Child Nutrition and Physical Fitness Program

The Oologah-Talala Board of Education recognizes that childhood obesity has reached epidemic levels throughout the country. Overweight children are at a higher risk for developing severe long-term health problems, and overweight children are affected by discrimination, psychological stress, and low self-esteem. However, research indicates that obesity and subsequent diseases are preventable through diet and regular physical activity. Research also indicates that becoming physically active and maintaining a regular physical activity program significantly reduces the risk of some obesity and some cancers, diabetes, and other chronic diseases.

Children who eat well-balanced meals and are healthy are more likely to learn in the classroom. The board supports increased emphasis on nutrition as well as physical activity at all grade levels to enhance the well-being of our district's youth. Therefore, it is the policy of the board to:

1. Provide students access to nutritious food.
2. Provide opportunities for physical activity and developmentally appropriate exercise.
3. Provide accurate information related to these topics.

It is the intent of the board of education that parents, students, child nutrition employees, teachers of physical education, school health professionals, and the public participate in the development, implementation, and periodic review and updating of this policy. It is expected that the school district's Healthy and Fit Kids Advisory Committee will participate in the process and assist the referenced individuals in preparing written recommendations to the administration and the board to adopt as a part of the school district's local school wellness policy. Specific information regarding these recommendations and the wellness policy are as follows:

Family & Community Involvement

To promote family and community involvement in supporting and reinforcing nutrition education in the schools, the building principal is responsible for ensuring:

1. Nutrition education materials and cafeteria menus are sent home with students.
2. Parents are encouraged to send healthy snacks/meals to school.
3. Families are invited to attend exhibitions of student nutrition projects or health fairs.
4. Nutrition education workshops and screening services are offered.
5. Nutrition education homework that students can do with their families is assigned (e.g.,reading and interpreting food labels, reading nutrition-related newsletters, preparing healthy recipes, etc.,).
6. School staff are encouraged to cooperate with other agencies and community groups to provide opportunities for student volunteer or paid work related to nutrition, as appropriate.

Program Evaluation

To evaluate the effectiveness of the school health program in promoting healthy eating and to implement program changes as necessary to increase its effectiveness, the building principal is responsible for ensuring:

1. Board policy and this regulation are implemented as written.
2. All building, grade-level nutrition education curricula and materials are assessed for accuracy, completeness, balance, and consistency with state and local district educational goals and standards.
3. Nutrition education is provided throughout the student's school years as part of the district's age appropriate, comprehensive nutrition program.
4. Teachers deliver nutrition education through age-appropriate, culturally relevant, participatory activities that include social learning strategies and activities.
5. Families and community organizations are involved, to the extent practicable, in nutrition education.

Health and Fitness Curriculum

The superintendent shall adopt and implement a comprehensive health and fitness curriculum, which will provide opportunities for developmentally appropriate instruction for grades K-12. Evaluation procedures will utilize classroom-based assessments or other strategies and will be in place by the end of the 2010-2011 school year. The specific objectives and goals the district intends to accomplish through the physical education curriculum are to teach self-management and movement skills as well as cooperation, fair play, and responsible participation in physical activity.

The goal of the school district is to promote student participation in physical activity for a healthier lifestyle. All students in grades kindergarten through five are required to complete an average of sixty (60) instructional minutes per week of physical education and sixty (60) minutes of physical activity. The time students participate in recess shall not be counted toward the sixty minutes per week physical education requirement. The sixty minutes of physical activity may include, but is not limited to, physical education, exercise programs, fitness breaks, recess, classroom activities, and wellness and nutrition education. All high school students are strongly encouraged to complete two units or sets of competencies of physical and health education as part of the core curriculum.

Suitable adapted physical education shall be included as part of individual education plans for students with chronic health problems, other disabling conditions, or other special needs that preclude such students' participation in regular physical education instruction or activities.

In addition to required physical education, students at the elementary level should have the opportunity to participate in daily recess and physical activity. The district shall provide daily recess period(s) for elementary school students, featuring time for unstructured but supervised active play. The district is encouraged to provide adequate co-curricular physical activity programs, including fully inclusive intramural programs and physical activity clubs; and to promote the use of school facilities for physical activity programs offered by the school and/or community-based organizations outside of school hours.

The school district may exclude from the participation in physical education or exercise programs those students who have been placed into an in-house suspension or determination class or placement or those students who are under an in-school restriction or are subject to an administrative disciplinary action.

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Courses:

Students in grades nine through twelve may be taught the techniques of cardiopulmonary resuscitation as part of their physical education program.

Oklahoma Kids Fitness Challenge Act

This district will implement the physical activity program for public school students in the fifth grade as established by the State Board of Education.

Fitness challenges adopted by the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports will be incorporated in the program and may include the following activities:

1. Twenty-five sit-ups in two minutes a minimum of three times per week every week during the school year; or
2. Walk a minimum of twenty-five miles per week during the school year.
3. Participation in "Walk Across Oklahoma."

Physical Activity

Per Oklahoma Senate Bill 1627, the Healthy and Fit School Advisory Committee at each school will study and make recommendations regarding physical education and physical activity.

Per Oklahoma Senate Bill 312 (effective school year 2006-2007), students in Grades K through 5 will participate in 60 minutes of physical activity each week.

Curriculum

The Oologah-Talala Board of Education recognizes that healthy eating patterns are essential for students to achieve their academic potential, full physical and mental growth, and lifelong health and well-being. To ensure students possess the knowledge and skills necessary to make nutritious food choices for a lifetime, the superintendent shall prepare and implement a comprehensive district nutrition program consistent with state and federal requirements for districts sponsoring the National School Lunch Program and/or the School Breakfast Program. To implement the program, the Superintendent shall adopt and implement a comprehensive curriculum on health, fitness, and nutrition that will provide opportunities for developmentally appropriate instruction for grades K-12. The input of staff, students, parents, and public health professionals in the development of the curriculum will be encouraged.

Nutrition, health, and fitness topics shall be integrated within the sequential comprehensive health education curriculum taught at every grade level, K-12, and coordinated with the district's nutrition and food services operation.

The district shall take a proactive effort to encourage students to make nutritious food choices. The superintendent shall ensure that:

1. A variety of healthy food choices are available whenever food is sold or served on district property or at district-sponsored events.
2. Schools shall regulate the sale or serving of foods or snacks high in fat, sodium, or added sugars.
3. Nutritious meals served by the school nutrition and food services operation complies with state and federal law.

Child Nutrition Program

The Oologah-Talala Public Schools will operate a school lunch program that will include lunch, and may include breakfast, through participation in the Child Nutrition Programs. The superintendent, in conjunction with the food service supervisor and with the approval of the board of education, will establish and post meal prices.

As required for participation in the Child Nutrition Programs, the board prescribes that:

• School lunch is to be made available to all students.
• Free and reduced-price lunches are to be made available for students who meet the federal income guidelines.
• In the operation of the Child Nutrition Programs, no child will be discriminated against because of race, sex, color, national origin, age, or disability. Discrimination complaints under these programs should be filed with the State Department of Education Child Nutrition Programs, 2500 North Lincoln Blvd., Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73105-4599.

The district shall inform parents of the eligibility standards for free or reduced-price meals. Reasonable efforts shall be made to protect the identity of students receiving such meals. A parent has the right to appeal to the superintendent any decision with respect to his/her application for free or reduced-price food services. The district's child nutrition program shall reflect the board's commitment to providing adequate time for instruction to promote healthy eating through nutrition education, serving healthy and appealing foods at district schools, developing food-use guidelines for staff, and establishing liaisons with nutrition service providers, as appropriate. Nutrition education topics shall be integrated within the sequential, comprehensive health education program taught at every grade level, pre- kindergarten through grade 12, and coordinated with the district's nutrition and food services operation.

It is the intent of the board of education that district schools take a proactive effort to encourage students to make nutritious food choices. Meals served in school before the end of the last lunch period shall conform to the U. S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Food and beverages sold or served on district grounds or at district-sponsored events shall meet requirements for nutritional standards and/or other guidelines as may be recommended by the district and school health and nutrition committees. The superintendent shall ensure that nutritious foods are available as an affordable option whenever food is sold or served on district property or at district-sponsored events.

The superintendent is directed to prepare rules and regulations to implement and support this policy, including such provisions as may be necessary to address all food and beverages sold and/or served to students at school (i.e., competitive foods, snacks, and beverages sold from vending machines, school stores, and fund raising activities and refreshments that are made available at school parties, celebrations, and meetings), including provisions for staff development, family and community involvement, and program evaluation. The board of education designates the Superintendent as the school official who shall be responsible for oversight of this policy to ensure compliance for the school district.

The content of this policy and any updates are to be provided to the public on an annual basis. The district may do this electronically or through the media.