If you are interested in serving on the Wilkes County Wellness Committee, we are excited to have all stakeholder input, please contact Elizabeth Bohler  706-678-2718 or at bohlere@wilkes.k12.ga.us. 

Wellness Triennial Assessment

The Wilkes County School System is committed to providing a school environment that enhances learning and development of lifelong wellness practices.

This wellness plan, at minimum, includes

1.      Goals for nutrition education, physical activity for all students, and other school programs that promote student wellness and healthy lifestyles

2.      Community involvement, which includes students, parents & guardians, school administration, School Nutrition Staff, school staff, and other stakeholders, to promote lifelong wellness practices

3.      Plans for implementation of nutrition education, physical activity, and lifelong wellness practices

1.      Students in grades K-12 receive nutrition education instruction in their health and physical education classes, classrooms, and cafeterias that is interactive and teaches the skills they need to adopt health eating behaviors with coordination between School Nutrition staff, teachers and school administrators

2.      Nutrition is integrated into the health education curricula. School staff will link nutrition education with the coordinated school health programs.

3.      Students receive consistent nutrition messages throughout the school, classrooms, cafeteria, and community

4.      Students will be encouraged to start each day with a healthy breakfast by teachers, school administrators, stakeholders, and school nutrition staff

5.      Promote fruits, vegetables, whole-grain products and low-fat dairy products, healthy food preparation methods, and health-enhancing nutrition practices.

6.      Nutrition education activities and promotions will involve parents & guardians, stakeholders, and community members as well as school staff.
a.       Examples include but are not limited to: Menu Newsletters, nutrition counseling services, health fairs, healthy cooking classes for students and parents

7.      School staff who provide nutrition education have appropriate training.
a.       Annual nutrition education training will be made available for teachers, school administrators, stakeholders, and community members

1. All students in pre-K-12 are given opportunities for physical activity during the school day. Students with disabilities, special health-care needs, and those in alternative education settings will be included.

2. All physical education classes will be taught by qualified physical education teachers.

3. Students are given opportunities for physical activity though a range of after-school programs including intramural, interscholastic athletics (grades 7-12), and physical activity clubs.

4. Schools will inform students of opportunities to participate in community physical activities.

1. All foods made available on school campuses will comply with the current USDA Dietary Guidelines for Americans and all federal and state laws. This includes but is not limited to the following: vending machines, a la carte, and beverage contracts.

a. When food is used as part of class or student incentives programs (parties/celebrations), staff and students are encouraged to utilize healthy, nutritious food choices.

b. Please see “Sale of Competitive Foods”  requirements at the end of this document

2. Set guidelines that all foods made available on school campuses comply with the State and Local Food Safety & Sanitation Regulations (HACCAP) Plans

3. Guidelines for reimbursable school meals shall not be less restrictive than regulations and guidance issued by the U.S. Secretary and pursuant to the Child Nutrition Act and the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act, as those regulations and guidelines apply to schools.

4. Food providers will take every measure to ensure that students’ access to foods and beverages meets federal, state, and local laws and guidelines. Food providers will offer a variety of age appropriate healthy food and beverage selections for primary, elementary, middle and high schools.

1.      All students in pre-K-12 are given opportunities for physical activity during the school day. Students with disabilities, special health-care needs, and those in alternative education settings will be included.

2.      All physical education classes will be taught by qualified physical education teachers.

3.      Students are given opportunities for physical activity though a range of after-school programs including intramural, interscholastic athletics (grades 7-12), and physical activity clubs.

4.      Schools will inform students of opportunities to participate in community physical activities.

Research has shown that food marketing influences a child's eating behaviors, preferences, dietary intake, and overall health which can increase their risk for nutrition related comorbidities when exposed to marketing that promotes the consumption of low-nutrient foods. In order to keep our children healthy and reduce the negative influence food marketing has on their habits, it is our plan to promote only healthy options on any marketing material on campus. Therefore, marketing of any food or beverage on the school campus will meet or exceed the USDA Smart Snacks in Schools nutrition guidelines will be encouraged. The Marketing of healthy, fresh, and whole foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat dairy products will be encouraged. Marketing of low-nutrient foods and beverages on the school campus is strongly discouraged. 

1.      All schools will provide clean, safe, enjoyable meal environments for students that include but are not limited to clean, spacious cafeterias, water fountains, and clean restrooms

2.      After school programs will provide healthy nutritious snacks and beverages.

3.      After school programs will promote nutrition education and daily physical activity.

4.      Limit use of food as a reward or punishment.

5.      The wellness plan is considered in planning all school-based activities such as school events, field trips, dances and assemblies

6.      Ensure fundraising efforts are supportive of health eating.

7.      Encourage student participation in school extracurricular activities through student handbooks and announcements.

8.      Support for the health of all students is demonstrated by providing health screenings as needed, providing health fairs, and helping to enroll eligible children in Medicaid and other children’s health insurance programs.

9.      Provide on-going professional training and development for School Nutrition staff members and teachers in the areas of nutrition and physical activity.

10.  Develop strategies for parents/guardians, teachers, school administrators, students, School Nutrition staff, community leaders, and all other stakeholders to serve as role models in practicing healthy eating and physical activity both in school and at home.

The superintendent or designee shall be responsible for overseeing the implementation of the wellness policy and wellness plan and shall develop procedures for evaluation, including indicators that may be used to measure the schools’ success in meeting the goals set forth herein.
School food service at the district level shall monitor compliance with nutrition guidelines within school food service areas and report on this matter to the superintendent or designee.

The Board of Education for the Wilkes County School District is committed to providing students with nutritious food and beverage options during the school day on the school campus.  The school day is defined as the period from the midnight (12:00 a.m.) before, until 30 minutes after the end of the official school day.  
School campus includes all areas of the property under the jurisdiction of the school that are accessible to students during the school day.  This includes outdoor eating areas, parking lots, school stores, etc.

Food sold in schools must:

1.  Comply with the general criteria:

·         Be a "whole grain-rich" grain product containing 50% or more whole grains by weight, or have whole grains as the first ingredient; or

·         Have as the first ingredient a fruit, a vegetable, a dairy product, or a protein food; or 

·         Be a combination food that contains at least ¼ cup fruit and/or vegetable.

·         Contain 10% of the Daily Value (DV) of one of the nutrients of public health concern in the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (calcium, potassium, vitamin D, or dietary fiber).**

*If water is the first ingredient, the second ingredient must be one of the items above.
**This criterion expires June 30, 2016.

2.  And meet, at a minimum, the Nutrition Standards for all foods sold in schools:

Calorie limits:                                                               Fat limits:
°Snack items: <200 calories                                          °Total fat: <35% of calories
°Entree items: <350 calories                                         °Saturated fat:<10% of calories
°Trans fat: zero grams
Sodium limits:                                                               Sugar limit:
°Snack items: <200 mg                                                °<35% of weight from total
°Entree items: <480 mg                                                Sugars in foods

3.  Or qualify for an exemption from the Nutrition Standards.

4.  Accompaniments such as cream cheese, salad dressing and butter must be included in the nutrient profile as part of the food item sold.

Beverages sold in schools must:

1.  Be one of the allowable beverages for all grades

·         Plain water (with or without carbonation)

·         Unflavored low fat milk

·         Unflavored or flavored fat free milk and milk alternatives permitted by NSLP/SBP

·         100% fruit or vegetable juice and

·         100% fruit or vegetable juice diluted with water (with or without carbonation), and no added sweeteners.

2.  Comply with the size limits for each grade

·         Elementary schools may sell up to 8-ounces portions

·         Middle schools and high schools may sell up to 12-ounce portions

·         There is no portion size limit for plain water.

3.  High Schools may allow additional "no calorie" and "lower calorie" beverage options to their students.

·         No more than 20-ounce portions of calorie-free, flavored water (with or without carbonation); and other flavored and/or carbonated beverages that are labeled to contain <5 calories per 8 fluid ounces or <10 calories per 20 fluid ounces.

·         No more than 12-ounce portions of beverages with <40 calories per 8 fluid ounces, or < 60 calories per 12 fluid ounces

•Fundraisers

·         The sale of food items that meet nutrition requirements at fundraisers are not limited in any way under the standards, except that they may not be sold in the cafeteria.

·         All snacks sold in schools must meet the aforementioned nutritional requirements.

·         The standards do not apply during non-school hours, on weekends, during class parties, and at off-campus fundraising events.

•Exempted Fundraisers

·         Per the State Board Rule 160-5-6-.01, the Board of Education for the Wilkes County school district will allow 10 fundraisers per school per school year not to exceed 3 days in length.  Exempted fundraisers will not occur 30 minutes prior until 30 minutes after the end of breakfast or lunch meal service.

Questions regarding approved snacks may be directed to Director of School Nutrition.

•Wellness Committee Membership

·         If you are interested in serving on or contributing to the Wellness Plan/Committee, please contact School Nutrition Director Elizabeth Bohler at 706-678-2718 or bohlere@wilkes.k12.ga.us or at 313-A North Alexander Ave., Washington, GA 30673.
All stakeholders, parents, community members, teachers, etc are strongly encouraged to participate and give valuable feedback and comments regarding the Wilkes County Wellness Plan.

Public Updates

·         The Wilkes County School System is committed to transparency and ongoing communication regarding our wellness policy. The current wellness policy, including any updates or revisions, as well as the results of the triennial assessment, will be made available to the public. This information will be posted on the Wilkes County School Nutrition website and may also be shared through newsletters, school announcements, and other appropriate channels to ensure that all stakeholders have access to the most up-to-date information.

 

•Assessment of Policy Compliance/Triennial Assessment

·         The Wilkes County School System Wellness Committee will meet twice per year to access policy compliance. Assessment results will be posted on the Wilkes County School Nutrition website for the public to view.  School level staff are responsible for ensuring compliance of activities in their respective schools.

·         At least once every three years, the Wilkes County School System will conduct a comprehensive assessment of this wellness policy. This triennial assessment will:

1.      Measure the extent to which each school in the district is in compliance with the wellness policy;

2.      Compare the district’s wellness policy to model local school wellness policies; and

3.      Describe the progress made by the district in attaining the goals of the wellness policy.

The results of each triennial assessment will be made available to the public on the Wilkes County School Nutrition website and may also be shared through newsletters, school board updates, or other appropriate channels to ensure transparency and stakeholder awareness.

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