Student Health & Wellness

The Governing Board recognizes the link between student health and learning and desires to provide a comprehensive program promoting healthy eating and physical activity for district students. The Superintendent or designee shall coordinate and align district efforts to support student wellness through health education, physical education and activity, health services, nutrition services, psychological and counseling services, and a safe and healthy school environment. In addition, the Superintendent or designee shall develop strategies for promoting staff wellness and for involving parents/guardians and the community in reinforcing students' understanding and appreciation of the importance of a healthy lifestyle.

Student Health and Wellness Committee

The Superintendent or designee shall encourage parents/guardians, students, food service employees, physical education teachers, school health professionals, Board members, school administrators, and members of the public to participate in the development, implementation, and periodic review and update of the district's student wellness policy. (42 USC 1758b; 7 CFR 210.30)

To fulfill this requirement, the Superintendent or designee may appoint a school wellness council or other district committee and a wellness council coordinator. The council may include representatives of the groups listed above, as well as health educators, curriculum directors, counselors, before- and after-school program staff, health practitioners, and/or others interested in school health issues.

The Superintendent or designee may make available to the public and school community a list of the names, position titles, and contact information of the wellness council members.

The wellness council shall advise the district on health-related issues, activities, policies, and programs. At the discretion of the Superintendent or designee, the duties of the council may also include planning and implementation, and evaluation of activities to promote health within the school or community.

Goals for Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Other Wellness Activities
The Board shall adopt goals for nutrition promotion and education, physical activity, and other school-based activities that promote student wellness. In developing such goals, the Board shall review and consider evidence-based strategies and techniques. (42 USC 1758b; 7 CFR 210.30)

The district's nutrition education and physical education programs shall be based on research, shall be consistent with the expectations established in the state's curriculum frameworks and content standards, and shall be designed to build the skills and knowledge that all students need to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

The nutrition education program shall include, but is not limited to, information about the benefits of healthy eating for learning, disease prevention, weight management, and oral health. Nutrition education shall be provided as part of the health education program and, as appropriate, shall be integrated into other academic subjects in the regular educational program, before- and after-school programs, and summer learning programs.

The Board may enter into a joint use agreement or memorandum of understanding to make district facilities or grounds available for recreational or sports activities outside the school day and/or to use community facilities to expand students' access to opportunity for physical activity.

Professional development may be regularly offered to staff, as well as health education teachers, physical education teachers, coaches, activity supervisors, and other staff as appropriate to enhance their knowledge and skills related to student health and wellness.

In order to ensure that students have access to comprehensive health services, the district may provide access to health services at or near district schools and/or may provide referrals to community resources.

The Board recognizes that a safe, positive school environment is also conducive to students' physical and mental health and thus prohibits bullying and harassment of all students, including bullying on the basis of weight or health condition.

The Superintendent or designee shall encourage staff to serve as positive role models for healthy eating and physical fitness. He/she shall promote work-site wellness programs and may provide opportunities for regular physical activity among employees.

Program implementation and Evalutation

The Superintendent designates the individual(s) identified below as the individual(s) responsible for ensuring that each school site complies with the district's wellness policy. (42 USC 1758b; 7 CFR 210.30)

Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services and
Director of Student Services and Community Engagement
916-770-8859
edservices@dcjesd.us

The Superintendent or designee shall assess the implementation and effectiveness of this policy at least once every three years. (42 USC 1758b; 7 CFR 210.30)

Nutritional Guidelines for All Foods Available at School

For all foods and beverages available on each campus during the school day, the district shall adopt nutrition guidelines which are consistent with 42 USC 1758, 1766, 1773, and 1779 and federal regulations and which support the objectives of promoting student health and reducing childhood obesity. (42 USC 1758b)

In order to maximize the district's ability to provide nutritious meals and snacks, all district schools shall participate in available federal school nutrition programs, including the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs, to the extent possible.

The Superintendent or designee shall provide access to free, potable water in the food service area during meal times in accordance with Education Code 38086 and 42 USC 1758, and shall encourage students' consumption of
water by educating them about the health benefits of water and by serving water in an appealing manner.

The Board believes that all foods and beverages sold to students at district schools, including those available outside the district's reimbursable food services program, should support the health curriculum and promote optimal health. Nutrition standards adopted by the district for all foods and beverages sold to students, including foods and beverages provided through the district's food service program, student stores, vending machines, or other venues, shall meet or exceed state and federal nutrition standards.

The Superintendent or designee shall encourage school organizations to use healthy food items or non-food items for fundraising purposes.

He/she also will encourage school staff to avoid the use of non-nutritious foods as a reward for students' academic performance, accomplishments, or classroom behavior.

School staff shall encourage parents/guardians or other volunteers to support the district's nutrition education program by considering nutritional quality when selecting any snacks which they may donate for occasional class
parties. Class parties or celebrations will be held after the lunch period when possible.

To reinforce the district's nutrition education program, the Board prohibits the marketing and advertising of foods and beverages that do not meet nutrition standards for the sale of foods and beverages on campus during the school day. (7 CFR 210.30)