Wellness Policy

I. Policy Statement

The Smyth County School Board recognizes the link between student health and learning and desires to provide a comprehensive program promoting healthy eating and physical activity in our students.

II. Goals

Nutrition Education

• Students receive nutrition education that teaches the skills they need to adopt and maintain healthy eating behaviors.
• Nutrition education is offered in the school cafeteria as well as in the classroom.
• Nutrition education and fitness are key components of what is taught in health classes and is an integral part of the health textbooks.
• Nutrition education is integrated into the core curriculum when the opportunity arises.
• Nutrition education instructional activities shall stress the appealing aspects of healthy eating and be participatory, developmentally appropriate, and enjoyable. The program shall engage families as partners in their children's education.
• Students receive consistent nutrition messages from all aspects of the school program.
• Schools link nutrition education activities with the coordinated school health program.
• All teachers who teach health education, culinary arts, and nutrition/wellness classes have the appropriate licensure and training to teach these courses.
• The level of student participation in the school breakfast and school lunch programs is appropriate.
• The culinary arts and other related career and technical education courses provide a consistent learning experience that reinforces the objectives of the school food service program and comply with appropriate, established dietary guidelines.

Physical Activity

• Students are given opportunities for physical activity during the school day through physical education (PE) classes, daily recess periods for elementary school students, and the integration of physical activity into the academic curriculum where appropriate.
• Students are given opportunities for physical activity through a range of before- and/or after-school programs including, but not limited to, programs offered by Parks and Recreation at our schools, interscholastic athletics, and other after-school programs.
• The Lifetime Wellness Center offers fourth grade students throughout the school system the opportunity to participate in a week long water safety/swim lesson program.
• Schools encourage parents and guardians to support their children's participation in physical activity, to be physically active role models, and to include physical activity in family events.
• Schools provide training to enable staff to promote enjoyable, lifelong physical activity among students.

Other School-Based Activities

The Smyth County School Board highly values the health and wellness of every student and staff member. Activities are provided that support personal efforts for every staff member and student to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Under the direction of the Smyth County School Board, School Health Services provides or assists with the following services for the staff and/or students of Smyth County Schools.

1. In cooperation with Smyth County Community Hospital, VHSL physicals are provided to students in grades 9-12. For those who choose to participate, these physicals are provided free of charge.
2. Project Right Start is a program provided by the Smyth County Community Foundation. The goal is to provide nutrition education to school staff, elementary school children, and their parents. A monthly newsletter is provided as well as programs on smoking and nutrition.
3. The Commonwealth of Virginia mandated screenings for students are performed within the guidelines set up by the Code of Virginia. Appropriate referrals are then completed for height, weight, hearing, vision and dental.
4. The Smyth County Health Department provides the services of a dentist and a dental assistant to the students of Smyth County Schools. A dental trailer is moved from one school to another during the school year to provide dental care and fluoride treatments.
5. The mobile health clinic is a van used by the division nurses to provide health services to the staff and students of Smyth County Schools. It is staffed as needed by the seven (7) school nurses and a nurse practitioner. The services provided include athletic physicals, health maintenance physical, and physicals requested for special education referrals. The van is also used to provide additional services to staff around the district such as flu shots and health profiles.
6. Flu vaccines are given to staff members once a year in the fall for those that are interested.
7. Health Profiles (lab work including cholesterol, blood sugar and thyroid screenings) are offered to employees in cooperation with the Smyth County Community Hospital.
8. School Health Services cooperates with the Smyth County Health Department in tracking communicable diseases, influenza and influenza like illnesses to monitor the health status of our students.
9. Individual classroom activities are provided by the school nurses to the students for nutrition, health and hygiene as requested by teachers.
10. Blood borne pathogens training is given to the staff on a yearly basis. CPR and first aid training are also offered for staff members.

A sufficient amount of time is allowed for students to eat meals in adequate lunchroom facilities.

All children who participate in subsidized food programs are able to obtain food in a non-stigmatizing manner.

School staff members are encouraged to model healthy eating behaviors.

The school system explores wellness program offerings as they become available; e.g., discounted rate for school employees at the Lifetime Wellness Center.

Nutrition Guidelines

• Foods and beverages included in a la carte sales in the food service program on school campuses meet or exceed state and federal standards.
• Foods and beverages sold in vending machines meet or exceed state and federal standards as applied to the school nutrition program.
• Foods and beverages sold as part of school-sponsored fundraising activities are selected with nutrition in mind. Selections meet or exceed state and federal standards and not be selected solely for profit motives.
• All food and beverage selections associated with Smyth County Schools should consider nutrition goals and not be selected solely for profit motives.
• Nutritional standards for the school breakfast and school lunch programs that meet or exceed state and federal standards are in place.
• Refreshments served at parties, celebrations, and meetings during the school day will be planned with nutrition in mind. Selections meet or exceed state and federal standards.
• The nutritional content of foods and beverages donated for class parties or other school events meet or exceed state and federal standards as applied to the school nutrition program.
• School-based marketing of foods and beverages, such as through advertisements in school publications, school buildings, athletic fields, and/or other areas accessible to students, and activities such as incentive programs, encourage healthy choices/lifestyles.
• Outreach strategies to encourage families to reinforce and support healthy eating and physical activity are in place.

III. Implementation

The Wellness Committee (Assistant Superintendent for Instruction, Director of Human Resources and Auxiliary Services, and School Health Coordinator) are responsible for overseeing the implementation of this policy and developing procedures for evaluating the wellness policy, including indicators that are used to measure its success.