Lindsay Holy Family

Wellness Policy

Article 12 – School Wellness

A mission of Holy Family Elementary is to provide curriculum, instruction, and experiences in a health-promoting school environment to instill habits of lifelong learning and health. Therefore, the Board adopts the following School Wellness Policy. 

Section 1 Wellness Committee 

The Wellness Committee will convene a representative Wellness Committee (“WC”) to establish goals for and oversee school health and safety policies and programs, including development, implementation and periodic review and update of this school wellness policy. 

The WC membership will represent all school levels and include (to the extent possible), but not be limited to: parents and caregivers; students; representatives of the school nutrition program; physical education teacher; health education teacher; school health professionals or staff; mental health and social services staff; school administrators; school board members; and the general public. 

Section 2 Leadership 

School administration will convene the WC and facilitate development of and updates to the wellness policy, and will ensure each school’s compliance with the policy.  Administration will also help with implementation, monitoring, and accountability.  Holy Family will develop and maintain a plan for implementation to manage and coordinate the execution of this wellness policy. 

The plan delineates roles, responsibilities, actions and timelines specific to Holy Family School which includes information about who will be responsible to make what change, by how much, where and when; as well as specific goals and objectives for nutrition standards for all foods and beverages available on the school campus, food and beverage marketing, nutrition promotion and education, physical activity, physical education and other school-based activities that promote student wellness. It is recommended that the school use the Healthy Schools Program online tools to complete a school-level assessment based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s School Health Index, create an action plan that fosters implementation and generate an annual progress report. 

This wellness policy and the progress reports can be found at the school’s website. 

Section 3 Recordkeeping 

Holy Family will retain records to document compliance with the requirements of the wellness policy at the Administration office and/or on the school computer network. Documentation maintained in this location will include but will not be limited to: 

The written wellness policy; 

-Documentation demonstrating that the policy has been made available to the public. 

Documentation of efforts to review and update the Local Schools Wellness Policy; including an indication of who is involved in the update and methods the school uses to make stakeholders aware of their ability to participate on the WC; 

-Documentation to demonstrate compliance with the annual public notification requirements; The most recent assessment on the implementation of the local school wellness policy; -Documentation demonstrating the most recent assessment on the implementation of the Local School Wellness Policy has been made available to the public. 

Section 4 Annual Notification of Policy 

Holy Family will actively inform families and the public each year of basic information about this policy, including its content, any updates to the policy and implementation status. Holy Family will make this information available via the school website and/or school-wide communications. Holy Family will provide as much information as possible about the school nutrition environment. This will include a summary of the school’s events or activities related to wellness policy implementation. Annually, Holy Family will also publicize the name and contact information of the schools officials leading and coordinating the committee, as well as information on how the public can get involved with the school wellness committee. 

Section 5 Triennial Progress Assessments 

At least once every three years, Holy Family will evaluate compliance with the wellness policy to assess the implementation of the policy and include: 

-The extent to which Holy Family is in compliance with the wellness policy; 

-The extent to which the school’s wellness policy compares to] the Alliance for a Healthier Generation’s model wellness policy; and 

-A description of the progress made in attaining the goals of the school’s wellness policy. 

The position/person responsible for managing the triennial assessment and contact information is the administration or the administration’s designee. The WC will monitor schools’ compliance with this wellness policy. Holy Family will actively notify households/families of the availability of the triennial progress report. 

Section 6 Revisions and Updating the Policy 

The WC will update or modify the wellness policy based on the results of the annual School Health Index and triennial assessments and the school’s 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 assessed and updated as indicated at least every three years, following the triennial assessment. 

Section 7 Community Involvement, Outreach and Communications 

Holy Family is committed to being responsive to community input, which begins with awareness of the wellness policy. Holy Family will actively communicate ways in which representatives of WC and others can participate in the development, implementation and periodic review and update of the wellness policy through a variety of means appropriate for the school.   Holy Family will also inform parents of the improvements that have been made to school meals and compliance with school meal standards, availability of child nutrition programs and how to apply, and a description of and compliance with Smart Snacks in School nutrition standards. Holy Family will actively notify the public about the content of or any updates to the wellness policy annually, at a minimum. 

Section 8 Nutrition/School Meals 

Holy Family is committed to serving healthy meals to children, with plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fat-free and low-fat milk; that are moderate in sodium, low in saturated fat, and have zero grams trans fat per serving (nutrition label or manufacturer’s specification); and to meeting the nutrition needs of school children within their calorie requirements. The school meal programs aim to improve the diet and health of school children, help mitigate childhood obesity, model healthy eating to support the development of lifelong healthy eating patterns and support healthy choices while accommodating cultural food preferences and special dietary needs. 

Holy Family may also operate additional nutrition-related programs and activities.  Holy Family is committed to offering school meals through the NSLP programs that are appealing and attractive to children and are served in clean and pleasant settings; 

-Meet or exceed current nutrition requirements established by local, state, and Federal statutes and regulations. (Holy Family offers reimbursable school meals that meet USDA nutrition standards.) 

-Promote healthy food and beverage choices using the following Smarter 

Lunchroom techniques: 

  •  Whole fruit options are displayed in attractive bowls or baskets (instead of chafing dishes or hotel pans). 
  • Sliced or cut fruit is available daily. 
  • Daily fruit options are displayed in a location in the line of sight and reach of students. 
  • All available vegetable options have been given creative or descriptive names. 
  • Daily vegetable options are bundled into all grab-and-go meals available to students. All staff members, especially those serving, have been trained to politely prompt students to select and consume the daily vegetable options with their meal. 
  • White milk is placed in front of other beverages in all coolers. 
  • Alternative entrée options (e.g., salad bar, yogurt parfaits, etc.) are highlighted on posters or signs within all service and dining areas. 
  • A reimbursable meal can be created in any service area available to students (e.g., salad bars, snack rooms, etc.). 
  • Student surveys and taste testing opportunities are used to inform menu development, dining space decor and promotional ideas. 
  • Student artwork is displayed in the service and/or dining areas. 
  • Daily announcements are used to promote and market menu options. 

Section 9 Staff Qualifications and Professional Development 

All school nutrition program directors, managers and staff will meet or exceed hiring and annual continuing education/training requirements in the USDA professional standards for child nutrition professionals. These school nutrition personnel will refer to USDA’s Professional Standards for School Nutrition Standards website to search for training that meets their learning needs. 

Section 10 Water

To promote hydration, free, safe, unflavored drinking water will be available to all students throughout the school day and throughout every school campus (“school campus” and “school day” are defined in the glossary). Holy Family will make drinking water available where school meals are served during mealtimes. 

Section 11 Competitive Foods and Beverages 

All competitive beverages will not be available to students throughout the school day.  Only school lunch program beverages and water will be available for students throughout each school day.  Holy Family is committed to ensuring that all foods and beverages available to students on the school campus during the school day support healthy eating.  If foods and beverages sold and served outside of the school meal programs (e.g., “competitive” foods and beverages) will meet the USDA Smart Snacks in School nutrition standards, at a minimum. Smart Snacks aim to improve student health and well-being, increase consumption of healthful foods during the school day and create an environment that reinforces the development of healthy eating habits. 

A summary of the standards and information, as well as a Guide to Smart Snacks in Schools are available at: http://www.fns.usda.gov/healthierschoolday/tools-schools-smart-snacks. 

Section 12 Students 

The Alliance for a Healthier Generation provides a set of tools to assist with implementation of Smart Snacks available at http://www.foodplanner.healthiergeneration.org.  To support healthy food choices and improve student health and well-being, all foods and beverages outside the reimbursable school meal programs that are sold to students on the school campus during the school day will meet or exceed the USDA Smart Snacks nutrition standards or, if the state policy is stronger, will meet or exceed state nutrition standards. These standards will apply in all locations and through all services where foods and beverages are sold, which may include, but are not limited to, à la carte options in cafeterias, and snacks. 

Section 13 Celebrations and Rewards 

If foods are offered on the school campus, they will meet or exceed the USDA Smart Snacks in School nutrition standards or, if the state policy is stronger, will meet or exceed state nutrition standards, including through: 

  1. Celebrations and parties. Holy Family will provide a list of healthy party ideas to parents and teachers, including non-food celebration ideas. 
  2. Classroom snacks brought by parents. Holy Family will provide or make available to parents a list of foods and beverages that meet Smart Snacks nutrition standards. 
  3. Rewards and incentives. Holy Family will provide teachers and other relevant school staff a list of alternative ways to reward children or other comparable resources. Foods and beverages will not be used as a reward, or withheld as punishment for any reason, such as for performance or behavior. 

Section 14 Fundraising 

Foods and beverages that meet or exceed the USDA Smart Snacks in Schools nutrition standards may be sold through fundraisers on the school campus during the school day. Holy Family will make available to parents and teachers a list of healthy fundraising ideas or comparable resources. 

Section 15 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 encourage participation in school meal programs. Students and staff will receive consistent nutrition messages throughout schools, 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 staff, teachers, parents, students and the community. 

Holy Family will promote healthy food and beverage choices for all students throughout the school campus, as well as encourage participation in school meal programs. This promotion will occur through: 

-Implement evidence-based healthy food promotion techniques through the school meal programs using Smarter Lunchroom techniques; and 

-Ensuring 100% of foods and beverages promoted to students meet the USDA Smart Snacks in School nutrition standards. 

Section 16 Nutrition Education 

Holy Family will teach, model, encourage and support healthy eating by all students. Holy Family will provide nutrition education and engage in nutrition promotion that: 

-Is designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to promote and protect their health; 

-Is part of not only health education classes, but also integrated into other classroom instruction through subjects such as math, science, language arts, social sciences and elective subjects; Includes enjoyable, developmentally-appropriate, culturally-relevant and participatory activities, such as cooking demonstrations or lessons, promotions, taste-testing, farm visits and school gardens; 

-Promotes fruits, vegetables, whole-grain products, low-fat and fat-free dairy products and healthy food preparation methods; 

-Emphasizes caloric balance between food intake and energy expenditure (promotes physical activity/exercise); 

-Links with school meal programs, cafeteria nutrition promotion activities, school gardens, Farm to School programs, other school foods and nutrition-related community services; Teaches media literacy with an emphasis on food and beverage marketing; and Includes nutrition education training for teachers and other staff. 

Section 17 Essential Healthy Eating Topics in Health Education 

Holy Family will include in the health education curriculum various essential topics on healthy eating: 

-Relationship between healthy eating and personal health and disease prevention 

-Food guidance from MyPlate 

-Reading and using FDA’s nutrition fact labels 

-Eating a variety of foods every day 

-Balancing food intake and physical activity 

-Eating more fruits, vegetables and whole grain products 

-Choosing foods that are low in fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol and do not contain trans fat 

-Choosing foods and beverages with little added sugars 

-Eating more calcium-rich foods 

-Preparing healthy meals and snacks 

-Risks of unhealthy weight control practices 

-Accepting body size differences 

-Food safety 

-Importance of water consumption 

-Importance of eating breakfast 

-Making healthy choices when eating at restaurants 

-Eating disorders 

-The Dietary Guidelines for Americans 

-Reducing sodium intake 

-Social influences on healthy eating, including media, family, peers and culture 

-How to find valid information or services related to nutrition and dietary behavior 

-How to develop a plan and track progress toward achieving a personal goal to eat healthfully -Resisting peer pressure related to unhealthy dietary behavior 

-Influencing, supporting, or advocating for others’ healthy dietary behavior 

Section 18 Food and Beverage Marketing in Schools 

Holy Family is committed to providing a school environment that ensures opportunities for all students to practice healthy eating and physical activity behaviors throughout the school day while minimizing commercial distractions. Holy Family will teach students how to make informed choices about nutrition, health and physical activity.  

Any foods and beverages marketed or promoted to students on the school campus during the school day will meet or exceed the USDA Smart Snacks in School nutrition standards or, if stronger, state nutrition standards, such that only those foods that comply with or exceed those nutrition standards are permitted to be marketed or promoted to students. 

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. This term includes, but is not limited to the following: 

-Brand names, trademarks, logos or tags, except when placed on a physically present food or beverage product or its container. 

-Displays, such as on vending machine exteriors 

-Corporate brand, logo, name or trademark on cups used for beverage dispensing, menu boards, coolers, trash cans and other food service equipment; as well as on posters, book covers, pupil assignment books or school supplies displayed, distributed, offered or sold by Holy Family School. 

-Advertisements in school publications or school mailings. 

-Free product samples, taste tests or coupons of a product, or free samples displaying advertising of a product. 

As Holy Family nutrition services/Athletics Department/PTA/PTO reviews existing contracts and considers new contracts, equipment and product purchasing (and replacement) decisions should reflect the applicable marketing guidelines established by the school wellness policy. 

Section 19 Physical Activity 

Children and adolescents should participate in physical activity every day. A substantial percentage of students’ physical activity can be provided through a comprehensive school physical activity program (CSPAP). A CSPAP reflects strong coordination and synergy across all of the components: quality physical education as the foundation; physical activity before, during and after school; staff involvement and family and community engagement; and Holy Family is committed to providing these opportunities.  Holy Family will ensure that these varied physical activity opportunities are in addition to, and not as a substitute for, physical education (addressed in “Physical Education” subsection).  Holy Family will be encouraged to participate in Let’s Move! Active Schools (www.letsmoveschools.org), or comparable program, in order to successfully address all CSPAP areas. 

Physical activity during the school day (including but not limited to recess, classroom physical activity breaks or physical education) will not be withheld as punishment. Holy Family will provide teachers and other school staff with a list of ideas or resources for alternative ways to discipline students. 

To the extent practicable, Holy Family will ensure that its grounds and facilities are safe and that equipment is available to students to be active. Holy Family will conduct necessary inspections and repairs. 

Section 20 Physical Education 

Holy Family will provide students with physical education, using an age-appropriate, sequential physical education curriculum consistent with national and state standards for physical education. The physical education curriculum will promote the benefits of a physically active lifestyle and will help students develop skills to engage in lifelong healthy habits, as well as incorporate essential health education concepts (discussed in the “Essential Physical Activity Topics in Health Education” subsection). The curriculum will support the essential components of physical education. 

All students will be provided equal opportunity to participate in physical education classes. Hoy Family will make appropriate accommodations to allow for equitable participation for all students and will adapt physical education classes and equipment as necessary. 

All elementary students in each grade will receive physical education for at least 120 minutes per week throughout the school year. 

Holy Family’s physical education program will promote student physical fitness through individualized fitness and activity assessments (via the Presidential Youth Fitness Program or other appropriate assessment tool) and will use criterion-based reporting for each student. 

Section 21 Essential Physical Activity Topics in Health Education 

Health education will be required in all elementary grades.  Holy Family will include in the health education curriculum a minimum of 12 of the following essential topics on physical activity: 

-The physical, psychological, or social benefits of physical activity 

-How physical activity can contribute to a healthy weight 

-How physical activity can contribute to the academic learning process 

-How an inactive lifestyle contributes to chronic disease 

-Health-related fitness, that is, cardiovascular endurance, muscular endurance, muscular 

strength, flexibility, and body composition 

-Differences between physical activity, exercise and fitness 

-Phases of an exercise session, that is, warm up, workout and cool down 

-Overcoming barriers to physical activity 

-Decreasing sedentary activities, such as TV watching 

-Opportunities for physical activity in the community 

-Preventing injury during physical activity 

-Weather-related safety, for example, avoiding heat stroke, hypothermia and sunburn while being physically active 

-How much physical activity is enough, that is, determining frequency, intensity, time and type of physical activity 

-Developing an individualized physical activity and fitness plan 

-Monitoring progress toward reaching goals in an individualized physical activity plan Dangers of using performance-enhancing drugs, such as steroids 

-Social influences on physical activity, including media, family, peers and culture How to find valid information or services related to physical activity and fitness How to influence, support, or advocate for others to engage in physical activity How to resist peer pressure that discourages physical activity. 

Section 22 Recess

Holy Family will offer at least 20 minutes of recess on all days during the school year. Exceptions may be made as appropriate, such as on early dismissal or late arrival days. If recess is offered before lunch, schools will have appropriate hand-washing facilities and/or hand- sanitizing mechanisms located just inside/outside the cafeteria to ensure proper hygiene prior to eating and students are required to use these mechanisms before eating. Hand-washing time, as well as time to put away coats/hats/gloves, will be built in to the recess transition period/time frame before students enter the cafeteria. 

Outdoor recess will be offered when weather and other conditions make it feasible for outdoor play. 

In the event that recess must be held indoors, teachers and staff will follow the indoor recess guidelines that promote physical activity for students, to the extent practicable. 

Recess will complement, not substitute, physical education class. Recess monitors or teachers will encourage students to be active, and will serve as role models by being physically active alongside the students whenever feasible. 

Section 23 Classroom Physical Activity Breaks

Students will be offered periodic opportunities to be active or to stretch throughout the day on all or most days during a typical school week. Holy Family recommends teachers provide short physical activity breaks to students during and between classroom time at least three days per week. These physical activity breaks will complement, not substitute, for physical education class, recess, and class transition periods. 

Holy Family will provide resources and links to resources, tools, and technology with ideas for classroom physical activity breaks. Resources and ideas are available through the USDA and the Alliance for a Healthier Generation. 

Section 24 Active Academics 

Teachers will incorporate movement and kinesthetic learning approaches into “core” subject instruction when possible (e.g., science, math, language arts, social studies and others) and do their part to limit sedentary behavior during the school day. 

Holy Family will support classroom teachers incorporating physical activity and employing kinesthetic learning approaches into core subjects by providing annual professional development opportunities and resources, including information on leading activities, activity options, as well as making available background material on the connections between learning and movement. 

Teachers will serve as role models by being physically active alongside the students whenever feasible. 

Section 25 Before and After School Activities 

Holy Family offers opportunities for students to participate in physical activity either before and/or after the school day through a variety of methods. Holy Family will encourage students to be physically active before and after school by sponsoring or permitting: physical activity clubs and physical activity in aftercare, intramurals or interscholastic sports. 

Section 26 Other Activities that Promote Student Wellness 

Holy Family will integrate wellness activities across the entire school setting, not just in the cafeteria, other food and beverage venues and physical activity facilities. Holy Family will coordinate and integrate other initiatives related to physical activity, physical education, nutrition and other wellness components so all efforts are complementary, not duplicative, and work towards the same set of goals and objectives promoting student well-being, optimal development and strong educational outcomes. 

Teacher’s are encouraged to coordinate content across curricular areas that promote student health, such as teaching nutrition concepts in mathematics, with consultation provided by either the school or the school’s curriculum experts. 

All efforts related to obtaining federal, state or association recognition for efforts, or grants/funding opportunities for healthy school environments will be coordinated with and complementary of the wellness policy, including but not limited to ensuring the involvement of the WC. 

All school-sponsored events will adhere to the wellness policy guidelines. 

Section 27 Community Partnerships 

Holy Family will develop, enhance, or continue relationships with community partners (e.g., hospitals, universities/colleges, local businesses, SNAP-Ed providers and coordinators, etc.) in support of this wellness policy’s implementation. Existing and new community partnerships and sponsorships will be evaluated to ensure that they are consistent with the wellness policy and its goals. 

Section 28 Community Health Promotion and Family Engagement 

Holy Family will promote to parents/caregivers, families, and the general community the benefits of and approaches for healthy eating and physical activity throughout the school year. Families will be informed and invited to participate in school-sponsored activities. 

As described in the “Community Involvement, Outreach, and Communications” subsection, Holy Family will use electronic mechanisms (e.g., email or displaying notices on the school’s website), as well as non-electronic mechanisms, (e.g., newsletters, presentations to parents or sending information home to parents), to ensure that all families are actively notified of opportunities to participate in school-sponsored activities and receive information about health promotion efforts. 

Section 29 Staff Wellness and Health Promotion 

The WC will have a staff wellness subcommittee that focuses on staff wellness issues, identifies and disseminates wellness resources and performs other functions that support staff wellness in coordination with human resources staff. 

Holy Family will implement strategies to support staff in actively promoting and modeling healthy eating and physical activity behaviors. Holy Family promotes staff member participation in health promotion programs and will support programs for staff members on healthy eating/weight management that are accessible and free or low-cost. 

Section 30 Professional Learning 

When feasible, Holy Family will offer annual professional learning opportunities and resources for staff to increase knowledge and skills about promoting healthy behaviors in the classroom and school (e.g., increasing the use of kinesthetic teaching approaches or incorporating nutrition lessons into math class). Professional learning will help Holy Family staff understand the connections between academics and health and the ways in which health and wellness are integrated into ongoing school reform or academic improvement plans/efforts. 

Glossary 

School Campus: areas that are owned or leased by the school and used at any time for school- related activities, including on the outside of the school building, school buses or other vehicles used to transport students, athletic fields and stadiums (e.g., on scoreboards, coolers, cups, and water bottles), or parking lots. 

School Day: the time between midnight the night before to 30 minutes after the end of the instructional day. 

Triennial – recurring every three years. 

Legal Reference: Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, 42 U.S.C. section 1758b; 7 CFR 

sections 210.11 and 210.30; National School Lunch Program, 42 U.S.C sections 1751-1760, 1770; Regulations and Procedures for Accreditation of Schools, NDE Rule 10 

Date of Adoption: June 10, 2024