Food Services

The Board of School Trustees of Premier Arts Academy supports the health and well-being of the school corporation’s students by promoting nutrition and physical activity at all grade levels.

In accordance with federal law, it is the policy of the Board to provide students access to healthy foods and beverages; provide opportunities for developmentally appropriate physical activity; and require that all meals served by the school corporation meet or exceed the federal nutritional guidelines issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. A Coordinated School Health Advisory Council will be formed and maintained to oversee these activities. 

The School Wellness Policy shall be made available to students and families by means of school registration, the student handbook and the corporation’s website.

1. Coordinated School Health Advisory Council 

The board will engage parents/guardians, food service professionals, teachers of physical education, students, school health care professionals, school board members, school administrators, and other interested community members in developing, implementing, monitoring and reviewing corporation-wide nutrition and physical activity policies. A Coordinated School Health Advisory Council will be formed and maintained at the corporation level to oversee the development, implementation and evaluation of the school corporation’s wellness policy. 

• In accordance with state and federal law, the school corporation will form and maintain a corporation level Coordinated School Health Advisory Council that includes at least the following: 

• Parents/Guardians 
• Food Service Director/Professionals 
• Teachers of Physical Education
• Students 
• School health care professionals/Registered Dietitians/School Nurse 
• School board members 
• School administrators 
• Any interested member of the public
• Representatives of interested community organizations 

Other potential members of the Council include teachers, teaching assistants, SNAP-Ed educators, and community representatives such as recreation professionals, city planners, industry professionals and voluntary service workers. 

1. The Advisory Council shall meet at least annually to review nutrition and physical activity policies and to develop an action plan for the coming year. The Council shall meet as needed during the school year to discuss implementation activities and address barriers and challenges. 

1. The Advisory Council shall report annually to the Superintendent and the School Board on the implementation of the wellness policy and include any recommended changes or revisions. 
2. The School Board will adopt or revise nutrition and physical activity policies based on recommendations made by the Advisory Council.

1. Nutrition Education and Nutrition Promotion

Nutrition topics shall be integrated within the comprehensive health education curriculum and taught at every grade level K-8 according to standards of the Indiana Department of Education. Schools will link nutrition education activities with existing coordinated school health programs or other comparable comprehensive school health promotion frameworks.

1. Health education will be provided as part of a comprehensive health education program and taught by a licensed health education instructor. Teaching what are healthy food and beverage options and  how to make healthy choices outside of school hours.   
2. Nutrition education will reinforce lifelong balance, emphasizing the link between caloric intake and exercise in ways that are age appropriate.
3. Fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low sugar and sodium foods will be promoted at Premier Arts Academy.

III. Standards for USDA Child Nutrition Programs  

The board will provide and promote the National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs to ensure that all students have access.

All food and beverage at Premier Arts Academy will comply with USDA and state regulations including the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act 2010.  

s to healthy foods to support healthier choices and promote optimal learning. 

1. Nutrition Standards for Competitive and Other Foods and Beverages 

1. The Board will provide and allow foods and beverages that support proper nutrition, promote healthy choices, and comply with federal nutrition standards in vending machines, school stores and concession stands. This also includes food and beverages made available in schools during the school day for such events as school fundraisers and food and beverages brought into the schools by students or other persons for such events as birthdays and classroom celebrations. 

No fundraisers selling food items will be allowed in any school during the school day.

1. The Board will allow marketing in school buildings and on school grounds during the school day for only those food and beverages provided by the school that meet the federal nutrition standards. Marketing that promotes student health will be permitted in school buildings and on school grounds.

1. Physical Activity and Physical Education 

• Grades K-8 will participate in physical education in order to meet the physical education standards
• Students will be provided a minimum of 20 minutes of physical activity each day as weather permits.  
• The physical education program shall provide adequate space and equipment to ensure quality physical education classes for all students.
• A wide variety of healthy, alternative rewards are used to provide positive reinforcements for children's behavior and acedemic performance

1. Other Activities that Promote Student Wellness  

The board supports the health and well-being of our students and staff by creating and promoting policy and environmental supports to provide physical activity and healthy eating opportunities

• provide student access to nutritious food and beverages which are smart snack compliant
• Require all meals served by the school to meet the nutritional standards for the National School Lunch program
• Students have access to free palatable drinking water during the school day.  Teachers may offer the option of students water bottles at the student desk.
• Teachers will be allowed to have lunch with students, to model healthy eating behaviors to students during school hours

VII. Evaluation

The Head of school shall report annually to the board on the work of the wellness committee, their evaluation of the wellness program implementation, and areas for improvement.

The Head of school is responsible for retaining all documentation of compliance with this policy and its regulations, including but not limited to each school’s three-year assessment and evaluation report and this wellness policy and plan. 

The Head of school will also be responsible for public notification of the three-year assessment and evaluation report, including any updates to this policy made as a result of the corporation’s three-year assessment and evaluation.

LEGAL REFERENCE: 42 U.S.C. 1758b

7 CFR Part 210

I.C. 20-26-9-18.5

Meal time and scheduling:

1. Adequate time will be provided to students to eat lunch (at least 20 minutes after being served) and breakfast (at least 10 minutes after being served). 
2. Elementary schools will schedule recess before or after lunch.
3. School meals will be served in clean and pleasant settings.
4. Students will have convenient access to hand-washing and sanitizing stations. 
5. Potable (drinking) water must be readily available at all mealtimes.
6. Appropriate supervision will be provided in the cafeteria and rules for safe behavior shall be consistently enforced.

• Professional Development 

1. Professional development and training will be provided at least annually to food service managers and staff on proper food handling techniques and healthy cooking practices.
2. Nutrition Standards for Competitive and Other Food and Beverages 

• Approved Nutrition Standards, based on the nutrition standards of the Institute of Medicine (2007).

1. Classroom celebrations will focus on activities (e.g., giving free time, extra recess, music and reading time) rather than on food.
2. Classroom celebrations that include food will be limited to one per month. Food items must comply with federal nutrition standards. 
3. Schools shall inform parents/guardians of the classroom celebration guidelines.

• Food as a Reward or Punishment

1. Teachers and staff will not use food as a reward. For example, the use of sugar-sweetened beverages or candy as a classroom reward at any school is not appropriate. 
2. School staff will not withhold food or drink at mealtimes as punishment.

• Fundraisers

1. Fundraising activities will support healthy eating and wellness. Schools will promote the sale of non-food items for school-sponsored fundraising. For a food or beverage item to be sold as a fundraiser, it must meet the approved nutrition standards. Fundraisers subject to this rule are those sold during the school day on school grounds. School day is defined as from midnight the night before to 30 minutes after the end of school.

1. Marketing  

1. Signage or similar media on school campus during the school day may only advertise food and/or beverages provided and sold by the school that meet the competitive foods standards for foods sold in schools (i.e. Smart Snacks). 

1. Physical Activity and Physical Education

 All students in grades K-8 will participate in physical education in order to meet the Physical Education Standards. 

 The physical education program shall be provided adequate space and equipment to ensure quality physical education classes for students. 

• Daily Recess and Physical Activity Breaks  

1. Each elementary school shall provide daily physical activity in accordance with Indiana Code 20-30-5-7.5.
2. All elementary school students will have at least 1 period of active recess per day that is at least 20 minutes in length as recommended by the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE). This recess period will be outdoors when possible. If outdoor recess is not possible due to inclement weather, teachers will provide an indoor physical activity break in the classroom.

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Physical Activity Opportunities Before and After School

1. Schools will offer intramurals, clubs, interscholastic sports and voluntary activities to increase opportunities for physical activity before and/or after school, taking into account student interest and supervisor availability. 
2. After-school enrichment providers will include physical activity in their programs, to the extent space and equipment allow.

• Physical Activity and Remedial Activities/Punishment

1. Students will not be removed or excused from physical education to receive instruction in other content areas.  
2. School staff will not use physical activity (e.g., running laps, pushups) or withhold opportunities for physical activity (e.g., recess, physical education) as punishment.

1. Evaluation of Wellness Policy

• Implementation and Data Collection

1. 1. The school corporation will use an evidence-based assessment tool to track the collective health of students over time by collecting data such as body composition (height and weight), aerobic capacity, and/or muscular strength, endurance and flexibility. 
2. 2. The school administrator is responsible for retaining all documentation of compliance with this policy and its regulations, but the principals shall ensure that their individual schools are in compliance with the corporation’s wellness policy every three school years by assessing wellness implementation strategies. The principals shall provide a written report to the superintendent, who will provide the report to the school board. The principal’s report shall contain the following information: the school’s progress toward meeting the wellness goals over the previous three school years; the website address for the wellness policy and how the public can receive a copy of the policy; a description of the progress in meeting the goals, a summary of the event or activities related to the implementation of the policy; the name, position, and contact information of the school official coordinating the health advisory council or the school’s wellness team; and information on how individuals and the public can get involved with the school’s wellness team.

The evaluation of the wellness policy and implementation will be directed by the Coordinated School Health Advisory Council and will be responsible for the three-year assessment of each school’s compliance with the policy and its regulations. The three-year assessment must measure the implementation of this policy and its regulations; the extent to which each school is in compliance with the policy; the extent this policy compares to other model school wellness policies; and a description of the progress made in attaining the goals of the wellness policy. As a result of this assessment and evaluation the policy and regulations will be revised as needed.

4. The three-year assessment and evaluation report will be made available to the public by posting it on the school corporation website.
5. Progress reports ensure transparency by including: the web address of the wellness policy, a description of each schools activities and progress towards me
6. The school principal shall be responsible for informing the public, including parents, students and community members, on the contend and implementation of this policy.