Student Wellness

A copy of the District's "Policy 246: School Wellness" can be viewed here.

A copy of the District's "Policy 808: Food Services" can be viewed here.

The Chester Upland School District recognizes that student wellness and proper nutrition are related to students’ physical well-being, growth, development, and readiness to learn. The Board of Control is committed to providing a school environment that promotes student wellness, proper nutrition, nutrition education, and regular physical activity as part of the total learning experience. In a healthy school environment, students will learn about and participate in positive dietary and lifestyle practices that can improve student achievement. Pursuant to P.L. 108-265 Sec. 204, to ensure the health and well-being of all students, the Board of Control establishes that the district shall provide to students:

A comprehensive nutrition program consistent with federal and state requirements
Access at reasonable cost to foods and beverages that meet established nutritional guidelines
Physical education courses and opportunities for developmentally appropriate physical activity during the school day
Curriculum and programs for grades K-12 that are designed to educate students about proper nutrition and lifelong physical activity, in accordance with State Board of Education curriculum regulations and academic standards.

Nutrition Education

The goal of nutrition education is to teach, encourage and support healthy eating by students. Promoting student health and nutrition enhances readiness for learning and increases student achievement.

Nutrition education will be provided within the sequential, comprehensive health education program in accordance with State Board of Education curriculum regulations and the academic standards for Health, Safety and Physical Education, and Family and Consumer Sciences.

Nutrition education shall provide all students with the knowledge and skills needed to lead healthy lives.

Nutrition education lessons and activities shall be age-appropriate.

Nutrition curriculum shall be behavior focused.

School food service and nutrition education classes shall cooperate to create a learning laboratory.

Nutrition education shall be integrated into other subjects to complement but not replace academic standards based on nutrition education.

Lifelong lifestyle balance shall be reinforced by linking nutrition education and physical activity.

Physical Activity

District schools shall strive to provide opportunities for developmentally appropriate physical activity during the school day for all students.

District schools shall determine how they will contribute to the effort to provide students opportunities to accumulate at least sixty (60) minutes of age-appropriate physical activity on all or most days of the week. That time will include physical activity outside the school environment, such as outdoor play at home, sports, etc.

Students shall participate daily in a variety of age-appropriate physical activities designed to achieve optimal health, wellness, fitness, and performance benefits.

Age-appropriate physical activity opportunities, such as recess; before and after school; during lunch; clubs; intramurals; and interscholastic athletics, shall be provided to meet the needs and interests of all students, in addition to planned physical education.

A physical and social environment that encourages safe and enjoyable activity for all students shall be maintained.

Extended periods of student inactivity, two (2) hours or more, shall be discouraged.

Physical activity breaks shall be provided for elementary students during classroom hours.

After-school programs shall provide developmentally appropriate physical activity for participating children.

District schools shall partner with parents/guardians and community members to institute programs that support physical activity.

Physical activity shall not be used as a form of punishment.

Students and the community shall have access to physical activity facilities outside school hours.

Physical Education

Quality physical education instruction that promotes lifelong physical activity and provides instruction in the skills and knowledge necessary for lifelong participation shall be provided.

Physical education classes shall be the means through which all students learn, practice and are assessed on developmentally appropriate skills and knowledge necessary for lifelong, health-enhancing physical activity.

A comprehensive physical education course of study that focuses on providing students the skills, knowledge and confidence to participate in lifelong, health-enhancing physical activity shall be implemented.

A varied and comprehensive curriculum that leads to students becoming and remaining physically active for a lifetime shall be provided in the physical education program.

A sequential physical education program consistent with State Board of Education curriculum regulations and Health, Safety and Physical Education academic standards shall be developed and implemented.

Adequate amounts of planned instruction shall be provided in order for students to achieve the proficient level for the Health, Safety and Physical Education academic standards.

A local assessment system shall be implemented to track student progress on the Health, Safety and Physical Education academic standards.

Students shall be moderately to vigorously active as much time as possible during a physical education class. Documented medical conditions and disabilities shall be accommodated during class.

Safe and adequate equipment, facilities and resources shall be provided for physical education courses.

Physical education shall be taught by certified health and physical education teachers.

Appropriate professional development shall be provided for physical education staff.

Physical education classes shall have a teacher-student ratio comparable to those of other courses.

Physical activity shall not be used as a form of punishment.

Nutrition Guidelines

Competitive Foods

Competitive foodsare defined as foods offered at school other than through the National School Lunch or School Breakfast Programs and include a la carte foods, snacks and beverages; vending food, snacks and beverages; school store food, snacks and beverages; fundraisers; classroom parties; holiday celebrations; and food from home.

All competitive foods available to students in district schools shall comply with the Nutritional Standards for Competitive Foods in Pennsylvania Schools. The nutritional standards shall be implemented as a one (1) year plan, or a two (2) year plan, or a three (3) year plan.

Other School Based Activities

District schools shall provide adequate space, as defined by the district, for eating and serving school meals.

Students shall be provided a clean and safe meal environment.

Students shall be provided adequate time to eat: ten (10) minutes sit down time for breakfast; twenty (20) minutes sit down time for lunch.

Meal periods shall be scheduled at appropriate hours, as defined by the district.

Drinking water shall be available at all meal periods and throughout the school day.

Students shall have access to hand washing or sanitizing before meals and snacks.

Nutrition professionals who meet criteria established by the district shall administer the school meals program.

Professional development shall be provided for district nutrition staff.

Access to the food service operation shall be limited to authorized staff.

Nutrition content of school meals shall be available to students and parents/ guardians.

Students and parents/guardians may be involved in menu selections through various means.

To the extent possible, the district shall utilize available funding and outside programs to enhance student wellness.

Food shall not be used in the schools as a reward or punishment.

The district shall provide appropriate training to all staff on the components of the Student Wellness Policy.

Goals of the Student Wellness Policy shall be considered in planning all school based activities.

Fundraising projects submitted for approval shall be supportive of healthy eating and student wellness.

Administrators, teachers, food service personnel, students, parents/guardians, and community members shall be encouraged to serve as positive role models through district programs, communications and outreach efforts.

The district shall support the efforts of parents/guardians to provide a healthy diet and daily physical activity for children by communicating relevant information through various methods.

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Student Wellness