• UTAH COUNTY ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

    Policies and Procedures on

    SCHOOL WELLNESS POLICY

    POLICY JI    

    PURPOSE

    The Utah County Academy of Sciences (UCAS) is committed to promoting healthy students by supporting wellness, good nutrition, and regular physical activity as part of the total educational environment.  UCAS supports a healthy atmosphere where students learn and participate in positive dietary and lifestyle practices.  It is understood that a school contributes to the basic health status of students by facilitating learning through the support and promotion of good nutrition and physical activity.  Improved health optimizes student performance and helps each student to reach their full potential.  To help accomplish these objectives, the UCAS Child Nutrition Program will comply with federal, state, and local requirements. Service will be accessible to all students.

    1. Nutrition Education

    UCAS will encourage that nutrition education will be part of an integrated curriculum in all health and PE courses nine through twelve. Nutrition standards will be based on the current Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the Food Guide Pyramid.  Foods made available to students will offer variety and contain nutrients for optimal growth and development based on these guidelines.

    1. Foods

    All foods made available will adhere to food safety and security guidelines.  This includes vending machines, beverage contracts, fundraisers, student stores, and school parties/celebrations/activities.  All foods will be in compliance with federal and state government standards.  They will meet the national school lunch program requirements before school, during, and 30 minutes after the school day. Food offered to students in the lunch serving area during the lunch period will be coordinated with the School Food Service personnel from the contracting school or organization. All vending contracts must be approved by the UCAS administration.

    1. Environment

    The school environment must be safe and comfortable allowing ample time and space for eating meals.

    1. Physical Activity

    Physical activity inside and outside of physical education classes will be encouraged.

    1. Employee

    Education staff shall not deny a student participation in lunch time as a form of discipline or punishment.  Healthy snacks will be encouraged and modeled by classroom teachers during school hours.

    1. School-Based Activities

    All school based activities are to be consistent and support the local wellness policy guidelines.

    1. Implementation

    Implementation of this policy will be reviewed with the Board of Trustees annually, each September. Consideration for recommendations of guideline changes will be made if deemed appropriate.

    1. Evaluation

    UCAS will inform and update the public (including parents, students, and others in the community) about the content and implementation of the wellness policy.

    Parents who wish to participate in the review process of this policy are able to contact the Board of Trustees, secretary for information regarding the annual review date. UCAS will measure periodically and make available to the public an assessment of the local wellness policy, including:  The extent to which UCAS is in compliance with the local wellness policy; the extent to which UCAS’s policy addresses state and federal requirements and; the progress made in attaining the goals of the local wellness policy.  This information will be made available on the school website and sent to each home at the beginning of each school year.

    1. Suicide Prevention

    In collaboration with the Utah State Board of Education public education suicide prevention coordinator, UCAS, being a secondary grades charter school, shall implement a youth suicide prevention program. UCAS will use the school counselors as the designated public education suicide prevention coordinator of the school, and shall, in collaboration with the training, programs, and initiatives described in Section 53G-9-607, shall include programs and training to address:

    1. bullying and cyberbullying, as those terms are defined in Section 53G-9-601;
    2. prevention of youth suicide;
    3. increased risk of suicide among youth who are not accepted by family for any
    4. reason, including lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or questioning youth;
    5. youth suicide intervention;
    6. post-vention for family, students, and faculty;
    7. underage drinking of alcohol;
    8. methods of strengthening the family; and
    9. methods of strengthening a youth's relationships in the school and community.
    10. oversee the youth suicide prevention programs of UCAS;
    11. coordinate prevention and post-vention programs, services, and efforts with the state suicide prevention coordinator; and
    12. award grants in accordance with Section 53F-5-206.

     

    1. Vending Machines

    UCAS recognizes that students need adequate and nourishing food in order to grow, learn and maintain good health.  The Board of Trustees also recognizes that vending machines in school provide an opportunity for students and others to purchase snacks without the necessity of leaving the school campus.  UCAS encourages the placement of food and beverage vending machines in the school. (UCAS control of vending is limited on the Utah Valley University (UVU) campus as UVU Vending Services provides vending services in the UCAS building.) Food and beverages provided in vending machines will be in compliance with all child nutrition and Smart Snack standards.

    1. UVU food and beverage vending machines are available in a separate area in the UCAS classroom building.  This area is separate from all meal service and dining areas of UCAS.  The vending area is provided as a service to UCAS students to discourage tardiness caused by trips to other UVU vending sites, and to discourage UCAS students from loitering in nearby UVU buildings.
    2. Proceeds from vending machines governed by this policy at the Provo campus shall be used in the support of school programs which benefit students. This use may include the purchase of books, supplies, equipment, assemblies, rewards, incentives, school-wide activities, activity supervision, campus clean-up, the promotion of healthy food choices, and the encouragement of appropriate disposal of litter.  Proceeds may also be used to support teacher training.
    3. UVU vending machines (on the Orem campus) are not governed by this policy, but rather UVU.

     

    1. Food Safety/Food Security
    2. All foods made available will comply with state and local food safety and sanitation regulations.
    3. Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) plans and guidelines are implemented to prevent food illness in school.
    4. For safety and security of the food facility, access to the foodservice operation is limited to child nutrition staff and authorized personnel.
    5. Food allergy procedures will be followed.
    6. Upon request and after disclosure, waiver forms are signed, nutrition information for products offered will be made available from the UCAS Main Office.
    7. UCAS will obtain at least two safety inspections each year which will be conducted by a state or local agency responsible for food safety inspections.

     

    1. School Foodservice Operation
    2. The UCAS Child Nutrition Program will aim to be financially self-supporting.  Budget neutrality of profit generation will not take precedence over the nutritional needs of the students.  If subsidy of the program is needed, it will not be from the sale of foods that have minimal nutritional value.
    3. Before employment, all food service employees shall obtain a food handlers permit and will be encouraged to attend the additional sanitation and food safety courses.
    4. School nutrition/food service employees shall, whenever feasible, obtain certification or credentials from an approved program, including but not limited to School Nutrition Association (SNA) certification, within the first five years of employment.
    5. Student shall be provided with sufficient time to consume meals at school with at least 20 minutes for lunch from the time the student is seated.

     

    1. Nutrition Education
    2. Nutrition education will be integrated into other areas of the curriculum such as math, science, language arts, and/or social studies.
    3. Nutrition education will involve sharing information with families and the broader community to positively impact students and the health of the local community.

     

    1. Other School Based Activities
    2. After school program will encourage physical activity and practice healthy life-style habits.
    3. School Wellness Policy goals are considered in planning all school-based activities (such as school events, field trips, dances, and assemblies).

     

    1. Physical Activity
    2. As much as possible, UCAS will support a walk to school program.
    3. UCAS will encourage additional time to be allotted for physical activity (in addition to physical education) that is consistent with research, national and state standards (150 minutes per week).
    4. UCAS will encourage families and community members to institute programs that support physical activity.
    5. Physical activity on school grounds will provide a safe environment.
    6. UCAS shall work with recreation agencies and other community organizations to coordinate and enhance opportunities available to students and staff for physical activity during their away-from-school time.

     

    1. Physical Education
    2. UCAS will make effective use of school and college/university resources to better serve the needs of all students and staff, taking into consideration differences of gender, cultural norms, physical and cognitive abilities, and fitness levels.
    3. UCAS physical education program shall be consistent with Utah State minimum standards as follows:
    • ED 306.41 Physical Education Program/UT ADMIN R227-700-4 (g)/R227-700-5(f)/R227-700-6(a)(c).
    • Pursuant to Ed 306.26 and Ed 306.27, the local school board shall require that systematic instruction in grades 9 through 12, is designed to enable students to:
    1. Demonstrate competency in motor skills, and movement patterns needed to perform a variety of physical activities
    2. Demonstrate understanding of movement concepts, principles, and performance of physical activities
    3. Participate regularly in physical activity
    4. Work toward a health enhancing level of physical fitness for all students
    5. Exhibit responsible personal and social behavior that respects self and others in physical activity settings
    6. Value physical activity for health, enjoyment, challenge, self-expression, and social interaction
    7. UCAS will encourage a planned 9 through 12 curricula in physical education that will provide for:
    • A variety of motor skills that are designed to enhance the physical, mental, social, and emotional development of every student
    • Fitness education and assessment to help children understand and improve or maintain their physical well-being
    • Development of cognitive concepts regarding motor skills and fitness
    • Promotion of regular amounts of appropriate physical activity now and throughout life
    • Utilization of technology in attaining instruction, curricular, and assessment goals.
    1. UCAS will encourage sound assessment practices in physical education that:
    • Match goals and objectives
    • Require evaluation of knowledge and skills
    • Clearly indicate what the student is asked to do
    • Are at an appropriate skill level according to state standards and the needs of the individual
    • Have criteria that are clear to students and teachers
    • Are engaging and relevant to students
    • Coincide with ongoing instruction
    • Provide feedback to students
    • Emphasize use of available knowledge and skills
    1. Public Involvement

    UCAS encourages teachers of physical education and school health professionals as well as parents, students, and representatives of the school food program, the school Board of Trustees, school administrators, and the public to participate in the development of wellness policies.  The Wellness Team will be composed of the School Community Council members plus others who will be invited or desire to participate.  The Team will work on the development of the UCAS wellness policy including the implementation of the UCAS wellness policy with periodic review and updates.  A UCAS school official will be assigned to ensure that UCAS complies with their school wellness policy.

    1. Nutritional Assistance

    For all other FNS nutrition assistance programs, State or local agencies, and their sub recipients, must post the following Nondiscrimination Statement:

     

    In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.

    Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (i.e. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

    To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at:

    http://www.ascr.usda.gov/compaint_filing_html, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:

    (1)              Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture

    Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights

    1400 Independence Avenue, SW

    Washington, D.C. 20250-9410

    (2)  Fax: (202) 690-7442; or

    (3)  Email: program.intake@usda.gov

    This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

     

    ED 306.41

    R227-700-4 (g)

    R227-700-5(f)

    R227-700-6(a)(c).

    ED306.26 and Ed 306.27,

    HB 393 S4

    53G-9-607

    53G-9-601

     

    Approved 2/19/19

    Reviewed 9/17/19