Belief Statement

The Board of Education of Mundelein High School District 120 is committed to providing a learning environment that supports and promotes wellness, good nutrition, and an active lifestyle and recognizes the positive relationship between good nutrition, physical activity and the capacity of students to develop and learn. The entire school environment shall be aligned with healthy school goals to positively influence students’ beliefs and habits and promote health and wellness, good nutrition and regular physical activity. In addition, school staff shall be encouraged to model healthy eating and physical activity as a valuable part of daily life.

Intent
The purpose of this policy is to ensure a total school environment that promotes and supports student health and wellness, helps to reduce childhood obesity and meets the requirements of the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004 and the Illinois School Code, including, without limitation, goals for nutrition education, physical activity and other school-based activities designed to promote student wellness; nutrition guidelines for all foods available during the school day; and a plan for measuring implementation including designating one or more persons charged with operational responsibility.

Rationale
A disturbing number of children are inactive and do not eat well. The result is an alarming 16 percent of children and adolescents are overweight – a three-fold increase since 1980. Congress passed the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004 on June 30, 2004.  Recognizing the role schools can play in health promotion; this law requires local education agencies participating in a program authorized by the National School Lunch Act or the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 to develop a local wellness policy. The objectives of the wellness policy are to improve the school nutrition environment, promote student health and reduce childhood obesity. In addition, Public Act 094-0199 amends the Illinois School Code, requiring the Illinois State Board of Education to establish a state goal that all districts have a wellness policy.

The link between nutrition and learning is well documented. Healthy eating patterns are essential for students to achieve their full academic potential, full physical and mental growth and lifelong health and well-being. Healthy eating is demonstrably linked to reduced risk for mortality and development of many chronic diseases. Schools and school communities have a responsibility to help students acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to establish and maintain lifelong healthy eating patterns. Well-planned and well-implemented wellness programs have been shown to positively influence children’s health.

Schools also have a responsibility to help students establish and maintain lifelong habits of being physically active. According to the U.S. Surgeon General, regular physical activity is one of the most important things people can do to maintain and improve their physical health, mental health, and overall well-being. Regular physical activity reduces the risk of premature death in general and of heart disease, high blood pressure, colon cancer, and diabetes.

Goals For Nutrition Education

• Students at Mundelein High School shall receive nutrition education within a comprehensive health education curriculum. The program shall be designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to adopt healthy eating behaviors and aimed at influencing students’ knowledge, attitudes and eating habits. The curriculum shall be consistent with and incorporate relevant Illinois Learning Standards.
  
• To achieve positive changes in students’ eating behaviors, it is recommended that nutrition education opportunities be provided to students each term of every year. These opportunities may include a combination of classroom instruction; nutrition education provided in the cafeteria; or health fairs, field trips and assemblies providing nutrition education.

Goals For Physical Activity

• Students at Mundelein High School shall participate in physical education that enables them to achieve and maintain an improved level of personal fitness; focuses on self-management skills; and is consistent with relevant Illinois Learning Standards.
  
• Students are required to take physical education and health courses as designated by Mundelein High School graduation requirements. Accommodations shall be made for students with disabilities, 504 plans, and other limitations.
  
• Students shall be provided opportunities for physical activity through a range of extra-curricular activities which may include intramurals, interscholastic athletics, and physical activity clubs.

Goals For Other School-Based Activities Designed To Promote Student Wellness

• Parents shall be provided information to help them incorporate healthy eating and physical activity into their student’s lives. This information may be provided in the form of handouts, postings on the school/district website, information provided in school/district newsletters, presentations that focus on nutrition and healthy lifestyles and any other appropriate means available for reaching parents.

Consistent School Activities and Environment – Healthy Eating

• It is recommended that food providers share information about the nutritional content of school meals and/or individually sold foods with students, family and school staff.
• School meals shall be served in clean, safe and pleasant settings with adequate time provided for students to eat.
• All food service personnel shall have adequate pre-service training and regularly participate in professional development activities that provide strategies for providing tasty, appealing and healthy school meals; nutrition education strategies including coordination of classroom and cafeteria activities; and effective promotional techniques to encourage healthy eating habits.
• Food providers shall work with suppliers to obtain foods and beverages that meet the nutrition requirements of school meals and nutrition standards for those sold individually. 
• Food providers shall take every measure to ensure that student access to foods and beverages on school campuses meets federal, state and local laws and guidelines.
• Schools shall take efforts to promote nutritious food and beverage choices consistent with the current Dietary Guidelines for Americans and Food Guidance System (MyPyramid) such as fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy foods and whole grain products.
• All foods and beverages made available on campus shall comply with the federal, state and local food safety and sanitation regulations.

Consistent School Activities and Environment –Physical Activity

• Physical education shall be provided by trained and well-supported staff that is certified by the state to teach physical education.
• Schools are encouraged to develop community partnerships with other child-serving organizations such as park districts and YMCA’s to provide students with opportunities to be active.
• Schools are encouraged to provide student and community access to and promote use of the school’s physical activity facilities outside of the normal school day.

Nutrition Guidelines For All Foods And Beverages Available On School Campuses During The School Day

• Food providers shall offer a variety of age-appropriate, appealing foods and beverage choices and employ food preparation, purchasing and meal planning practices consistent with the current Dietary Guidelines for Americans (e.g. provide a variety of fruits and vegetable choices; serve low-fat and fat-free dairy products; ensure that whole grain products are served).

Guidelines For School Meals

• School meals served shall be consistent with the recommendations of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and/or shall meet, at a minimum, the nutrition requirements and regulations for the National School Lunch Program and/or School Breakfast Program and all applicable state and local laws and regulations.

Measuring Implementation & Community Involvement

• The district superintendent shall be charged with the operational responsibility for ensuring that each school meets the local wellness policy requirements.
• The district superintendent shall appoint a district wellness committee to oversee development, implementation and evaluation of the wellness policy.
• The appointed district wellness committee shall be responsible for:
• assessment of the current school environment;
• development of a wellness policy;
• presenting the wellness policy to the school board for approval;
• measuring the implementation of the wellness policy; and
• recommending revision of the policy, as necessary.
• The principal shall be responsible for implementation of the local wellness policy and will work with the wellness committee to monitor and identify areas for improvement. The wellness committee will also provide an annual evaluation to be reported to the superintendent as school board annually.  Before the end of each school year the wellness committee shall recommend to the district superintendent any revisions to the policy it deems necessary.