Queen of Heaven School
Wellness Policy on Physical Activity and Nutrition
I. Beliefs Queen of Heaven School Community, in promoting health and wellness for their students believe that:
1. As nationwide statistics show that approximately 30% of children and teens are overweight and numbers appear to be rising, our entire school community should be educated about good nutrition and physical activity and should participate in wellness policy initiatives.
2. Healthy children make better learners.
3. Every child wants to be healthy.
4. A relationship must be established between nutrition education and food choices offered in school.
5. Children need assistance in making healthy food choices.
II. Current Practices
We further believe that our school community already evidences support for good health and Wellness:
1. Our schools’ health curriculum includes important, consistent and accurate information about nutrition.
2. Our physical education curriculum emphasizes individual skill development and fitness, as well as team sports.
3. Our teachers promote healthy snacks in the classroom.
4. Opportunities to participate in physical activity are available through physical education classes, intramural activities, and interscholastic sports. Opportunities for physical activity are also available through family fitness events, continuing education offerings, and West Seneca Town Recreation Department Programs.
5. Students go outdoors for physical activity after Lunch on a regular basis. (exceptions: inclement weather or unsafe temperatures.)
6. Adult athletic coaches, whether school employees, family members or community volunteers, encourage healthy life styles.
7. We allow no sale of candy or soda during lunches or the school day.
III. Goals and Objectives
We realize, that as a school community, we must continue our efforts to improve our children’s Health in the areas of nutrition and physical activity.
Goal # 1: To Improve nutrition education/choices
1. Inform parents about food Service Requirements (i.e.) GOVERNMENT MANDATED REQUIREMENTS, FOOD CHOICES, HOW CHOICES ARE CATEGORIZED, AND MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS.
2. Promote Family meal hours at home, where homemade food is served.
3. Use programs in physical education classes to reinforce students to healthy choices in nutrition and physical activity.
4. Ensure that nutrition education in the health curriculum is current and accurate.
5. Purchase more nutritious food for the cafeteria as venders make it available.
Goal # 2: To increase physical activity
Objectives:
1. Enlist parents help to ensure that children engage in 60 minutes per day of physical activity. Include safety education when promoting physical activity; (i.e. wearing helmets and proper footwear, avoiding hot sun).
2. Inform teachers that physical activity cannot be used as punishment (i.e. prohibiting misbehaving children from recess activities, or forcing physical activity on students as punishment.)
3. Use physical activities and healthy eating challenges for character building at our school.
4. Incorporate a “Fitness Friday” activity once a month to promote school-wide physical activity.
QUEEN OF HEAVEN SCHOOL CAFETERIA
Goals
To promote student wellness, the cafeteria will follow nutritional guidelines for all food and drinks available during school lunches with the objective of promoting student health and reducing child obesity. We provide assurances that the school meals shall not be less restrictive than the guidelines issued by laws governing school lunch programs.
Healthy choices are available. Students are encouraged to choose these foods sensibly. Snacks are available that have no trans fats and are low in calories. Fresh fruits and vegetables are available. Whole grains are served.
WELLNESS POLICY COMMITTEE
- Mary Damico – Principal
- Lori Poirier – Food Service Director
- Joe Morgan – Physical Education
- Dawn Ode – Teacher
- Patty Jaehn – Nurse
- Beth Reeves - Parent