Wellness Policy Proposal

1. Wellness Policy Proposal

2. Why update the ConVal Wellness Policy? • During the past 20 years there has been a dramatic increase in obesity in the United States. • NH Childhood Obesity Expert Panel in 2006 reports 32.8 % of NH children, in the 6-12 year old age group, were overweight or obese. • Childhood Obesity Action Network’s 2008 State Obesity Profile shows: In NH, 26.5% of children in higher income families (greater than 400% federal poverty level) are overweight or obese, compared to the national level of 22.9%.

3. Obesity Trends Among U.S. Adults Between 1988 and 2008 • Definitions: • Obesity: Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or higher. • Body Mass Index (BMI): A measure of an adult’s weight in relation to his or her height, specifically the adult’s weight in kilograms divided by the square of his or her height in meters.

4. So, Why Update the ConVal Wellness Policy? • Obesity Trends • Educate the future generation on making healthy lifestyle choices to prevent early death from cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer = ↓ healthcare dollar expenditures • Build a socially, emotionally, and physically healthier community. • “You can’t educate a child who isn’t healthy and you can’t keep a child healthy who isn’t educated.” M Jocelyn Elders former US Surgeon General • Updated USDA 2010 guidelines meets “healthy hunger free kids act” Reauthorization of federal guidelines for school food program..

5. Wellness Policy Highlights • Policy language • All foods made available will be consistent with current Dietary Guidelines for Americans. • Schools should limit celebrations • Provide one daily supervised recess period. Recess monitors will encourage and model physical activity that is consistent with research based national and state standards. • Food will not be used as a reward or punishment, unless necessitated by a student’s Individualized Education Plan/504 Plan.

6. CONVAL Wellness PolicySUCCESS! • ConVal Food Service Program meets all federal guidelines, including: • Lowfat and fat free milk. • Half and probably closer to 2/3 of bread offerings are whole grain. • All of our snack/a la carte items sold, including ConVal’s homemade baked goods, on the line and in vending machines, meet the 35% or less calories from fat, 10% or less saturated fat, 35% or less weight of sugar, and 200 calories or less per serving.

7. CONVAL Wellness PolicySUCCESS! • Pierce School/Bennington • Walking Program. • Greenfield Elementary School • Afterschool Snow Shoe Program. • Peterborough Elementary Running Club • Great Brook Middle School “Dance for Health.” • $6 entry fee for all the healthy snacks you can eat and water you can drink.

8. CONVAL Wellness PolicySUCCESS! • ConVal High School French Club Fundraiser • Fresh Fruit Smoothies! The French Club raised $75 in 15 minutes. • ConVal Football Boosters now offer G-2 (healthy sports drink), water, veggie burgers, and fresh fruit at all games. • Healthy Snacks List distributed to all schools in the District to educate families and teachers about healthy choices. • Vending machines now offer G-2 and water, no soda.

9. Best Practices • STAFF: • Model Good Behavior • Celebrations in alternative ways • Healthy snack list • No taking away PE as a punishment • Ex: Training provided in S’Cool Moves • Recess with a purpose: specific activity planned

10. Best Practices • PTOs: • Healthy Snack List • Celebration Alternatives • Ed piece & sensitivity • Newsletter for successes? Not just around food. • Fundraiser i.e. walking fundraiser

11. Best Practices • Boosters: • Ideas for Fundraising/Food Alternatives • Education piece • FAQ