Food News You Can Use
Mealtime Minutes Newsletter for Parents
from the Illinois State Board of Education
Nutrition and Wellness Programs Division
The Governing Board recognizes the link between student health and academic performance and therefore instructs District personnel to provide students a comprehensive program promoting healthy eating, physical activity, as well as provide opportunities for all students to further develop their social, emotional and psychological well-being. District staff will be responsible for implementing plans to eliminate or reduce high risk behaviors, bullying, and stress on the school sites, and will otherwise ensure the safety and well-being of students through a comprehensive plan that offers psychological and other counseling services, strategies to educate students, parents and staff about how to live a healthy lifestyle.
The Key principles that guide this Wellness Policy:
1It is the ultimate aim of the District that students learn and practice healthy habits. The Superintendent or his/her designee, therefore, shall build a coordinated school health system through health, psychological, physical and nutrition education and services according to the goals set forth by the Board.
- The District shall adopt goals for nutrition education, physical activity, and other school-based activities that are designed to promote students physical and psychological wellness in a manner that the District determines appropriate and consistent with the expectations established in the state’s curriculum frameworks. Several activities promoting physical activity are/will be participated in throughout the year. Some examples of those activities would be: open gyms, weight lifting and a Health and Wellness Fair.
- We will educate our students, families, and staff about healthy lifestyles, to include nutritious foods, non-food alternatives for school events, celebrations and activities. Healthier alternatives for snacks will be suggested and encouraged for those grades participating in class snacks.
- Food and beverages served through the school lunch program or by the school staff and volunteers during the school day will comply with state and federal nutrition policies.
- The School Board and District staff are the custodians of children’s safety and well-being while students are attending our schools. This means staff and school volunteers will support practices that promote whole-child education and wellness and will ensure children are learning in an intellectually challenging environment, is physically and emotionally safe, and in which students are engaged in their learning and are connected to the school and broader community.
- A monthly newsletter will continue to be circulated encouraging healthier snacks, physical activity suggestions and challenges, information on special benefits of a highlighted fruit/vegetable as well as opportunities for suggestions.
A monthly newsletter will continue to be circulated encouraging healthier snacks, physical activity suggestions and challenges, information on special benefits of a highlighted fruit/vegetable as well as opportunities for suggestions.
The Wellness Committee is comprised of: Rachel Bouillon (school nurse), Thomas Haynes (health/athletics instructor), and Rachelle Wuellner (Director of Food Services).
Wellness policy update 1-11-17: School Nurse Rachel Bouillon reports that the wellness policy is progressing nicely. The health fair was successful and the wellness committee hopes to hold another. The new snack list has been well observed by elementary level parents, with most parents being very consistent. Also, birthday treats are no longer being brought in by parents. Our next effort will be to evaluate class party treats.
Wellness policy update 12-6-17: The health far went pretty well again. Thomas Haynes reports that more tables were set up again this year, which is great for the larger PE classes. In his health classes he is trying to increase mental health awareness. He hopes that something extra can be included in next year’s health fair. Nurse Christy Scott reported that the Flu Shot Clinic, was a success. She was very happy with the staff turnout for the first year and is hopeful that next year will be even better. There were no reported cases of side effects from the clinic and no staff cases of Influenza have been reported to date.
Mrs. Scott would like to discuss is the adherence to the Wolf Ridge snack policy when it comes to birthdays. She questioned if students kept to the approved classroom snack list that was provided to them at the beginning of the school year for treats throughout the year. This questioning was due to the observance of donuts and pudding cups coming into the classrooms. While she realizes birthdays are special , she feels healthy snacks are still an option. She recommended sending a reminder e-mail to teachers on the snack policy.
Summer Food Service Program
For information on the 2017 Summer Food Service Program, click here. Local organizations participating in the program are Life Harvest Church (Wilsonville); Alton High School (Alton); North Elementary School (Godfrey); Oakwood Recreation Center (Alton); Alton Acres Recreation Center (Alton); Madison Park Elementary School (Litchfield); St. Francis Hospital (Litchfield); Windham Chase (St. Louis); Applied Scholastics Learning Center (Spanish Lake, MO); CYP-Youth Center (Spanish Lake, MO). To find other areas serving summer meals in the community to children and teens 18 and younger while school is out of session use the mapping tool located here:
New sites will be added as the school year ends and throughout the summer. Please check back often for updated information.
In accordance with Federal Law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call toll free (866) 632-9992 (Voice). Individuals who are hearing impaired or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339; or (800) 845-6136 (Spanish). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.