. The Director of School Nutrition shall be responsible for the nutritional component of this wellness policy, ensure compliance with nutrition policies within school food service programs, provide training as needed to school food service personnel, and oversee the daily operation of the District's school nutrition program. The Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction shall be responsible for the implementation of and compliance with the physical fitness component of this wellness policy.
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