WELLNESS POLICY
DT Preparatory Academy recognizes that good nutrition and regular physical activity affect the health and well-being of all students. Furthermore, research suggests that there is a positive correlation between a student's health and well-being and his/her ability to learn. Moreover, schools can play an important role in the developmental process by which students establish their health and nutrition habits by providing nutritious meals and snacks through the schools' meal programs, supporting the development of good eating habits and promoting increased physical activity both in and out of school.
DT Preparatory Academy is committed to creating school environments that promote and protect the overall well-being of all students and staff. The guidelines listed below encourage a comprehensive wellness approach that is sensitive to both individual and community needs.
1. Local School Wellness Policy Leadership
School level
Each school within DT Preparatory Academy will establish an ongoing Healthy School Team that will meet bi-annually twice a year to ensure compliance and to facilitate the implementation of DT Preparatory Academy wellness policy.
➢The school principal and local school staff shall have the responsibility to comply with federal and state regulations as they relate to DT Preparatory Academy wellness policy.
➢ In each school, the administrator will be responsible for establishing the Healthy School Team that will ensure compliance with the policy.
➢ The Healthy School Team should include, but not be limited to, the following stakeholders: parents, students, school food service program representatives, school administrators, school health professionals, physical education teachers and the general public.
➢ The Healthy School Team is responsible for:
o Ensuring compliance with federal and state regulations for competitive food and beverage items sold on the school campus (7 CFR 210.11 and FAC 5P-1.003);
o Maintaining a school calendar identifying the dates when exempted competitive food fundraisers will occur in accordance with the frequency specified in paragraph (c) of FAC 5P-1.003;
o And reporting its school’s compliance of the aforementioned regulations to the administrator, the person responsible for ensuring overall compliance with DT Preparatory Academy wellness policy.
DT Preparatory Academy will review and consider evidence-based strategies and techniques in establishing goals for nutrition promotion and education, physical activity and other school based activities that promote student wellness to include, at a minimum, a review of Smarter Lunchroom tools and techniques.
2. Nutrition Promotion
Nutrition promotion can positively influence lifelong eating behaviors by creating food environments that encourage healthy choices and encourage participation in the school meal programs.
➢ The school environment, including the cafeteria and classroom, shall provide clear and consistent messages that promote and reinforce healthy eating.
➢ Students will have access to useful nutrition information. Posters, worksheets and brochures will be available in classrooms and throughout each school’s campus.
➢ Schools will provide parents with healthy snack ideas, lists of foods for healthy celebrations and opportunities for physical activity before and after school.
3. Nutrition Education
Academic performance and quality of life issues are affected by the choice and availability of nutritious foods in our schools. Healthy foods support student physical growth, brain development, resistance to disease, emotional stability and ability to learn.
➢ Nutrition education will teach skills that are behavior-focused. Students will be taught about calorie balance, energy expenditure and how to read and interpret nutrition facts labels.
➢ The staff responsible for nutrition education will be adequately prepared and participate regularly in professional development activities to effectively deliver an accurate nutrition education program as planned. Preparation and professional development activities will provide basic knowledge of nutrition combined with skill practice in program-specific activities and instructional techniques and strategies designed to promote healthy eating habits.
4. Physical Activity
DT Preparatory Academy shall ensure that physical activity is an essential element of each school’s instructional program. The program shall provide the opportunity for all students to develop the skills, knowledge and attitudes necessary to participate in a lifetime of physical activity.
➢ All students in grades K-5 shall receive 150 minutes per week of instructionally relevant physical education. For middle school physical education in grades 6-8, all students shallreceive a minimum of one semester of physical education in each of the three years.
➢ All elementary school students will have at least 20 minutes of daily recess. Each school will provide space, equipment and an environment conducive to safe and enjoyable play.
➢ Students will have the opportunity to be involved in physical activity through physical education programs, before and after school activities or other activity programs. Students will be encouraged to participate in community-offered fitness and athletic programs.
➢ Regular classroom teachers will be encouraged to provide short physical activity breaks between lessons or classes, as appropriate.
5. Other School-Based Activities
DT Preparatory Academy will integrate wellness activities across the entire school setting. These initiatives will include nutrition, physical activity and other wellness components so that all efforts work towards the same set of goals and objectives used to promote student well-being, optimal development and strong educational outcomes.
General Guidelines
➢ DT Preparatory Academy shall consider the components of the Centers for Disease Control’s Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) model in establishing other school-based activities that promote wellness.
➢ The goals outlined by the wellness policy will be considered in planning all school-based activities (such as school events, field trips, dances and assemblies).
➢ Afterschool programs will encourage healthy snacking and physical activity.
➢ Dt Preparatory Academy shall actively develop and support the engagement of students, families and staff in community health-enhancing activities and events at the school or throughout the community.
➢ Each school within DT Preparatory shall be in compliance with drug, alcohol and tobacco-free polies.
Eating Environment
➢ Students will be provided an adequate amount of time to consume their meal with a minimum of 20 minutes after receiving their food from the line.
➢ Each school will provide nutritious, fresh, locally grown food that reflects Florida’s bountiful harvest.
➢ Convenient access to facilities for hand washing will be available during meal periods.
HealthierUS School Challenge
➢ All schools will be encouraged to join the United States Department of Agriculture(USDA) Team Nutrition program and submit an application to be recognized as a HealthierUS School Challenge: Smarter Lunchrooms (HUSSC: SL) school.
Recycling
➢ Each school shall maximize the reduction of waste by recycling, reusing, composting and purchasing recycled products.
Employee Wellness
➢ DT Preparatory Academy wellness committee will have a staff wellness subcommittee that focuses on staff wellness issues, identifies and distributes wellness resources and performs other functions that support staff wellness in coordination with human resources staff.
➢ All staff will be provided with opportunities to participate in physical activities and healthy eating programs that are accessible and free or low-cost.
Health Services
➢ A coordinated program of accessible health services shall be provided to students and staff and shall include, but not be limited to, violence prevention, school safety, communicable disease prevention, health screening, including body mass index, community health referrals, immunizations, parenting skills and first aid/CPR training.
Use of School Facilities Outside of School Hours
➢ Each school will promote the use of school facilities outside of school hours for physical activity programs offered by community-based organizations and for the school community’s use. Parents will be allowed to bring their children to the school and have access to basketball courts and playgrounds.
Behavior Management
➢ DT Preparatory Academy is committed to prohibiting the use of food as a reward, unless incorporated into an activity that promotes positive nutrition messages (such as a guest chef or field trip to a farm).
➢ Teachers and other school personnel will not deny or require physical activity as a means of punishment.
6. Guidelines for All Foods and Beverages Available During the School Day
DT Preparatory Academy shall operate and provide food service in accordance with USDA’sNational School Lunch Program (NSLP) standards and applicable laws and regulations of the state of Florida. The guidelines for reimbursable school meals shall not be less restrictive than regulations and guidance issued by USDA.
General Guidelines
➢ All reimbursable meals will meet nutrition standards mandated by USDA, as well as any additional state nutrition standards that go beyond USDA requirements.
➢ School meals will include a variety of nutrient-dense foods, including whole grains and fiber-rich fruits and vegetables, while accommodating special dietary needs and ethnic and cultural food preferences.
➢ To the maximum extent possible, all schools in DT Preparatory Academy will participate in available federal school meal programs, including the SBP, NSLP, ASSP, AMP, and SFSP.
➢ Free, potable water will be made available to all children during each meal service.
Nutrition standards for beverages: Portion sizes listed are the maximum that can be offered.
Beverages
Elementary Middle High
Plain water unlimited unlimited unlimited
Unflavored
low-fat milk 8 fl. oz. 12 fl. oz. 12 fl. oz.
Unflavored or
flavored fat-free
milk 8 fl. oz. 12 fl. oz. 12 fl. oz.
100% fruit or
vegetable
juice
8 fl. oz. 12 fl. oz. 12 fl. oz.
100% fruit or
vegetable juice
diluted with
water but no
added
sweeteners 8 fl. oz. 12 fl. oz. 12 fl. oz.
Other flavored
and/or carbonated
beverages that
are labeled to contain
5 calories or less per
8 fl. oz., or 10 calories
or less per 20 fl. oz.
Not allowed Not allowed 20 fl. oz.
Other flavored
and/or carbonated
beverages that
are labeled to
contain 40 calorie
or less per 8 fl. oz.
or 60 calories or
less per 12 fl. oz.)
Not allowed Not allowed 12 fl. oz.
For elementary and middle school students: foods and beverages must be caffeine-free with the exception of trace amounts of naturally occurring caffeine substances. Food and beverages for high school students may contain caffeine.
*The final rule requires each LSWP to also include nutrition guidelines for all food and beverages available on the school campus during the school day that are not sold (i.e. foods provided for classroom parties and school celebrations). This rule does not require LEAs to address standards for food brought from home for individual consumption.*
Standards for food and beverages available during the school day that are
not sold to students:
➢ The school will provide parents and teachers a list of ideas for healthy celebrations/parties, rewards and fundraising activities.
➢ Class parties or celebrations shall be held after the lunch period and only foods that meet the Smart Snacks in School nutrition standards can be served.
➢ Schools will limit celebrations that involve food during the school day to no more than one party per class per month.
Fundraising
➢ Fundraising efforts will be supportive of healthy eating by complying with all applicable regulations and nutrition standards for competitive foods while also emphasizing the sale of nonfood items.
➢ No fundraisers that include the sale of food items will occur until thirty (30) minutes after the conclusion of the last designated meal service period.
*The new food and beverage marketing rule requires local school wellness policies to establish only minimum standards for food and beverage marketing restrictions. State agencies and LEAs may choose to adopt more stringent policies for food and beverage marketing. This new addition does not apply to personal clothing or items, packaging of products brought from home or classroom materials used for educational purposes.*
7. Evaluation and Measurement of the Implementation of the Wellness Policy
DT Preparatory Academy wellness committee will update and make modifications to the wellness policy based on the results of the annual review and triennial assessments and/or as local priorities change, community needs change, wellness goals are met, new health information and technology emerges and new federal or state guidance or standards are issued. The wellness policy will be assessed as indicated at least every three years following the triennial assessment.
Triennial Progress Assessments
DT Preparatory Academy will conduct an assessment of the local school wellness policy to measure wellness policy compliance at least once every three years. This assessment will measure the implementation of the local school wellness policy, and include:
➢ The extent to which DT Preparatory Academy is in compliance with the local school wellness policy;
➢ The extent to which the local school wellness policy compares to model local school wellness policies; and
➢ A description of the progress made in attaining the goals of the local school wellness policy.
*At a minimum, LEAs must annually inform and update the public about the content and implementation of the local school wellness policy. USDA encourages LEAs and schools to include a summary of each school’s events or activities relating to the LSWP implementation, contact information for the designated LSWP official and information on how the public can get involved with the wellness policy committee.*
8. Informing the Public
DT Preparatory Academy will ensure that the wellness policy and most recent triennial assessment are available to the public at all times. DT Preparatory Academy will also actively notify households on an annual basis about any updates made to the wellness policy and the availability of the triennial assessment results, as well as provide information to the community about the school nutrition environment.
➢ DT Preparatory Academy will ensure the most updated version of the wellness policy and triennial assessments are always available on the school website for the public to view.
➢ DT Preparatory Academy will present wellness policy updates, as applicable, during meetings with the Parent Teacher Association/Organization, school board, health and wellness.
➢ Wellness updates will be provided to students, parents and staff, as applicable, in the form of handouts, DT Preparatory Academy website, articles and each school’s newsletter, to ensure that the community is informed and that public input is encouraged.
➢ All parents will be provided with a complete copy of the school wellness policy at the beginning of the school year.
9. Community Involvement
DT Preparatory Academy is committed to being responsive to community input, which begins with awareness of the wellness policy. DT Preparatory Academy will actively communicate ways in which parents, students, representatives of the school food authority, teachers of physical education, school health professionals and school administrators can participate in the development, implementation and annual review of the local school wellness policy through a variety of means, including:
➢ DT Preparatory Academy will consider student needs in planning for a healthy nutrition environment. Students will be asked for input and feedback through the use of surveys and attention will be given to their comments.
➢ DT Preparatory Academy will use electronic mechanisms, such as email or displaying notices on DT Preparatory Academy website, as well as non-electronic mechanisms, such as newsletters, presentations to parents or sending information home to parents, to ensure that all families are actively notified of any updates to the wellness policy, as well as how to get involved and support the policy.
Record keeping information is not required to be written into the wellness policy; however, the following documentation must be maintained and will be reviewed by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services during anAdministrative Review of the LEA’s National School Lunch Program.
Record Keeping
Records to document compliance with the requirements of the local school wellness policy will include, but is not limited to the following:
• The written local school wellness policy;
• Documentation demonstrating compliance with community involvement requirements, including requirements to make the local school wellness policy and triennial assessments available to the public as consistent with the section on informing and updating the public; and
• Documentation of the triennial assessment of the local school wellness policy.
*Documentation demonstrating compliance with community involvement requirements may include a copy of the solicitation on the LEA website. Documentation to demonstrate compliance with the public notification requirements may include a copy of the LEA Web page where the LSWP has been posted or a copy of the school newsletter.*
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.