Wellness Policy and USDA Nondiscrimination Policy

USDA Nondiscrimination Statement

Archbishop Damiano School (hereto referred to as ADS) is committed to the optimal development of every student. ADS believes that for students to have the opportunity to achieve personal, academic, developmental and social success, we need to create positive, safe, and health-promoting learning environments at every level, in every setting, throughout the school year. Research shows that two components, good nutrition and physical activity before, during and after the school day, are strongly correlated with positive student outcomes. This policy outlines ADS' s approach to ensuring environments and opportunities for all students to practice healthy eating and physical activity behaviors throughout the school day while minimizing distractions.


School Meals
ADS is committed to serving healthy meals to children, with plenty of fruits, vegetables and wholegrains, and fat-free and low-fat milk; moderate in sodium, low in saturated fat, and zero grams trans-fat per serving (nutrition label or manufacturer's specification); and to meet the nutrition needs of school children within their caloric requirements. ADS participates in USDA child nutrition programs, including the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and is committed to offering school meals through the NSLP.

  • All school meals are accessible to all students
  • ADS offers reimbursable school meals that meet USDA nutrition standards.
  • Drinking water will be available to all students throughout the day and throughout our school  campus, including during mealtimes.
  • All school nutrition program staff will meet or exceed hiring and annual continuing education requirements in the USDA Professional Standards for Child Nutrition professionals.

Other Food Available At School

  • The foods and beverages sold outside of the school meal programs (i.e. "competitive" foods and beverages) will meet the USDA Smart Snacks in School nutrition standards, at a minimum.
  •  All foods offered on the school campus will meet or exceed the USDA Smart Snack in School nutrition standards. Exemptions may be allowed at the discretion of the school principal.
  • The school will provide a list of healthy party ideas and snacks to parents and teachers, including non-food celebration ideas (Healthy Party Ideas).
  • The school will provide to parents a list of foods and beverages that meet Smart Snacks nutrition standards: anThe school will provide teachers and other relevant school staff a list of alternative ways to reward children. Foods and beverages will not be used as a reward, or withheld as punishment for any reason, such as for performance or behavior.

Nutrition Promotion

Students and staff will receive consistent nutrition messages throughout schools, classrooms, gymnasiums, and cafeterias. ADS will promote healthy food and beverage choices for all students throughout the school campus, as well as encourage participation in school meal programs.

  • The school will implement at least one of the following four Farm to School activities:
    •  Local and/or regional products are incorporated into the school meal program;
    • School hosts a school garden
    •  School hosts field trips to local farms; and
    • School utilizes promotion or special events, such as tastings, that highlight the local/regional products.
  • Any foods and beverages marketed or promoted to students on the school campus during the school day will meet or exceed USDA Smart Snacks in School Nutrition Standards. Food advertising and marketing includes, but is not limited to the following:
    • Brand names, trademarks, logos, or tags, except when placed on a physically present food or beverage product or its container.
    • Displays, such as on vending machine exteriors.
    • Corporate brand, logo, name or trademark on school equipment, such as marquees, message boards, scoreboards, or backboards.
    • Corporate brand, logo, name or trademark on cups used for beverage dispensing, menu boards, coolers, trash cans, and other food service equipment.

Nutrition Education

ADS aims to teach, model, encourage and support healthy eating by students. Nutrition education is designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to promote and protect their health.

  • Nutrition education will include enjoyable, developmentally-appropriate, culturally-relevant, and participatory activities, such as cooking demonstrations or lessons, promotions, taste­ testing, farm visits and school gardens. 
  • Nutrition education will also be integrated into other classroom instruction through subjects such as math, science, language arts, social sciences, and elective subjects.
  • ADS teaches students nutrition education using scientifically-based, up-to-date nutrition information consistent with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. ADS will include in the health education curriculum the following essential topics on healthy eating:
    • Food guidance from MY Plate
    • Reacting and using USDA's food labels
    • Balancing food intake and physical activity
    • Food Safety
    • Social .influences on healthy eating. including media, family, peers and culture
    • How to find valid information or services related to nutrition and dietary behavior
    • Resisting peer pressure related to unhealthy dietary behavior
    • Influencing. supporting, or advocating for others' healthy dietary behavior

Physical Education

ADS will provide students with physical education, using an age-appropriate, sequential adaptive physical education curriculum consistent with national and state standards for adaptive education. The physical education curriculum will promote the benefits of a physically active lifestyle and will help students develop skills to engage in lifelong healthy habits, as well as incorporate essential health education concepts. All students will be provided equal opportunity to participate in physical education classes.

  • All students will participate in physical education that meets or exceeds state standards.
  • All elementary students in each grade will receive physical education for at least 60 minutes per week throughout the school year.
  • All middle school students are required to take physical education in one grade level.
  • All high school students are required to take the equivalent of one academic year of physical education.
  • Students will be moderately to vigorously active for at least 50% of class time during most or all physical education class sessions.
  • All physical education classes are taught by licensed teachers who are certified or endorsed to teach physical education.
  • Waivers, exemptions, or substitutions for physical education classes are not granted.

Physical Activity

Children and adolescents should participate in 60 minutes of physical activity every day. ADS will offer students a variety of physical activity opportunities that are in addition to, and not as a substitute for, physical education.

  • Physical activity during the school day (including but not limited to, physical activity breaks or physical education) will not be required or withheld as punishment for any reason.
  • ADS recommends teachers provide short (3-5 minute) physical activity breaks to students during and between classroom times.
  • ADS offers opportunities ( e.g., including activity clubs, open gym, and Special Olympics for students to participate in physical activity before and/or after the school day.

Other Activities that Promote Student Wellness

ADS will integrate wellness activities across the entire school setting, not just in the cafeteria, other food and beverage venues, and physical activity facilities. ADS will coordinate and integrate other initiatives related to physical activity, physical education, nutrition, and other wellness components so all efforts are complementary, not duplicative, and work towards the same set of goals and objectives promoting student well-being, optimal development, and strong educational outcomes.

  • ADS will continue relationships with its community partners, and our local hospital partners, in support of this wellness policy's implementation.
  • ADS will promote to parents/caregivers, families, and the community the benefits of and approaches for healthy eating and physical activity throughout the school year.
  • Families will be invited to participate in school-sponsored events and will receive information about health promotion.
  • ADS promotes staff member participation in health promotion programs and will support programs for staff members on healthy eating/weight management.
  • When feasible, ADS will offer annual professional learning opportunities and resources for staff to increase knowledge and skills about promoting healthy behaviors in the classroom and school.

Policy Monitoring/implementation

  • ADS will convene a wellness committee that meets at least four times per year to establish goals for and oversee school health and safety policies and programs, including development, implementation, and periodic review and update of wellness.
  • The wellness committee membership will represent all school levels ( elementary and secondary schools) and include (to the extent possible), but not be limited to: parents and caregivers; students; representatives of the school nutrition program (e.g., school nutrition director); physical education teachers; health education teachers; school health professionals ( e.g., health education teachers, school health services staff, and mental health and social services staff); school administrator ( e.g., principal, vice principal), school board members; health professionals ( e.g., principal, vice principal) school board members; health professionals (e.g., dieticians, doctors, nurses, dentists); and the general public. ADS will compile and publish an annual report to share basic information about the wellness policy and report on the progress of the school in meeting wellness goals.
  • ADS will actively notify households/families of the availability of the annual report through a newsletter and website.
  • The wellness committee will update or modify the wellness policy based on the results of the annual progress reports, and/or as priorities changes; community needs change; wellness goals are met; new health science, information, and technology emerges; and new Federal or State guidance or standards are issued. The wellness policy will be assessed and updated as indicated at least every three years.

 

As of 9/1/2022