6:50 - School Wellness

Student wellness, including good nutrition, physical activity, and social emotional wellness shall be promoted in the District’s educational program, school activities, and meal programs. This policy shall be interpreted consistently with Section 204 of the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004 and the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 (HHFKA).

The Superintendent or designee will ensure:

  1. Each school building complies with Policy 6:50 School Wellness,
  2. The policy is available to the community on an annual basis, and
  3. That the community is informed about the progress of this policy’s implementation.

Nutrition Wellness Through Food Services

Students will be offered and schools will promote nutritious food and beverage choices consistent with the current Dietary Guidelines for Americans and Good Guidance System published jointly by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Agriculture. In addition, in order to promote student health and reduce childhood obesity, the Superintendent or designee shall establish such administrative procedures to control food sales that compete with the District’s non-profit food service in compliance with the Child Nutrition Act. Food service rules shall restrict the sale of foods of minimal nutritional value as defined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in the food service areas during the meal periods.

Promoting Student Awareness of Nutrition Wellness

The objectives for addressing nutrition education and nutrition promotion are to:

  • Support and promote good nutrition for students.
  • Foster the positive relationship between good nutrition, physical activity, and the capacity of students to develop and learn.
  • Incorporate nutrition education as part of the District’s comprehensive health education curriculum. See Board policy 6:60, Curriculum Content.

Unused Food Sharing Plan

In collaboration with the District’s local health department, the Superintendent or designee will:

  1. Develop and support a food sharing plan (Plan) for unused food that is focused on needy students.
  2. Implement the plan throughout the District.
  3. Ensure that any leftover food items are properly donated to combat potential food insecurity in the District’s community. Properly means in accordance with all federal regulations and State and local health and sanitation codes.

Physical Activity

Student physical development shall be incorporated into District 39’s educational program and shall be consistent with the Illinois Learning Standards for Physical Development and Health as established by the Illinois State Board of Education. The objectives for addressing the needs of students for physical development through the educational programs are to:

  • Support and promote an active lifestyle for students.
  • Include a developmentally planned and sequential curriculum in all grades that fosters the development of movement skills, enhances health-related fitness, increases students’ knowledge, offers direct opportunities to learn how to work cooperatively in a group setting, and encourages healthy habits and attitudes for a healthy lifestyle.
  • Require all students in kindergarten through 8th grades to engage in a physical education course as required by state law, unless otherwise exempted.

Goals for Other School-Based Activities

The goals for school-based activities include the following:

  • Schools will support and promote a healthy eating environment for students.
  • Schools will promote and participate in wellness activities.
  • Schools will offer other school-based activities to support student health and wellness, including coordinated events and clubs.

Student Social and Emotional Wellness

Student social and emotional development shall be incorporated into District 39’s educational program and shall be consistent with the social and emotional development standards to be contained in the Illinois Learning Standards. The objectives for addressing the needs of students for social and emotional development through the educational programs are to:

  • Enhance students’ school readiness, academic success, and use of good citizenship skills.
  • Foster a safe, supportive learning environment where students feel respected and valued.
  • Teach social and emotional skills to all students.
  • Partner with families and the community to promote students’ social and emotional development.
  • Support student mental health needs.
  • Provide a continuum of supports and services to meet the social emotional needs of students within the educational environment.

Monitoring

At least every three years, the Superintendent shall provide implementation data and/or reports to the Board concerning this policy’s implementation sufficient to allow the Board to monitor and adjust the policy (a triennial report). This triennial report must include without limitation each of the following:

  • An assessment of the District’s implementation of the policy
  • The extent to which schools in the District are in compliance with the policy
  • The extent to which the policy compares to model local school wellness policies
  • A description of the progress made in attaining the goals of the policy

Community Involvement

The Superintendent or designee will invite suggestions and comments concerning the development, implementation, and improvement of the District Wellness Policy from community members; this includes parents, students, and representatives of the school food service authority, school administrators, school staff, and the public.

Record Keeping

The Superintendent or designee shall retain records to document compliance with this policy.

Adopted: July 21, 2008
Revised: October 23, 2017; April 25, 2022; February 26, 2024
Reviewed: June 12, 2023