Valdosta City Board– Wellness Regulation
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VALDOSTA CITY SCHOOL WELLNESS REGULATION
The Valdosta Board of Education recognizes that student wellness and proper nutrition are
related to students’ wellbeing, growth, development, and readiness to learn. The board is
committed to providing a school environment that remotes and protects student wellness,
proper nutrition, nutrition education, and regular physical activity as part of the total learning
experience. In a healthy school environment, students will learn about and participate in positive
dietary and lifestyle practices that can improve student achievement.
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DEVELOPMENT OF LOCAL WELLNESS REGULATION
In accordance with federal law, the District has involved students, parents, and teachers of
physical education, school health professionals, representatives of schoolnutrition, the Board,
school administrators and the public in developing a district-wide wellness regulation. After
considering input from various stakeholders interested in the promotion of overallstudent
health and well-being, the Board establishes in this policy goals to promote student wellness.
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NUTRITION GUIDELINES
The Valdosta City Schools shall participate in available federal school meal programs. All foods
and beverages made available on campus during the school day shall be consistent with the
requirements of federal and state law. Guidelines for reimbursable school meals shall not be less
restricted than regulations and guidance issued by the U.S. Secretary pursuant to the Child
nutrition School Lunch Act and the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act, as those
regulations and guidance apply to schools. The superintendent or designee shall develop
procedures for operation of school nutrition at each school during the day with the objections of
promoting school health and reducing childhood obesity. Each school shall provide school meals
that are consistent with the dietary guidelines and the USDA standards for school meals.
▪The school day is defined as the period from the midnight (12:00 am) before, until 30 minutes
after the end of the official school day. School campus includes all areas of the property under
the jurisdiction of the school that are accessible to students during the school day. This includes
eatingareas, parking lots, school stores, etc.
All foods in vending machines, snack bars, school stores, fundraisers, and al a carte items will
be sold under the Smart Snack Rule (2014);
Foods sold in school must:
- Comply with the general criteria:
▪Be a “whole grain-rich” grain produce containing 50% or more whole grain by weight, or have
whole grains as the first ingredient; orhave whole grains as the first ingredient; or
▪Have as the first ingredient a fruit, a vegetable, a dairy product, or a protein food; or
▪Be a combination food that contains at least ¼ cup fruit and/or vegetable.
▪Contain 10% of the Daily Value (DV) of one of the nutrients of public health concern in the
2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (calcium, potassium, vitamin D, or dietary fiber).**
*If water is the first ingredient, the second ingredient must be one of the items above.
** This criterion expires June 30, 2016.
- And meet, at a minimum, the Nutrition Standards for all foods sold in schools:
Calorie limit:Fat limits:
Snack items: ≤ 200 caloriesTotal fat: ≤ 35% of calories
Entrée items: ≤ 350 caloriesSaturated fat: ≤ 10% of calories
Sodium limits: Trans fat: zero grams
Snack items: ≤ 200 mgSugar limit:
Entrée item: ≤ 480 mg ≤ 35% of weight from total sugars
in foods
- Or quality for an exemption from the Nutrition Standards.
- Accomplishments such as cream cheese, salad dressing and butter must be included in
The nutrient profile as part of the food item sold.
Beverages sold in schools must:
- Be one of the allowable beverages for all grades
▪Plain water (with or without carbonation)
▪Unflavored low fat milk
▪Unflavored or flavored fat free milk and milk alternatives permitted by NSLP/SBP
▪100% fruit or vegetable juice and
▪100% fruit or vegetable juice diluted with water (with or without carbonation), and
No sugar sweeteners.
- Comply with the size limits for each grade
▪Elementary schools may sell up to 8-ounce portions
▪Middle schools and high schools may sell up to 12-ounce portions
▪There is no portion size limit on water.
- High schools may allow additional “no calorie” and “lower calorie” beverage options to
their students.
▪No more than 20-ounce portions of calorie-free, flavored water (with or without
carbonation); and other flavored and/or carbonated beverages that are labeled
to contain ≤ 5 calories per 8 fluid ounces or ≤ 10 calories per 20 fluid ounces.
▪No more than 12-ounce portions of beverages with ≤ 40 calories per 8 fluid ounces, or
≤ 60 calories per 12 fluid ounces.
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NUTRITION EDUCATIONPROMOTION
It is the intent of the Board that the district shall teach, encourage and support healthy eating
by students. Schools provide nutrition education consistent with federal and state
requirements and engage in nutrition promotion aimed at attainment of the following goals:
▪ Is offered at each grade level of a sequential, comprehensive, standards-based program
designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to promote and protect
their health;
▪ Is part of not only health educationclasses, nut also classroom instruction in subjects such
as math, language arts, social studies, and elective subjects;
▪ Promotes fruits, vegetables whole grain products, low-fat and fat-free dairy products,
healthy food preparation methods, and health-enhancing nutrition practices;
▪ Emphasizes limits on fat, calorie, sugar, and sodium levels on foods and beverages sold to
students on campus during the school day, not only in the cafeteria, but also through school
fundraisers;
▪ Links with school meal programs, other school foods, and nutrition-related community services;
▪ Teaches media literacy with an emphasis on food marketing;
▪ Includes training for teachers and other staff; and
▪ The school cafeteria serves as a learning laboratory to support classroom instruction
through menu offerings, point-of-sale information, signage, etc.
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
All students in grades K-12 shall have opportunities, support and encouragement to be physically
active on a regular basis. The district will provide physical education consistent with federal
following goals:
▪ Opportunities for physical activities will be incorporated into other subject lessons;
▪ Introduction in physical education classes of lifetime sports and activities;
▪Teachers and other school personnel will not use physical activity (e.g., running laps, pushups)
as punishment;
▪ Have yearly fitness reports to parents;
▪ Credentialed physical education instructors teach physical education classes;
▪ Time allotted physical education is consistent with research, national and state standards;
▪ Patterns of physical education is consistent with research, national and state standards;
▪ Adequate equipment is available for all students to participate in physical education/activity.
▪ The school environment provides for safer and enjoyable activity for all students including
those who are not athletically gifted;
▪ Physical education/movement is the environment where students learn and practice on
developmentally-appropriate motor skills, social skills and knowledge;
▪ School facilities are available outside the school day to encourage physical activity;
▪ Limit the times recess or physical activities are withheld as a punishment.
OTHER SCHOOL-BASED ACTIVITIES
The Superintendent or designee shall develop procedures that promote attainment of the following
goals related to other school-based activities to promote wellness:
▪ Schools sponsor a school health develop committee/council for the purpose of evaluating the
school environment (through application of the CDC’s School Health Index, or other
comparable assessment tool) and the school’s policy implementation,
▪ Classroom teachers and appropriate school staff are provided assistance in detecting students
health problems that may impact student learning.
▪ Schools provide for safe, clean and hygienic restrooms.
IMPLEMENTATION
The Superintendent or designee shall be responsible for overseeing the implementation of the
wellness policy and shall develop procedures for evaluation, including indicators that may be
used to measure the school’s success in meeting the goals set forth herein. In each school, the
Principal or designee shall be charged with operational responsibilities for ensuring that the
school works toward meeting the goals set within the wellness policy and shall report on the
school’s compliance to the Superintendent or designee.
School food service staff at the school or district level school monitor compliance with nutrition
guidelines within school food service areas and will report on this matter to the Superintendent
at the district level, or to the school principal at the school level. The Superintendent or designee
school develop an annual summary report on district-wide compliance with the wellness policy,
based on input from schools within the district. That report shall be provided to the Board,
school nutrition web page, andupon request, to interest parties.
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Valdosta City Schools – June 23, 2016
Policy Reference Disclaimer: These references are not intended to be part of the policy itself,
nor do they indicate the basis or authorityfor the board to enact this policy. Instead, they are
provided as additional resources for those interested in the subject matter of the policy.
Note: The State of Georgia has moved the Georgia Code. The new location:
State CodeDescription
Rule 160-5-6-.01Statewide School Nutrition Program
US CodeDescription
42 USC 1758bLocal School Wellness Policy
42 USC 1758Program requirements – School Lunch Program