2008-SCHOOL COUNCIL - Laserfiche WebLink

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Eating Environment The National Association of State Boards of Education recommends that students should be provided adequate time to eat lunch, at least 10 minutes for breakfast and 20 minutes for lunch, from the time the student is seated. Lunch periods are scheduled as near the middle of the school day as possible. Elementary schools should consider scheduling recess before lunch. • Cafeterias include enough serving areas so that students do not have to spend too much time waiting in line. Dining areas are attractive and have enough space for seating all students. Bottled water will be available for students at meals for an additional cost. • Children should be encouraged to clean hands prior to consuming food. Child Nutrition Operations • The child nutrition program will aim to be financially self-supporting. However, the program is an essential educational support activity. Budget neutrality or profit generations will not take precedence over the nutritional needs of the students. • The child nutrition program will ensure that all students have affordable access to the varied and nutritious foods they need to stay healthy and learn well. • The school will strive to increase participation in the available federal child nutrition programs (e.g. school lunch, school breakfast, after-school snack and foodservice programs). • Employ a food service director, who is properly qualified, certified and /or credentialed according to current professional standards, to administer the school food service program and satisfy reporting requirements. • All food service personnel shall have adequate pre-service training in food service operations. Other School-Based Activities Policies established under this category create a school environment that provides consistent wellness messages and is conducive to healthy eating and being physically active. • After school wellness oriented programs will encourage physical activity and healthy habit formation. • Local wellness policy goals will be considered in planning school-based activities (such as school events, field trips, dances, assemblies). • Support for the health of all students is demonstrated by hosting health screenings, helping to enroll eligible children in Medicaid, and other state children's health insurance programs. • The Mashpee School District's wellness committee will be comprised of families, teachers, administrators, and students to plan, implement and improve nutrition and physical activities in the school environment. • The opportunity for fitness activities and nutritional education workshops will be offered to the staff. Monitoring and Evaluation • School Committee will ensure compliance with the Mashpee Public Schools' Wellness Policy. In each school, the Principal or designee will ensure compliance with the Mashpee Public Schools' Wellness Policy and will report on the school's compliance to the Superintendent or designee. • School food service staff at the school or district level, will ensure compliance with nutrition policies within school food service areas and will report on this matter to the Food Director. In addition, the school district will report on the most recent USDA School Meals Initiative (SMI) review findings and any resulting changes. 59