2008-SCHOOL COUNCIL - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mission Statement The Mashpee Public School District is committed to providing school environments that promote and protect children's health, well-being, and ability to learn by supporting healthy eating and physical activity. Demonstrating commitment to the full development of our students and staff, the Mashpee School District endorses the following Wellness Policy developed by its Health Advisory Committee. This policy shall define the goals and means to further our students' understanding of the important role that good nutritional choices and physical activity will have on their lives. Central to this policy statement is the belief that success will be achieved from the combined efforts and encouragement of school staff and parents. We recognize wellness as a critical component to insure a student's academic performance. • The school district will engage students, parents, teachers, food service professionals, health professionals, and other interested community members in developing, implementing, monitoring and reviewing district-wide nutrition and physical activity policies. • All students in grades K-12 will have opportunities, support, and encouragement to be physically active on a regular basis. • Schools will provide nutrition education and physical education to foster lifelong habits of healthy eating and physical activity, and will establish linkages between health education and school meal programs, and with related community services. Nutrition Education Goals The primary goal of nutrition education is to facilitate the voluntary adoption of eating and other nutrition-related behaviors conducive to health and well-being. • Nutrition education will be encouraged to be integrated across core content and specialized areas as appropriate. • Professional development activities for nutrition education will be made available to staff. • The school cafeteria serves as a learning opportunity to allow students to apply critical thinking skills taught in the classroom; for example providing choices. • Nutrition education will include instruction related to awareness of media literacy as it relates to food advertising and its effects on health. • Nutrition education will involve sharing information with families and the broader community, PTO, and School Councils to positively impact students and the health of the community. • School district will provide information to families that encourage them to teach their children about health and nutrition and to provide nutritious meals for their families. • Students will be encouraged to start each day with a healthy breakfast. • Parents will be encouraged to provide healthy snacks. • Foods will not be used as a reward or punishment. • Staff who are responsible for nutrition education shall be adequately prepared and will regularly participate in professional development activities to effectively deliver the nutrition education program as planned. Preparation and professional development activities shall provide basic knowledge of nutrition, combined with skill practice in program-specific activities and instructional techniques and strategies designed to promote healthy eating habits. • School staff are encouraged to model healthy eating habits. 57