Board of Education Policy 9090 – Wellness through Nutrition and Physical Activity

The Board of Education adopted Policy 9090 on Wellness through Nutrition and Physical Activity in July. This policy has implications for classroom celebrations and instruction. The use of food as a classroom reward is prohibited and food choices for classroom celebrations are limited to healthier food items. The HCPSS will be using the guidelines set by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) Tier I Nutrition Standards to regulate classroom food items. This policy does not apply to items sent in your child’s lunch. Classroom snack list suggestions are also aligned with the IOM Tier I Nutrition Standards. The policy does impact the breakfasts and lunches served at school.

School-wide, team, and parent planning committees for school celebrations may only choose foods from a list of approved items. Allowable items include; fruits, vegetables, low-salt/low-fat whole grains, fat-free/low-fat milk products and low sugar cereals. Home prepared foods are prohibited. Foods used as a part of an instructional lesson are also prohibited.

The implementation of this policy will bring some changes to our celebration practices.

“School celebrations involving foods and beverages may be permitted by the principal no more than once per month after the end of the last lunch period and will comply with IOM Nutrition Standards. Schools are encouraged to develop alternatives to the use of foods and beverages for celebrations.”

This year, our school-wide, grade level, and classroom celebrations will consider a focus on engaging activities as alternatives to food and beverages for each celebration/event. You can access the complete “Wellness Through Nutrition and Physical Activity” policy (Policy # 9090) at http://www.hcpss.org/board/policies/