The school wellness policy
By Lynette Powell, Hot Springs Elementary School Principal

Below is a partial viewing of the Hot Springs policy regarding “wellness.” The complete policy can be viewed at the district website www.hssd.k12.sd.us .

A wellness committee was formed in the district, which worked diligently to put in place a policy that would meet the requirements set forth by the U.S. Congress. The policy was written to allow the district time to “grow” into all the requirements set forth.

Personally speaking this new mandate was not met with open arms because of the fear that this would be one more thing to add to what we require of our teachers. NCLB (No Child Left Behind) has mandated that schools must be at 100 percent Proficiency by the year 2014 and the number of state standards in the core subject areas is staggering. The days in the classroom are packed with standards based education and the instructional minutes are guarded fiercely! Where would we fit this new requirement? Recently however the policy has taken on new meaning through the phrase “living by example”. The policy doesn’t have to be an add-on instead it can be incorporated into the “daily life” of our students and staff!

Wellness and nutrition habits are formed in children before they start school but as educators we can show by example! This doesn’t mean we will be getting rid of birthday treats and party fun (Christmas, Halloween, End of Year) but what we can do is to encourage healthier snacks and alternatives. Many staff members now ask for cheese and crackers for parties versus cupcakes and brownies. Veggie and fruit trays are now a norm for party fare!

One woman at the elementary school led the charge for many of us, following her into a program that taught us all a “way of living.” However, other staff members have used a different approach by just eating healthier, using portion control, and moving more (exercise)! If we expected our students to live healthier lives then shouldn’t we demonstrate this in our own lives? The meetings we attend have almost become an extension of our elementary staff meetings! At last count we have 11 from the elementary and a couple from central office and one from middle school for a total of 14 staff members. To date we have lost 408.1lbs! That is like losing over 2.5 people!

Our habits have changed and even those not in the program with us are helping us by a change in what appears in the staff lounge, at staff meetings, and inservices. It truly has been a team effort and with the same effort we as educators and the parents can help combat childhood obesity.

We are asking that parents become our partners as we continue implementing the Wellness Policy and looking for ways for all of us to become healthier! Wellness and healthy habits start in the home and only working as partners can we hope to fully implement and see the benefits of our Wellness Policy!

Hot Springs Schools 23-2

Board of Education Policies, Section I

IHAM-R1 — WELLNESS POLICY

In the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004, PL 1056-268, the US Congress established a new requirement of schools with federally funded National School lunch programs. School districts are required to develop and implement wellness policies beginning July 1, 2006, that at a minimum:

• includes goals for nutrition education, physical activity, and such other school-based activities designed to promote student wellness.

• includes nutrition guidelines applicable to all foods available during the school day; and have as objectives the promotion of sound nutrition; the improvement of student health; and a reduction in childhood obesity.

• ensures that meals and supplements provided in accordance with the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act and the Child Nutrition Act conform to nutritional guidelines contained in regulations promulgated by the Secretary of Agriculture.

• establishes a plan for ensuring implementation of the local wellness policy, including designation of one or more individuals within the local educational agency charged with operational responsibility for ensuring that the requirements of the school wellness plan are carried out. The committee is to involve representatives of the school food authority, parents, students, the school board, school administrators, physical activity professionals, medical and nutrition professionals, and the public in the development of the school wellness policy.

Mission

The mission of the Wellness Program is to promote and enhance the health and well being of the students and staff of the Hot Springs School District. The program works to improve the health and well-being of students and staff and the educational achievement of students by providing coordinated health, mental health, and other support services.