Wellness

The BOCES is firmly committed to providing a school environment that promotes and protects children's health, well-being, and the ability to learn by fostering healthy eating and physical activity and the development of lifelong wellness practices. The BOCES has established a Wellness Committee responsible for developing policy, making recommendations that promote a healthy lifestyle by supporting balanced nutrition and physical activity as a part of the learning environment.

The Wellness Committee will meet quarterly to seek input and representation from each of the following groups: administrators, teachers, school meal program staff, school nurses, physical education teachers, Board members, parents, students, environmental safety members and other interested faculty, staff and community representatives. The Wellness Committee will assess current activities, programs and policies available in the BOCES; identify specific areas of need in terms of compliance and resources; and provide mechanisms for implementation, education, evaluation, revision and updating of the policy. The Committee will update the Board regarding the activities and accomplishments in the form of an annual report and the Board and the District Superintendent/Executive Officer or designee will ensure compliance with the School Wellness Policy.

Following 42 USC 1751-Section 204, the Child Nutrition Reauthorization Act of 2004 (PL 108- 265), and the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act (2010), the BOCES will implement provisions set forth from The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) proposed rules as they are issued.

Taking into account the parameters of the BOCES (academic programs, annual budget, staffing issues, and available facilities) as well as the community in which the BOCES and its satellites are located (the general economy; socioeconomic status; local tax bases; social, cultural and religious influences; geography; and legal, political and social institutions) the Wellness Committee adopted the following goals for full day school programs, partial day students and adult education programs as it appropriately applies to the following:

a)  Goal I: To provide nutrition education and activities promoting balanced nutrition in order to support student health and wellness;

b) Goal II: To provide physical education and promote physical activities in order to support student health and wellness; and 

c)  Goal III: To provide opportunities for other school-based activities in order to support student physical and mental health and wellness.

The District's health education program recognizes the multiple dimensions of health by including instruction related to:

a)  Mental health;
b)  The relation of physical and mental health;
c)  Alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs; and
d)  The prevention and detection of certain cancers.

By including such instruction, the District will enhance student understanding, attitudes, and behaviors that promote health, well-being, and human dignity.
Health education programs provided by the District will be designed according to the needs and abilities of the students at successive grade levels in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.

The BOCES will provide nutrition education as part of an integrated health curriculum that encourages the voluntary adoption of healthy eating habits, exercise and other nutrition-related behaviors conducive to health and well-being by establishing the following standards:

a)  Nutrition education will be offered as a sequential, comprehensive, and NYS standards based curriculum.
b)  Skills-based programs will be offered that meet the New York State mandates for Health Education and Family and Consumer Science.
c) To the fullest extent possible, nutrition education will be integrated into other subjects such as: language arts, technology, mathematics, social studies and science.

The BOCES will provide opportunities for every student to develop the knowledge and skills
for specific physical activities, to maintain physical fitness, to regularly participate in physical activity, and to understand the short-term and long-term benefits of a physically active and healthy lifestyle.

The Wellness Committee has determined that the following standards are necessary to achieve this goal:

a)  All students who attend the BOCES will receive instruction in physical education (PE) that will be taught by certified physical education teachers.
b)  The physical education program will be aligned with NYSED PE standards and federal guidelines.
c)  PE will be taught in a safe school environment cognizant and respectful of each student's abilities and disabilities based on their Individual Education Plan        (IEP).
d)  Students will be required to participate to the best of their ability, and the PE program will be adapted as needed to maximize the individual student's potential for physical activity.
e)  To the fullest extent possible, physical activity will be integrated into classroom and in school program activities throughout the school day.
f)  Daily recess at the elementary level will be encouraged, and will not be withheld as a means of student behavioral management.

The BOCES recognizes that nutritious, well-balanced, reasonably portioned diet is essential to school wellness. To help students possess the knowledge and skills necessary to make nutritious food choices for a lifetime, the BOCES shall work to ensure that all foods and beverages available in school promote good nutrition, balance, and reasonable portion sizes. The BOCES shall strive to have reimbursable school meals meet or exceed the program requirements and nutrition standards found in federal regulations (including the Dietary for Americans and Food Guide Pyramid).

The BOCES wishes to establish a school environment that presents consistent wellness messages and is conducive to healthy eating and physical activity for all. In order to present a coordinated school approach where BOCES decision-making related to nutrition and physical activity encompasses all aspects of the school, the Wellness Committee has determined that the following standards are necessary to achieve this goal:

a) The BOCES will participate to the maximum extent practicable in available federal school meal programs (School Breakfast Program, National School Lunch Program, and Salad Bar Program).

b) Students who participate in free or reduced meals will be protected from social stigma or overt identification of their financial status while purchasing school meals.

c) The meals at school will be appealing and attractive to students and will be served in a safe, clean, and environmentally responsible manner.

d) Foods and beverages sold outside the regular school meal will be required to meet current and future NYS and Federal nutrition guidelines.

with current NYSED nutrition policies for schools. Vending machines are prohibited from having soda and/or candy as an option. To support children's health and school nutrition-education efforts, the BOCES discourages school fundraising activities that involve food and encourages fundraising activities that promote physical activity.

The Wellness Committee will recommend the nutritional standards established for all foods available on school campus based upon the unique needs of the student body with the objectives of establishing healthy school nutrition environments, promoting student health, reducing childhood obesity and preventing diet-related chronic diseases. The goal is to encourage healthy lifelong eating habits by providing foods that are high in nutrients, low in fat and added sugars, and of moderate portion size.

a) Reimbursable school meals served will minimally meet the program requirements and nutritional standards of the National School Lunch Program.

b) The food service department will adapt to the newest food guidelines as they are released, which stipulate reductions in total fat, saturated fat, and sodium in the school meal plan. These new guidelines will be phased in incrementally based on vendor product availability. Healthy foods will be prepared redefining portions, increasing the daily number of fruit and vegetable servings, offering skim or low fat milk (1 %), and encouraging the appropriate food choices all the while following a strict guideline of calories, sodium, saturated fat and trans fat by grade level.

This School Wellness Policy assures that guidelines for reimbursable school meals are not less restrictive than regulations and guidance issued by the Secretary of Agriculture pursuant to subsections (a) and (b) of Section 10 of the Child Nutrition Act (42 USC 1779) and Section 9(f)(1) and 17(a) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 USC 1758 (f)(1), 1766 (a), as those regulations and guidelines apply to schools. Meals served at Orange-Ulster BOCES will meet and adhere to the current guidelines of the NYSED Child Nutrition Department and the USDA Food and Nutrition Service Department.

In accordance with law, the BOCES Wellness Policy was established in 2006; and the BOCES will ensure school and community awareness of this policy through various means, such as publication in the BOCES newsletters and/or the BOCES website. Further, professional development activities for staff and student awareness training will be provided, as appropriate, on the goals of the BOCES Wellness Program, including activities/programs for the development of healthy eating habits and the incorporation of physical activity as part of a comprehensive healthy lifestyle.

The BOCES shall establish an implementation and evaluation plan for the Wellness Policy in order to monitor its effectiveness and for the possible need for further modification over time. Accordingly, the District Superintendent/Executive Officer shall designate one or more staff members within the BOCES or at each satellite, as appropriate, to have operational responsibility for ensuring that the BOCES meets the goals and mandates of its Wellness Policy. Designated staff members may include, but are not limited to, the following personnel:

a) Administrators;
b) School health personnel including the school nurse and the health and/or physical education teacher; and
c) School Food Service Managers.

These designated staff members shall periodically report to the District Superintendent/Executive Officer on the BOCES compliance with the Wellness Policy (or, if done at the building level, to the building principal) and the District Superintendent/Executive Officer shall inform the Board of such findings. The District Superintendent/Executive Officer or designee shall prepare a summary report on the BOCES-wide compliance with the Wellness Policy based on input from the divisions. That report will be provided to the Board and also distributed to the Wellness Committee, Building Principals, and School Health Services personnel within the BOCES. The report shall also be placed on the website, made available to parent-teacher organizations and community residents upon request.

These designated school officials will also serve as a liaison with community agencies in providing outside resources to help in the development of nutritional education programs and physical activities.

Evaluation and feedback from interested parties, including an assessment of student, parent, teacher, and administration satisfaction with the Wellness Policy, is essential to the BOCES evaluation program. Further, the BOCES shall document the financial impact, if any, to the school food service program or vending machine revenues based on the implementation of the Wellness Policy.

The BOCES will provide nutrition education and physical education, with an emphasis on establishing lifelong habits of healthy eating and physical activity, and will establish linkages between health education and school meal programs, and with related community services. Communication with and training for teachers, parents, students, and food service staff will be an integral part of the BOCES implementation plan.

To the extent practicable, students and parents shall be involved in the development of strategies designed to promote healthy food choices in the school environment; and the school cafeteria will provide a variety of nutritionally sound meal and beverage choices. The BOCES will encourage students' active, age appropriate participation in decisions regarding healthy lifestyles and choices. Positive reinforcement such as letters of recognition and acknowledgment will be utilized as a means to encourage healthy eating patterns among the student population. In addition, the school will share information about the nutritional content of meals with parents and students; such information may be made available on menus, a Web site, or such other "point-of-purchase" materials.

Assessments of the BOCES Wellness Policy and implementation efforts may be repeated on an annual basis, but it is recommended that such assessment occur no later than every three years, to help review policy compliance, assess progress, and determine areas in need of improvement. The BOCES and satellites, will, as necessary, revise the Wellness Policy and develop work plans to facilitate its implementation.

Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004, Public Law Section 108-265 Section 204
Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act, 42 USC Section 1751 et seq.
Child Nutrition Act of 1966, 42 USC Section 1771 et seq.
7 CFR Section 210.10
http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx 0517cfr210 05.html
Education Law §§ 803, 804, 806-a, and 3204
Education Law Article 90 8 NYCRR §§ 107.2, 135.4, and 142
Adopted: 7/14/16 Revised: 7/12/18