Frequently
Asked Questions and Answers Concerning the Wellness Policy
1. Where can I find the state and federal
regulations behind the District Wellness Policy?
There are four pieces of legislation that
were taken into consideration when developing the District Wellness
Policy. They are:
USDA,
Chapter II – Food and Nutrition Services, Subchapter A – School Nutrition
Programs
Child
Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004
State
Chapter 51, 20-A MRSA, Section 6602
State
Chapter 435, 20-A MRSA, Section 6661
2. Where can I find the federal definition
and listing of foods of minimal nutritional value?
These foods appear online in Federal
Regulation 7CFR210 Appendix B at: www.fns.usda.gov. Foods listed include: SODA WATER; WATER ICES;
CHEWING GUM; and certain candies such as: HARD CANDY, JELLIES and GUMS,
MARSHMALLOW CANDIES, FONDANT, LICORICE, SPUN CANDY, and CANDY-COATED POPCORN. This
regulation can be accessed at http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/menu/fmnv.htm
3. How much time should I put into teaching
daily nutrition tips?
The operative word is “tips,” and students
should be exposed to daily sound bytes of information that will help guide them
in making informed, healthy food choices at lunch. This activity should take no more than two or
three minutes.
4. Is holding a “celebration of reading”
party with food considered a use of “food as a reward to motivate behavior” and
no longer acceptable?
This is a tricky area. Celebrations and social events are great for
our mental health and often appropriate.
This is different than overtly setting up a linear sequence in which at
specific steps in a process if a task is completed, then food is provided. A good question to ask yourself as a
screening tool is “If my student(s) does ____, will they then be given some
kind of food?” (i.e. for doing homework
you receive a piece of candy.) Use of
food in this way is not in anyone’s best interest, and the District considers
non-food alternatives to reward behavior best practice. A list of non-food rewards can be obtained by
accessing the District Health website.
5. Can a student bring foods of minimal nutritional value
from home?
Yes, the Policy does not apply to foods and
beverages brought to school by students. The District will provide information
to parents encouraging them to use their discretion and judgment when sending
foods to school with their children that nurture a healthy mind body
connection.
6. How can I make time for daily physical
activity when there are days when I cannot even accomplish half of what is
required for reading and math?
Everyone – students and faculty – needs
energizing motor breaks for their minds and bodies to work effectively
together. It is a simple matter of
getting red blood cells and oxygen to the brain. Taking time for a little motor break may seem
like you are losing time, but you will actually gain in terms of the speed with
which your students will process information.
Motor breaks can also be integrated into your teaching strategies with
more action-based learning techniques in which students are standing up and
moving their bodies while you are teaching.
7. Can a student stay in from recess to
finish or make up work or to spend more time going over a concept they do not
understand?
This is another tricky area. It is critical for every student’s health
that he/she goes outside for fresh air and unstructured social time with his/her
peers. Recess should not be withheld as
a punitive measure, unless the building principal deems there is a safety
issue. From time to time, it may be in a
student’s best interest to stay inside for extra help understanding a concept. In this case, it is recommended the student
still be given a few minutes to get outside for a very brief recess period.
8. If a student is sick, does he/she still
have to go outside for recess?
If a student is well enough to come to
school, then he/she will be sent outside for recess. The school nurse will determine the only
exceptions.
9. What if a student does not come to school
with appropriate attire to go outside (mittens, hats, warm jackets)?
If students do not have the appropriate
clothing, they should not be sent outside.
Parents/guardians will need to be contacted and appropriate clothing
requested.
10. During
the school day can groups or organizations sell food items to students?
No, the School Nutrition Program is the only
entity that can sell food and beverages to students during the school day (the
school day is considered to begin one-half hour before the first bell rings
until the end of the last period of the day).
11. The
Policy distinguishes between functions that are open to the public and those
that are not. What is the difference?
A closed or non-public function is one that
involves only our students (i.e. a school dance). A public function is one in which the public
is welcome to attend (i.e. a sporting event).
12. Can
foods of minimal nutritional value be sold to students?
Foods of minimal nutritional value can
never be sold to students during the school day and never at closed
functions. Foods of minimal nutritional
value can be sold to students at public events. However, the District encourages healthy choices to also be
available.
13. Can
bake sale items such as donuts, whoopie pies, or cupcakes be sold to students?
In most cases, donuts, whoopie pies and
cupcakes do not meet federal
requirements unless they are specially prepared. If these foods do not meet requirements, then
they cannot be sold to students unless it is after school hours or at a public
event.
14. Can
students, parents, and other organizations keep the funds received from the
sale of acceptable foods and beverages?
Yes, as long as it is done after school and
as long as foods of minimal nutritional value are not sold to students at
closed functions.
15. Can
Girl Scout cookies be sold outside the school day?
Yes, but only
if the sale is after school hours to the public and during an event, not at closed events such as school
dances.
16. Can
we take ORDERS for foods of minimal nutritional value (such as candy bars,
cakes, coffee, etc.) during the school day?
No, this is still considered the sale of
foods of minimal nutritional value and is in direct conflict with the intent of
our District Wellness Policy.
17. Can
a student organization sell foods of minimal nutritional value to the public at
a community event?
Yes, as long as it is not during the school
day, and there are healthy choices in addition to the foods of minimal
nutritional value.
18. Do
the funds from the sale of acceptable foods and beverages sold on school
property have to go to the School Food Service Program?
Yes, if the sales take place during the
school day and no if the sales take
place after the school day.
No
and yes. Chapter 51 restricts the sale of soda to
students at any time in school vending machines. Exceptions can be made by the School Board
via policy to allow for the sale of foods of minimal nutritional value to
adults; however, vending machines in teachers rooms must be off limits to students at all
times.
20. Can a PTO sell acceptable
foods and beverages such as apples to students after school, and who benefits
from the sale?
Yes, apples are an acceptable and encouraged
food. The District Policy permits the
sponsor to benefit from the sale of acceptable food items after school
hours.
District Policy permits organizations to
benefit from food sales before and after the school day. The food items sold cannot include
foods of minimal nutritional value (no soda or candy can be sold).
22. Does
Chapter 51 prevent the School Nutrition Program from continuing to sell
cookies, brownies, or cakes as part of the a la carte offerings?
No
and yes, these baked
goods can only be sold if they are not considered to be of minimal nutritional
value. They must supply at least 5% of at
least one of eight selected nutrients (protein, calcium, vitamin C, vitamin A,
riboflavin, thiamin, niacin, and iron) per serving or per 100 calories.
23. Can
a student organization sell candy as a fundraiser?
Yes, but this can only be done off school property. This includes both the sale of the actual
product and taking orders for the product.
It should also be noted the District Policy does not encourage the sale
of candy for fund raising and encourages organizations to sell healthy foods or
non-food items.
24. Can
student organizations sell non-food items for fundraising purposes?
Yes, the District Policy applies to the sale
of foods and/or beverages however the
sale of non-food items is preferred and encouraged.
25. Can foods of
minimal nutritional value such as cupcakes or cookies be provided to students
for celebrations/parties?
Yes, as long as there are also healthy
choices available and nothing is being sold.
Yes, Federal Regulations consider cough drops
and chewing gum foods of Minimal Nutritional Value. (This regulation can be
accessed at: www.fns.usda.gov.) These foods cannot be sold, and the practice of
giving them as a reward is strongly discouraged.
27. Can soda,
chips, candy, and baked items be sold to the school staff?
Yes, but this can only be done in such cases
as the Functional Life Skills Program.
However, healthy foods should be available as a choice; and price
differentials should be used to encourage purchasing the healthier food items.
28. Can school staff collect money from
students to support a classroom pizza party?
No, collecting money to pay for student
participation in any kind of food party is considered a food sale and cannot
occur during the school day since it is in competition with the National School
Lunch Program. Classrooms and student
organizations can work through the
School Nutrition Program which will provide this service for them.
29. Can outside
groups (i.e. Lions Club) that sell foods and beverages, keep their profits for
their own use?
Yes, as long as the sale occurs after school
hours and it is a public event. All
organizations are encouraged to always have healthy food and beverages
available as a choice.