WELLNESS POLICY FOR THE TISBURY SCHOOL

The Tisbury School recognizes that it is one of the school's roles to model and consistently practice the promotion of good health for our children. The school further recognizes that the sharing and enjoyment of food and participation in physical activities are fundamental cultural experiences for all people. Our school goal is to promote health in our students and staff through nutritional and physical programs and practices and to teach students the importance of protecting the environment.

Wellness Committee
In conjunction with the adoption of this wellness policy, Tisbury School will establish a standing wellness committee to remain actively engaged with food service, the physical education program, and the health program to monitor the implementation of the policy, through written procedures and daily practices, and to present recommendations to the School Committee. The wellness committee's membership will ensure complete representation - cultural, ethnic and economic - of the district while being manageable enough to effectively conduct meetings and make decisions. The committee will include family members of students, school staff (health teacher, school nurse, physical education teacher, life skills teacher, teacher's assistant, cafeteria director, principal or his/her designee), and community representatives. The standing committee will meet regularly throughout the school year and will present an annual report each year on the status of the district's efforts toward meeting the policy's goals. Such report shall be made available to the public.

Nutrition-Education and Guidelines
The school recognizes the lunch period as an integral part of the educational program of the district. The following assurances and guidelines will be implemented:

  • No student in the school will go hungry during school;
  • An economically sustainable meal program makes available nutritious meals to every student so that students are prepared to learn to their fullest potential;
  • The school recognizes the value of food as an integral part of events, history, and celebrations.
  • Lunch periods shall be scheduled so that students do not have to eat lunch unusually early or late, and ideally, so that they come after periods of exercise.
  • The school will ensure that all qualified children will become eligible for free or reduced meals.
  • The school will provide students with at least 20 minutes to sit down for a meal.
  • Foods served at school during classes as part of the learning process will be healthy safe and delicious
  • Foods served at school as part of the meals program will carry sufficient nutrition information to allow parents and students to make informed dietary choices.
  • The school will offer a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables each day as part of the meal program.
  • No unhealthy food or beverage will be advertised on school grounds and fast food or branded food items will not be offered for sale as part of the school meal program or as an a la carte item
  • School stores will offer only food items approved by the wellness committee
  • There will be no vending machines for students in the school.
  • The food services director will serve on the wellness committee and ensure that the school is meeting federal and state guidelines for our meal program.

    Physical Activity
    The School Committee recognizes that physical education is a crucial and integral part of a child's education, and it will provide opportunities to ensure that students engage in healthful levels of vigorous physical activity to promote and develop the student's physical, mental, emotional, and social well-being. The components of the physical education program will include kinesthetic activities, including team, individual and cooperative sports and physical activities, as well as aesthetic movement forms. The school will ensure that:

  • Physical education teachers shall develop and implement a curriculum that connects and demonstrates the interrelationship between physical activity, good nutrition and health;
  • Appropriate alternative or modified activities shall be provided for students with a physical disability that may restrict excessive physical activity; and
  • Physical education staff shall appropriately limit the amount and type of physical exercise due to weather conditions.

    The principal or his/her designee may grant temporary exemption from physical education If:

  • a student is ill or injured and a modified program to meet his/her needs cannot be provided;
  • a student is enrolled for half-time or less;

    School-Based Learning Experiences
    The school will assist students to make connections between health, diet, environment and personal wellness. The school will offer environmental education through our state and local curriculum and provide students with the concepts, knowledge and skills needed to contribute meaningfully to decisions involving the environment and it resources. The school will ensure that:

  • Staff will integrate nutrition education and physical education into the curriculum at all grade levels;
  • Staff will be encouraged to visit farms for field trips when it connects to their curriculum; and
  • Students will be encouraged to recycle, conserve water and energy, and dispose of wastes in an environmentally sound way at school.

    Waste Reduction
    The School Committee also recognizes that school meal programs that utilize pre-packaged, processed foods consistently generate more solid waste than those that cook from whole ingredients. The school meals program will utilize fresh ingredients consistently rather than the use of pre-packaged foods. The Tisbury school/district cafeteria will model environmentally sound practices while involving students in the reduction of waste and increased use of recycled materials.


    {Adoption Date} 8/8/2006 by the Tisbury School Committee
    1st Reading - 5/9/2006
    2nd Reading - 6/13/2006
    3rd Reading - 8/8/2006