Utah International Charter School Wellness Policy
Board Policy and Statement of Principles
The Utah International Charter School Board of Education is committed to providing a school environment that enhances learning and fosters lifelong wellness practices.
Utah International recognizes the relationship between personal wellness and academic learning outcomes.
Utah International recognizes the importance of having faculty and staff model healthy behaviors to promote community wellness practices.
Utah International recognizes that one important aspect of wellness is achieved by promoting diversity in the school community.
2019 Wellness Goals
- Educate parents and students about the health consequences of nicotine, vape-related illnesses, and cessation programs.
- Provide information for families (and for staff to communicate to families) about low- or no-cost mental health counseling in the area.
- Deliver staff professional development on health and wellness strategies for stress management.
- Ensure that school lunch includes fresh fruit or vegetables daily.
Guidelines
Nutrition Promotion
- Child Nutrition Programs shall comply with Federal, State, and local requirements and be accessible to all children. All foods made available on campus through the Child Nutrition Program will meet or exceed the USDA nutrition requirements. In addition, menu patterns for all meals served on campus during the school day will seek to promote fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains while reducing refined sugar, refined flour, excessive saturated fat, and sodium as outlined by the Healthy-Free Kids Act (HHFKA).
- Nutrition Information for the school lunch program is available through the Granite School District Nutrition Services websites. Nutrition links are also available on their website and the USDA website.
- Utah International Charter School will make filtered drinking water available and accessible throughout the building during operating school hours.
Nutrition Guidelines for all foods available on campus during the school day
- Per the federal competitive food regulation, all food, and beverages sold to students during the school day other than School Breakfast and School Lunch must meet the nutrition standards of the Code of Federal Regulations Title 7 Section 210.11: Competitive food service and standards.
- All vending machine options sold during the school day to students will be required to comply with USDA Smart Snack Standards.
- Students are allowed to bring culturally relevant food choices from home.
- The school will work with meal providers to ensure that nutrition-related medical and religious needs are met.
- School dances and events will serve healthy options alongside culturally sensitive options.
- Staff will avoid associating food with reward or punishment, and will strive to set a good example of healthy eating behaviors.
Physical Activity and Health, Nutrition, and Fitness Education
- Comprehensive health, nutrition, and physical education standards will be taught in accordance to the current Utah State Core Curriculum Standards by interdisciplinary teams.
- Utah International will provide physical education instruction to 7th and 8th graders one period per week, and a minimum of 1.5 credits of physical education will be to students in grades 9 to 12. Students will participate in .5 credit of health education in junior high and .5 credit in high school. P.E. and health curricula will emphasize development of lifelong healthy nutrition and fitness habits supported by current research.
- Sports equipment to promote fitness will be provided during longer breaks, including lunchtime.
- The school will develop an array of athletic and fitness activities as part of its after-school program, will encourage walking and other daily physical activity for all its students, and will make outdoor space available and safe for athletic activity during breaks and before and after school. Staff are encouraged to model and promote physical fitness and regular physical activity.
Parent, Guardian, Educator, and Community Involvement
All stakeholders will be invited to join Wellness Committee meetings as full participants to review the wellness policy and update goals annually.
Assessing the Wellness Policy
- The Wellness Policy for Utah International Charter School is approved by the leadership team and implemented by the school principal, food services director, and other staff.
- A wellness committee comprised of a School Board Member, Health/Physical Educator, teacher representatives, school lunch personnel, administrators, parents, students and community members are encouraged to participate in a meeting to review the current policy, oversees appropriate updates to the policy, setting new health related goals, health and safety policy overview, to ensure compliance every three years and meet annually to set new goals.
- Utah International Charter School will inform and update the public about the content and implementation of the local wellness policy through the school website and newsletters.
References:
United States Code Annotated Title 42 Section 1758b Local school wellness policy
Code of Federal Regulations 210.11 Competitive food services and standards 7 C.F.R. 210.11
Granite School District Food Services https://www.graniteschools.org/nutritionservices/
USDA Smart Snack in School Standards http://fns-prod.azureedge.net/sites/defalt/files/cn/allfoodsflyer.
http://fns-prod.azureedge.net/sites/defalt/files/tn/USDASmartSnacks.pdf
Utah Administrative Code Rule R 277-719-6. LEA Wellness Policy
Utah Administrative Code Rule R 277-719. Standards for Selling Foods Outside of the Reimbursable Meal in Schools.
Utah Administrative Code Rule R 277-719-5. Fundraising Using Food/Beverages.