Nutrition & Physical Activity Report Card 2013

1. Student Welfare and Wellness The health and safety of pupils shall be a priority consideration in all Board decisions. The Board is committed to providing school environments that promote and protect student health, well-being, and ability to learn by supporting healthy eating and physical activity and overall student health. Therefore, it is District policy that the following shall be in place to enhance student health and well-being, and that staff will be encouraged to model health eating and physical activity as a valuable part of daily life. Inclusion of staff wellness in the policy can help schools reach goals in coordinated school health. Nutrition Education Schools will provide and promote nutrition education and physical education to foster lifelong habits of healthy eating and physical activity. Healthy food choices and activity shall be included in instruction addressing practical living, health, consumerism, and physical education. An integrated concern for wellness shall be reflected in other curricular areas with connections to science, math, and other subjects. A process shall be implemented to engage students, parents, physical and/or health education teachers, school food service professionals, school health professionals, school board members, schooladministrators, and other interested community members in developing, implementing, monitoring, and reviewing this policy. The District shall ensure that food service managers and staff receive professional development annually. Nutrition Environment The District shall provide breakfast through the USDA Breakfast Program. To the extent possible, morning bus routes and schools shall allow students to arrive at school in time to eat breakfast. Schools are encouraged to allow students to eat in classrooms when extra time is necessary. Schools will provide students pleasant settings and adequate time for students to eat. When possible, schools are encouraged to allow at least twenty (20) minutes for lunch.Schools are encouraged to provide occasional food promotions to encourage taste testing of healthy new foods being added to the menu.District Food Service staff is encouraged to publicize information about nutritional content of meals on the District website. Schools shall encourage healthy choices for students and staff. Foods and beverages sold or served at school will meet the nutritional standards required by federal and state regulations. When food is provided in the classroom setting, the use of pre-packaged foods with nutrition labels shall be encouraged. Such pre-packaged foods may consist of non-processed fresh fruits and vegetables. Food safety and allergy concerns shall be a consideration. Student Welfare and Wellness Physical Education and Physical Activity All students shall have opportunities, support, and encouragement to be physically active on a regular basis as provided by school/council policy. Students shall not be deprived of physical activity as a consequence of behavioral or academic performance. In addition, elementary students shall have daily recess, unless weather conditions prohibits. Schools shall access, by means of an assessment tool chosen by the school specialist, the physical fitness of all students that are enrolled in Physical Education classes. Reporting of the assessment shall be provided to the school council and Board on an annual basis. When possible, physical activity should be incorporated into learning activities. (Take 10) Staff Wellness The District values the health and well-being of every faculty and staff member and shall support employees’ efforts to improve their personal health and fitness. Opportunities offered to employees include; employee fitness center, weight management, smoking cessation, influenza vaccinations, blood pressure, Hepatitis B vaccine and annual health fair. Progress Report The District shall periodically measure and update the public on the content and progress of implementation of its school wellness efforts. The report shall include: Extent to which the District is in compliance with this policy; A comparison of how the District measures up to model wellness policies provided by recognized state and national authorities; and A description of the measurable progress made towards reaching goals of the District wellness policy and addressing any gaps identified in the wellness report for the previous 6/14/2012 GRANT COUNTY Nutrition & Physical Activity Report Card 2013 The Grant County Schools are dedicated to serving nutritious meals and providing multiple physical activity opportunities as a means of helping our students reach proficiency. Grant County Middle School receives 225 minutes of Physical Education a week for nine weeks except individuals in band and intervention programs. Grant County High School; Students are only required to take one PE class to graduate. Physical Education class is 70 minutes a day for 45 days. Some students receive Physical Education through the ROTC Program.

2. National School Lunch The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) was conceived in 1946 as a “measure of national security to safeguard the health and well-being of the Nation’s children.” School districts receive federal reimbursement for each school lunch served that meets the United States Department of Agriculture nutrition guidelines. These guidelines promote meal quality while commodity allocations help the farmer and help schools keep down meal prices. School meals offer students milk, fruits and vegetables, proteins and grains, and they must meet strict limits on saturated fat and portion size. Starting in School Year 2012-2013, school lunches will meet additional standards through the Healthy Hungry Free Kids Act Age-appropriate calorie limits; K-5 (550-650calories); 6-8 (600-700calories); 9-12 (750-850 calories) Larger servings of vegetables and fruits (students must take at least one serving of produce) A wider variety of vegetables, including dark green and red/orange vegetables and legumes Fat-free or 1% milk (flavored milk must be fat-free) 50% or more of menu must be Whole Grain Less sodium No Trans Fats The table below provides a synopsis of the lunch program, including participation and financial data for August, 2011 – June, 2012. School Breakfast The School Breakfast Program (SBP) was established in 1966. School districts receive federal reimbursement for each school breakfast served that meets the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s nutrition guidelines. Studies show that children who participate in the School Breakfast Program have significantly higher standardized achievement test scores than non-participants. Children with access to school breakfast also have significantly reduced absence and tardiness rates. A USDA study showed students who eat school meals are more likely to consume milk, meats, grain mixtures and vegetables compared to students who did not, including students who brought meals from home. Also, students who eat school meals have higher intakes of some vitamins and minerals, including calcium and Vitamin A -- nutrients that tend to be “problem nutrients” for kids. Cost-wise, schools work very hard to make sure that school meals are a good value. Take a look at the number of items typically offered to students at lunch -- an entrée, two servings of fruits and vegetables, a bread or grain item and 8 ounces of milk. It takes a real balancing act to beat that value with a bag lunch. --National Dairy Council Federal Summer Food Service Program for Children A list of all food and beverage items available to students during the day can be downloaded from the OVEC website which is: www.ovec.org.