1. Philosophy. The Madison County School Board believes that a healthy

school environment goes beyond the meals served in the cafeteria.

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle and weight require a combination of healthy

food choices and an appropriate amount of physical activity. A healthy and

physically active child is more likely to be academically successful. Children

and youth who begin each day as healthy individuals can improve their ability

to learn and are more likely to complete their formal education. The Board

also believes that healthy staff can more effectively perform their assigned

duties and model appropriate wellness behaviors for students. This policy

encourages a holistic approach to staff and student wellness that is sensitive

to individual and community needs.

2. Nutrition. Academic performance and quality of life issues are affected by

the choice and availability of good foods in our schools. Healthy foods

support student physical growth, cognitive development, resistance to

disease, emotional stability and ability to learn. Students will be encouraged

to start each day with a healthy breakfast.

 

a. Nutrition guidelines that require the use of products that are high in

fiber, low in added fats, sugar and sodium, and served in

appropriate portion sizes consistent with USDA standard shall be

established for all foods offered by the district’s Nutrition Services

Department of contracted vendors. Menu and product selection

shall utilize student, parent, staff and community advisory groups

whenever possible. Menus are posted in the schools and on the

district website, emailed to every teacher and administrator, and

announced via school media productions. Menus are also included

in monthly newsletters and local new media.

 

b. Nutrition services policies and guidelines for reimbursable meals

shall not be less restrictive than federal and state regulation

require.

 

c. A la carte offerings to students shall be nutritious and meet federal

recommended guidelines. Students PK – 8 grade must buy a

lunch or bring one from home to be eligible to purchase a la carte

items.

 

d. Vending Machines: The sale of food and beverage items to

students in competition with the District’s food service program is

prohibited, including those items classified as “foods of minimum

nutritional value” as listed in the Code of Federal Regulations

210.11. Provided, however, school organizations approved by the

School Board are permitted to sell these items only in secondary

schools one (1) hour following the close of the last lunch period.

Proceeds from the sell of foods and beverage items in the serving

area during the school day shall accrue to the food service

program, State Board Rule: Chapter 6A-7.0411C.

 

e. All beverage vending machines in all school public areas and all

faculty/staff areas shall include:

1. water

2. 100% fruit juice

3. non-carbonated drinks with less than 150 calories per container

4. no more than 1/3rd of the choices will be carbonated

drinks

 

 

3. Health and Nutrition Education. Nutrition education shall be provided that

teaches the knowledge, skills, and values needed to adopt healthy eating

behaviors. The Madison County Health Department along with other

community resources can provide nutrition and health education programs for

classroom presentations as requested. Healthy living skills shall be taught to

provide the opportunity for all students to understand and practice concepts

and skills related to health promotion and disease prevention. The Madison

County School Health Services Plan addresses the coordination of activities

to promote healthy living. Comprehensive School Health Staff from the

Madison County Health Department will provide health education programs

as requested. Topics include (as grade appropriate): increased physical

activity and emphasize the health benefits of physical activity, promote good

nutrition, provide or coordinate age appropriate education programs related to

human sexuality and prevention of HIV/STD, prevent or reduce alcohol,

tobacco, or other drug abuse, develop nonviolent conflict resolution skills,

promote self-esteem, and reduce teenage pregnancy.

a. Each school shall provide health and nutrition education programs.

 

b. Students shall have access to valid and useful health information.

 

c. Students shall have the opportunity to practice behaviors that

enhance health and/or reduce health risks during the school day.

 

d. Students shall be taught communication, goal setting and decision

making skills that enhance personal, family and community health.

4. Physical Education and Activity. Physical education and physical activity

shall be an essential element of each school’s instructional program. The

program shall provide the opportunity for students to develop the skills,

knowledge and attitudes necessary to participate in a lifetime of healthful

physical activity. Qualified personnel will teach physical education and

activity whenever possible.

a. Physical Education Program. The physical education program

shall be designed to encourage physical activity and encourage

healthy active lifestyles. The program shall consist of physical

activities that are sufficient to provide a significant health benefit to

students, subject to the differing abilities of students.

 

1. Participation in such physical activity shall be encouraged

for students in kindergarten through grade five for a

minimum of thirty minutes, three days a week or the

equivalent.

 

2. Such instruction may be provided for grades 6-8 through

formal physical education courses, integration into other

courses, regularly scheduled intramural activities, and/or

regularly schedules school-wide activities.

 

3. High school shall require one (1) credit for graduation, to

include one semester of Personal Fitness (.5 credit) and

one semester of an approved Physical Education course

(.5 credit).

 

4. Students electing one of the tree-year, 18 credit

graduation options do not have to meet the high school

requirement, and may use the physical education courses

listed as elective credit. Students may waive a portion or

all of the requirements only to the extent of the law.

 

5. Health Services. An effective health care delivery system that promotes

academic achievement by providing a broad scope of services from qualified

health care providers will improve the mental and physical health of students

and staff. The Madison County School District and the Madison County

Health Department are required by Florida Statute 381.0056 to jointly develop

a School Health Services Plan. Each school is provided with a licensed

nurse or Supervised Health Tech.

Primary coordination of health service shall be through a licensed nurse with

the support and direction of the Madison County School District and the

Madison County Health Department.

 

a. A coordinated program of accessible health services shall be

provided, to Students and staff and may include violence

prevention, school safety, Communicable disease prevention,

health screening, including Body Mass Index, community health

referrals, immunizations, parenting skills, first aid and other priority

health education topics.

 

6. Family, School and Community Partnership. Long term effective

partnerships improve the planning and implementation of health promotion

projects and events within each school and throughout the community.

 

7. Staff Wellness. The district and each work site shall provide information

about wellness resources and services to assist in identifying and supporting

the health, safety and well being of site staff.

a. Employees shall be encouraged to engage in physical activity three

times weekly before or after work hours in site-sponsored programs

or as part of a local fitness facility.

 

8. Evaluation and Monitoring. The Wellness Committee members will meet

yearly to review the policy and revise as necessary. A report will be made to

the School Board annually concerning the effectiveness and any

recommended changes to the Wellness Policy. To ensure compliance of

the policy, each school administrator, or their designee, will coordinate with

staff members to complete a compliance checklist at the end of each school

year. See appendix A for a sample of the checklist.