| Q:
What is the new Fitness and Nutrition policy?
A:
The new fitness and nutrition policy adopted by the
Bellingham School Board on Sept. 1 creates healthy vending
in middle and high schools, aligns health and fitness
instructional time and curriculum with state law, and
encourages finding alternatives to food for rewarding
students.
Q:
The draft policy required safe and nutritious practices
for food brought into schools outside the district's
meal program. Why does the adopted policy encourage
rather than require this?
A:
Feedback on the draft policy from families, PTSA/PTA
leaders and staff indicated support for encouraging
rather than requiring these practices. We needed
to address food allergies as well as children's health
and fitness, all while taking into account the input
that we received from students, their parents and our
parent organization leaders about the impact of the
policy on our schools and children. We want to strongly
encourage the healthy practices described below, rather
than require staff to become food police.
Q:
Why did the district adopt a Fitness and Nutrition policy?
A:
The
Board approved the policy following a year-long process
of input from students, families of students, community
experts and staff. A Board-appointed Fitness and Nutritious
Task Force led the process to develop recommendations
that met new state law requirements defined in Senate
bill 5436. The policy goes beyond the state requirements to
also address the issues of vending and other
food brought into our schools because we are concerned
for the safety and health of our students.
Q:
Can I still bring birthday celebration cupcakes for
my child's class?
A:
Yes, but the new policy encourages families and staff
to find alternatives to food for these types of celebrations
with students. Preparing food at home and serving it
to groups of students puts students with life-threatening
food allergies at risk, despite good intentions. Some
PTA/PTSA organizations have started successful birthday
book programs in place of food celebrations. If families
and staff still wish to serve food to groups of students
for celebrations, rewards or activities, they are encouraged
to use pre-packaged, store bought food and meet the
nutritional standards.
Q:
Can classrooms still have pizza party reward celebrations?
A:
Yes.
Families, PTA/PTSA organizations and staff are encouraged
to find alternatives to food as rewards. If a pizza
party or lunch/breakfast celebration is planned for
students during school meal time hours, the food/pizza
needs to be ordered from Food Services. Under the new
policy, these types of celebrations cannot compete with
Food Services during school mealtimes.
Q:
Why should we support alternatives to food for rewarding
students?
A:
We recognize that celebrating with food is part of our
culture. However, childhood diabetes, obesity and food
allergies are on the rise. Research shows that connecting
student rewards with activities such as reading improves
student learning, whereas rewarding with food can contribute
to unhealthy behaviors associated with food.
Encouraging
alternatives to food or healthy food served to students
outside of meals during the school day is a way to support
our children's health and fitness. Only about 39 percent
of Bellingham School District eighth graders reported
that they participate in moderate physical activity
five or more days per week outside the school day, according
to the state's Healthy Youth Survey given during the
2004-05 school year. Our practices during the school
day can have a positive impact.
Q:
Can we have a bake sale fundraising event before, during
or after school?
A:
Foods
sold for fundraising need to meet the nutritional
standards if they are sold during the school
day or 30 minutes before or after school. Items
may differ from the standards if the are intended to
be consumed outside the school day, are sold outside
the school and the 30-minute before/after school period,
or are sold away from school grounds. Food
items may not be sold as a fundraising activity at a
time that is in competition with district Food Service
mealtimes.
Q:
What about food items sold at student stores?
A:
Foods
sold for at student stores need to meet the nutritional
standards if they are sold during the school
day or 30 minutes before or after school. Food
items may not be sold at student stores at a time that
is in competition with district Food Service mealtimes.
Items may differ from the standards if they are intended
to be consumed outside the school day, are sold outside
the school and outside the 30-minute before/after school
period, or are sold away from school grounds.
Q:
Where can I find the district's nutritional standards?
A:
The
nutritional standards are posted on the Food Services
Web site (link) or you can request a copy by calling
Food Services at (360) 676-6504. The standards were
developed based
on current recommendations of the U.S. Departments of
Health and Human Services, and Agriculture.
Q:
Can we still have Books and Breakfast Events before
school?
A:
Yes. Those serving food during these types of events
to events are encouraged to meet the above nutrition
standards and serve pre-packaged, store bought food.
Q:
If I want to prepare a cultural meal with a Spanish
class or make food with Life Skills students, what do
I need to do?
A:
Those
preparing foods in class or using school facilities
need to have a valid food handler's permit and
do so according to Whatcom County Health Department
guidelines. Foods prepared in class require a clear
connection to the curriculum. Information about the
use of district facilities for food preparation can
be found in Board
policy/procedures 4331/4331P .
Q:
Will the ASB still earn enough commission from vending
machines without soda and candy?
A:
Under the new policy, all district vending machines
in middle and high schools will be stocked only with
healthy items that meet district
nutritional standards , which are based on
current recommendations of the U.S. Departments of Health
and Human Services, and Agriculture. These items do
not include soda, candy or foods identified as having
minimal nutritional value.
To
help identify healthy vending options that appeal to
adolescents, a team of high school students and staff
attended a healthy vending fair in Puyallup in May.
Schools may continue to charge a commission on vended
items to support their Associated Student Body (ASB)
fund. This will be monitored to determine the impact
of healthy vending on commission revenue.
Q:
What if I have additional questions?
A:
The Food Services Web site is a resource for additional
information and families/staff with questions are encouraged
to contact Food Services at (360) 676-6504.
Thank
you for doing your part to encourage healthy food practices
and explore alternatives to rewarding students with
food.
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