New Mexico Public Education Department s8

New Mexico Public Education Department

School District Wellness Policy

Mescalero Apache Schools

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Wellness Policy Introduction ……………………………………………………. Page 1

Wellness Policy Step Process …………………………………………………….. Page 1

Wellness Policy Family, School and Community Involvement ……. Page 5

Wellness Policy Physical Activity ……………………………………. . Page 8

Wellness Policy Nutrition ……………………………………………... Page 10

Wellness Policy Health Education ……………………………………. Page 12

Wellness Policy Physical Education ………………………………….. Page 15

Wellness Policy Healthy and Safe Environment …………………….. Page 17

Wellness Policy Social and Emotional Well-Being …………………... Page 19

Wellness Policy Health Services ……………………………………… Page 21

Wellness Policy Staff Wellness ……………………………………….. Page 23

Appendix A (Wellness Policy Component Worksheet) ………………………… Page 25

Appendix B (SHAC Members Form) …………………………………………..... Page 27

Appendix C (School District Wellness Rule) ……………………………………. Page 28

Appendix D (Nutrition: Competitive Foods Rule) ……………………………… Page 31

Appendix E (Nutrition: Competitive Foods Rule Grid) ……………………….. Page 36

Appendix F (Evaluation Plan) .…………………………………………….…….. Page43

Healthy Kids Make Better Students, Better Students Make Healthy Communities

School District Wellness Policy

Introduction:

Developing a comprehensive school district wellness policy is essential to the academic success and lifelong well-being of students in New Mexico. This school district wellness policy guidance document is intended to assist school districts in developing and implementing wellness policies that create a learning environment that allows students to achieve their full academic potential and enjoy lifelong health, while meeting the Public Education Department Wellness Policy rule 6.12.6.6 NMAC and the requirements of Section 204 of Public Law 108-265–June 30, 2004–Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004.

The school district wellness policy rule adopted in New Mexico establishes that school districts create a wellness policy that includes areas related to the components of a coordinated school health approach to student health and well-being (see Appendix C School District Wellness Policy 6.12.6 NMAC). The school district wellness policy has two deadlines:

By August 30, 2006 school districts are required to:

Establish school health advisory councils;

Develop guidelines for physical activity and nutrition; and

Develop a plan for measuring the implementation and evaluation of the wellness policy.

By January 30, 2007 school districts are required to:

Develop guidelines for health education, physical education, behavioral health, school safety, health services, and staff wellness.

Appendix A provides a worksheet to assist School Health Advisory Councils in the development of each of the components within the wellness policy. The school district wellness policy will be monitored during the 2006-2007 school year by utilizing Healthy Kids Report Card being developed by the Public Education Department and other partners.

Wellness Policy Process

Step 1: The local board of education will establish a district school health advisory council (SHAC) that consist of parent(s), school food authority personnel, school board member(s), school administrator(s), school staff; student(s); and community member(s).

Additionally, the school health advisory council will be given the responsibility to make recommendations to the local school board in the development or revision, implementation, and evaluation of the wellness policy. The committee shall meet a minimum of two times annually for this purpose.

Finally, the school health advisory council should work with the school district to designate one or more persons within the school district, or at each school, as appropriate, charged with operational responsibility for ensuring that each school fulfills the district’s wellness policy.

Step 2: The school health advisory council creates a draft wellness policy that addresses the following areas:

Physical activity guidelines for before, during and/or after school.

Family, school and community involvement guidelines.

Nutrition guidelines for a la carte offerings minimally meeting guidelines set forth in subsection B of 6.12.5.8 NMAC.

Nutrition guidelines for school sponsored fund raisers during normal school hours minimally meeting guidelines set forth in paragraph (1) of subsection C of 6.12.5.8 NMAC.

Nutrition guidelines for school sponsored fund raisers before and after school hours ensuring that at least fifty percent of the offerings shall be healthy choices in accordance with the requirements set forth in paragraph (2) of subsection C of 6.12.5.8 NMAC.

A plan for measuring the implementation and evaluation of physical activity guidelines; family, school and community guidelines; nutrition guidelines for school sponsored fundraisers during school hours; and nutrition guidelines for school sponsored fundraisers before and after school. School districts are asked to use the Evaluation Template (Attachment F) when creating the plan for measuring implementation and evaluation.

Step 3: The local school board adopts the school district wellness policy with the guidelines for physical activity, nutrition, school health advisory council and a measurement plan no later than August 30, 2006.

Step 4: The district submits, electronically, the following documents for the physical activity and nutrition sections of the Wellness Policy, no later than August 30, 2006 to the Public Education Department:

Send to District Wellness Policy electronically to:
Kristine M. Meurer, Ph.D., Director
School and Family Support Bureau
New Mexico Public Education Department

1. The local school board adopted school district wellness policy that contains guidelines for physical activity; nutrition; and family, school and community involvement.

2. The SHAC members list (Appendix B).

3. An evaluation plan for the guidelines of physical activity; nutrition; and family, school and community involvement (Attachment F).

Step 5: The school health advisory council creates a draft wellness policy that addresses the following areas:

Guidelines for a planned, sequential, K-12 health education curriculum that addresses the physical, mental, emotional, and social dimensions of health and is aligned to the health education content standards with benchmarks and performance standards as set forth in 6.30.2.19 NMAC.

Guidelines for a planned, sequential K-12 physical education curriculum that provides the optimal opportunity for all students to learn and develop skills, knowledge and attitudes necessary to personally decide to participate in lifetime healthful physical activity and is aligned to the physical education content standards with benchmarks and performance standards as set forth in 6.30.2.20 NMAC.

A plan addressing the behavioral health needs of all students in the educational process by focusing on students’ social and emotional well-being.

A school safety plan at each school building focused on supporting health and safe environments and including but not necessarily limited to prevention, policies and procedures and emergency response.

A plan addressing the health services needs of students in the educational process.

A plan addressing the staff wellness needs of all staff that minimally ensures an equitable work environment and meets the American with Disabilities Act Part III.

Step 6: The local school board adopts the policy with guidelines for health education, physical education, behavioral health, school safety, health services and staff wellness no later than January 30, 2007.

Step 7: The district submits the following sections of the wellness policy electronically for health education, physical education, behavioral health, school safety, health services and staff wellness sections of the Wellness Policy, no later than January 30, 2007 to the Public Education Department:

Send to District Wellness Policy electronically to:
Kristine M. Meurer, Ph.D., Director
School and Family Support Bureau
New Mexico Public Education Department

Guidelines for health education, physical education, behavioral health, school safety, health services and staff wellness.

A plan measuring the implementation and evaluation of health education, physical education, social and emotional well-being, the school safety plan, health services and staff wellness. School districts are asked to use the Evaluation Template (Attachment F) when creating the plan for measuring implementation and evaluation.

Step 8: Each school will be required to monitor their school district wellness policy by completing the annual Healthy Kids Report Card.

Definition:

Family, school and community involvement means an integrated family, school and community approach for enhancing the health and well-being of students by establishing a district school health advisory council that has the responsibility to make recommendations to the local school board in the development or revision, implementation and evaluation of the wellness policy.

The family, school and community involvement component promotes long-term effective partnerships between families, schools, and communities in the planning and implementation of health promotion projects and events both within the school and throughout the community. The partnership can encourage and sustain environmental changes that support healthy lifestyles for children and their families.

Requirement:

The local school board of Mescalero Apache Schools will establish a district school health advisory council that consists of parent(s), school food authority personnel, school board member(s), school administrator(s), school staff, student(s), and community member(s).

The Mescalero Apache Schools health advisory council shall have the responsibility to make recommendations to the local school board in the development or revision, implementation, and evaluation of the school district wellness policy.

The Mescalero Apache Schools health advisory council shall meet for this purpose a minimum of two times annually.

Goal:

The goal of family, school and community involvement within a coordinated school health approach is to create a total school environment that is conducive to student health and academic achievement. This inclusive atmosphere features a shared responsibility that supports healthy children and families. Effective partnerships between families, schools and communities support the development and the maintenance of this comprehensive learning environment.

Activities:

The activities below are broken up into two components. Component one (I) includes the Public Education Department (PED) requirements that are outlined in the school district wellness policy rule (6.12.6.6 NMAC). The PED required activities are expected to be included in every wellness policy submitted to the PED. Component two (II) includes other activities each school health advisory council can create in addition to the requirements that are specific to the needs of the local school district.

I. PED required activities:

Assign responsibilities to School Health Advisory Council members (SHAC) to develop, implement, monitor and evaluate the district wellness policy.

Mescalero Apache Schools will create guidelines to provide physical activity opportunities to students before, during and/or after school.

Mescalero Apache Schools will have guidelines for school sponsored fund raisers during normal school hours minimally meeting guidelines as stated in the competitive food sales rule.

Guidelines will be established for school sponsored fund raisers before and after school hours ensuring that at least 50% of the offerings shall be healthy choices as stated in the competitive food sales rule.

Guidelines will be established for a planned, sequential, PreK-12 health education curriculum that addresses the physical, mental, emotional, and social dimensions of health and is aligned to the health education content standards with benchmarks and performance standards as set forth in 6.30.2.19 NMAC.

Guidelines will be established for a planned, sequential PreK-12 physical education curriculum that provides the optimal opportunity for all students to learn and develop skills, knowledge and attitudes necessary to personally decide to participate in lifetime healthful physical activity and is aligned to the physical education content standards with benchmarks and performance standards as set forth in 6.30.2.20 NMAC.

A plan will be established addressing the behavioral health needs of all students in the educational process by focusing on students’ social and emotional well-being.

A school safety plan at each school building focused on supporting health and safe environments and including but not necessarily limited to prevention, policies and procedures, and emergency response.

A plan addressing the health services needs of students in the educational process.

A plan addressing the staff wellness needs of all staff that minimally ensures an equitable work environment and meets the American with Disabilities Act Part III.

A plan for measuring implementation and evaluation of the wellness policy.

Designate one or more persons within the school district, or at each school, as appropriate, charged with operational responsibility for ensuring that each school fulfills the district’s wellness policy.

II. Other activities:

Review contracts with outside vendors that encourage healthful eating and reduction of school/district dependence on profits from foods of little nutritional value.

Increase community awareness of student health needs.

Partner with community to support policies and programs.

Evaluation

See Appendix F.

Resources:

New Mexico Public Education Department, School and Family Support Bureau – online http://www.ped.state.nm.us or phone: 505-827-1804.

Youth Risk and Resiliency Survey – online at http://www.health.state.nm.us/pdf/YRRS2003FinalReport.pdf or
http://hsc.unm.edu/chpdp/projects/pyrrs.htm.

School District Wellness Policy rule 6.12.6.6 NMAC.

Nutrition: Competitive Food Sales Rule 6.12.5.6 NMAC.

Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004 (Public Law 108-265): http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/Governance/Legislation/PL_108-265.pdf.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Adolescent and School Health. http://www.cdc.gov/HealthyYouth/healthtopics/wellness.htm.

Improving School Health: A Guide to School Health Councils, American Cancer Society, Inc., 1999: http://actionforhealthykids.org/filelib/resources/Ntl_Guide_to_SHAC.pdf.

Promoting Healthy Youth, Schools and Communities: A Guide to Community-School Health Advisory Councils, Iowa Department of Public Health, 2000: http://www.idph.state.ia.us/hpcdp/promoting_healthy_youth.asp.

Team Nutrition: Local Wellness Policy. A team of community members must be involved in the development of each local wellness policy. Parents, students, representatives of the school food authority, the school board, school administrators and the public must be a part of the development process: www.fns.usda.gov/tn/Healthy/wellnesspolicy.html.

Fit, Healthy and Ready to Learn, National Association of State Boards of Education, provides detailed guidance for development of school health policy following the Coordinated School Health Program model: www.nasbe.org/HealthySchools/fithealthy.html.

Changing the Scene: Improving the School Nutrition Environment, a joint publication released by USDA’s Team Nutrition and CDC, provides a roadmap for assessing and improving school policies, in order to provide students with a healthy school nutrition environment. In the classroom students are taught to eat healthfully and to be active, but they also need the opportunity to practice those behaviors. Wellness policies combine education with practice to create healthful school environments and encourage healthy behavior: teamnutrition.usda.gov/Resources/changing.html.