Wellness Policy 2024-2025
Ivy Academy Wellness Policy Procedures
On June 30, 2004, President George Bush signed Public Law 108-265, the Child Nutrition
and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004. Section 204 of this law requires school districts
participating in the National School Lunch Program and/or School Breakfast Program to
develop a local Wellness Policy that addresses student wellness and the growing
problem of childhood obesity by the school year 2006. Ivy Academy is committed to
providing a school environment that enhances learning and development of lifelong
wellness practices.
To accomplish these
goals:
-The School Nutrition Program will comply with federal, state, and local
requirements.
-School Nutrition Program will be accessible to all children.
-Sequential and interdisciplinary nutrition education will be provided and promoted.
-Patterns of meaningful physical activity will connect to students' lives outside of
physical education.
-All school-based activities will be consistent with local wellness policy
goals.
-All foods made available on campus will adhere to food safety and security
guidelines.
-The school environment will be safe, comfortable, pleasing, and allows ample time and
space for eating meals.
-Food will not be used as a reward or
punishment.
-Physical education will not be withheld as a
punishment.
WELLNESS POLICY
Development, Implementation, Monitoring and
Evaluation
Ivy will develop the Wellness Policy to include specific goals and objectives for nutrition
standards for all foods and beverages available on the school campus, food and beverage
marketing, nutrition promotion and education, physical activity, physical education and
other school-based activities that promote student wellness. The wellness policy,
assessment and other information can be found on the Ivy website at
Ivyacademychattanooga.com. The District will actively inform families and the public each
year of basic information about this policy and its content. Ivy will make this information
available via the district website and/or district communications. Ivy will provide as much
information as possible about the school nutrition environment. Information on how the
public can get involved with the Ivy Wellness Committee will also be made available on
the district website.
At least once every three years, the District will evaluate compliance with the wellness
policy to assess the implementation of the policy and include:
The extent to which Ivy is in compliance with the wellness policy;
The extent to which Ivy's wellness policy compares to the model wellness policy; and A
description of the progress made in attaining the goals of the Ivy's wellness policy.
The Coordinated School Health Supervisor will be responsible for managing the triennial
(recurring every three years) assessment. Ivy will update or modify the wellness policy
based on the results of the monitoring, reviews and triennial assessments and/or as Ivy's
priorities change; community needs change; wellness goals are met; new health science,
information, and technology emerges and new Federal or state guidance or standards
are issued.
WELLNESS COMMITTEE
Committee Role and
Membership
Ivy Academy will convene a representative Ivy wellness committee that meets to
establish goals for and oversee school health and wellness policies and programs, including
development, monitoring, implementation and periodic review and update of this district-level
wellness policy. The committee will represent and include, but not be limited to: parents and
caregivers; students; Coordinated School Health Supervisor; School Nutrition Director;
school nutrition manager; physical education teacher; health education teacher; school
nurse; school administrator, school board member; health professionals and the general
public.
NUTRITION
School Meals:
Ivy is committed to serving healthy meals to children, with plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole
grains, and fat-free and low-fat milk; that are moderate in sodium, low in saturated fat, and
have zero grams trans-fat per serving (nutrition label or manufacturer's specification); and to
meeting the nutrition needs of school children within their calorie requirements. Meals served
through the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Afterschool Snack
Program, Summer Food Service Program, Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program and others
will:
-be accessible to all students
-be appealing and attractive
to students
-be served in clean and pleasant surroundings
-meet, at a minimum, nutrition requirements
established by local, state and federal
regulations
-offer a variety of fruits and vegetables daily,
including at least one fresh fruit or vegetable
daily
-serve a variety of milk, including low-fat
unflavored and fat-free, flavored, and
unflavored on a daily basis
Staff Professional
Development
School nutrition professionals will administer the school meal programs. As part of Ivy’s
responsibility to operate a food service program, Ivy will provide continuing professional
development for all school nutrition professionals in schools as outlined in the USDA
Professional Standards for Child Nutrition Professionals. Staff development programs will
include appropriate certificate and/or training programs according to their level of
responsibility and hours worked.
Water
Drinking / potable water must be available to students and other customers without
restriction in the location where meals are served.
Competitive Foods and Beverages
The USDA SMART Snacks Guidelines and applicable state statutes will be followed by
Ivy for all foods and beverages sold to students. All foods and beverages made available
on campus (including vending, a la' carte, student stores and fundraising) during the
school day will be consistent with the USDA SMART Snacks Guidelines, applicable state
statutes and/or regulations and the Nutrition Standards section of this document. School
Day is defined as the time between midnight the night before to 30 minutes after the end
of the instructional day.
Celebrations and Rewards
Foods or beverages should not be used as rewards on campus during the school day.
This includes a 30-minute period prior to the start of the school day and a 30-minute
period after the school day ends. Schools will not withhold food or beverages as a
punishment for any reason, such as for performance or behavior.
In order to comply with the Ivy Academy County Wellness Policy Guidelines, all parties
and/or special activities where food is served must be approved by the school
administration.
Fundraising
Foods and beverages that meet the USDA Smart Snacks in Schools nutrition
standards may be sold through fundraisers on the school campus during the
school day. LEAS may set special exemptions for infrequent school-sponsored
fundraisers that sell foods or beverages that do not meet the nutrition standards for
Smart Snacks. Such specially exempted fundraisers shall take place no more than
twenty (20) days per semester per school site. No specially exempted fundraiser
foods or beverages may be sold in competition with school meals in the food
service area during the meal service. The Administrator of the school shall ensure
that the twenty (20) day limit per semester is not exceeded.
Nutrition
Promotion
Nutrition promotion and education positively influence lifelong eating behaviors by using
evidence-based techniques and nutrition messages, and by creating food environments
that encourage healthy nutrition choices and encourage participation in school meal
programs. Students and staff will receive consistent nutrition messages throughout
schools, classrooms, gymnasiums, and cafeterias. Nutrition promotion also includes
marketing and advertising nutritious foods and beverages to students and is most
effective when implemented consistently through a comprehensive and multi-channel
approach by school staff, teachers, parents, students and the community.
Ivy Academy Wellness Policy Procedures
The Ivy will promote healthy food and beverage choices for all students throughout the
school campus, as well as encourage participation in school meal programs. This
promotion will occur through at least:
• Implementing evidence-based healthy food promotion techniques through the
school meal programs using Smarter Lunchroom techniques; Nutrition education
will be evident in the cafeteria and/or lunchroom setting by bulletin boards, posters,
and menus that promote fruits and vegetables, whole grain products, low-fat and
fat-free dairy products, healthy food preparation methods, and health-enhancing
nutrition practices; Encouraging students to start each day with a healthy breakfast;
and Ensuring that all schools are USDA Team Nutrition Schools. Nutrition and
Health Education The District will teach, model, encourage and support healthy
eating by all students.
Ivyl will provide nutrition education in the following methods:
Teachers in grades 6-12 will integrate nutrition and health education into the
curriculum to help students understand the relationship of nutrition to healthy living.
Lifetime Wellness and other teachers in Grades 9-12 will integrate nutrition and
health education into the curriculum to help students determine the effects of
nutritional choices that contribute to an improved quality of life.
Food and Beverage Marketing in
Schools
School-based marketing will be consistent with nutrition education and health
promotion. As such, schools will limit food and beverage marketing to the promotion of
foods and beverages that meet the nutrition standards for meals or Smart Snacks
Guidelines. School-based marketing of brands promoting predominantly low-nutrition
foods and beverages is prohibited. The promotion of healthy foods, including fruits,
vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat dairy products is encouraged.
PHYSICAL
ACTIVITY
Ivy recognizes that physical activity is extremely important to the overall health of a child.
Schools shall support and promote physical activity. Physical activity may be integrated
into any areas of the school program. Physical Education classes shall be offered with
moderate to vigorous physical activity being an integral part of the class. In addition to the
district's physical education program, non-structured physical activity periods shall be
offered in grades 6-12. Non-structured physical activity will consist of a temporary
withdrawal or cessation from usual school work or sedentary activities. Students in all
grades will engage in physical activity which is in compliance with the Tennessee State
laws, at a minimum.
Students in Grades 6-12 will engage in physical activity for a minimum of ninety (90)
minutes each week.
All high school students will take Lifetime Wellness which will include both physical
activity and health and wellness instruction.
Extracurricular physical activity programs will be available to all students at Ivy Academy with
appropriate physician documentation stating the student is physically able to participate.
Physical Education will not be taken away from students as punishment for any
reason.
Physical
Education
The District will provide students with physical education, using an age-appropriate,
sequential physical education curriculum consistent with national and state standards for
physical education. The physical education curriculum will promote the benefits of a
physically active lifestyle and will help students develop skills to engage in lifelong healthy
habits, as well as incorporate essential health education concepts. The District physical
education program will promote student physical fitness through individualized fitness and
activity assessments (via the Presidential Youth Fitness Program or other appropriate
assessment tool) and will use criterion-based reporting for each student.
Classroom Physical Activity
Breaks
The District recognizes that students are more attentive and ready to learn if provided
with periodic breaks when they can be physically active or stretch. Thus, students will be
offered periodic opportunities to be active or to stretch throughout the day on all or most
days during a typical school week.
Active
Academics
Teachers will incorporate movement and kinesthetic learning approaches into subject
instruction when possible and do their part to limit sedentary behavior during the school
day.
OTHER ACTIVITIES THAT PROMOTE STUDENT
WELLNESS
Ivy will integrate wellness activities across the entire school setting, not just in the
cafeteria, other food and beverage venues and physical activity facilities. Ivy will
coordinate and integrate other initiatives related to physical activity, physical education,
nutrition and other wellness components so all efforts are complementary, not duplicative,
and work towards the same set of goals and objectives promoting student well-being,
optimal development and strong educational outcomes.
All efforts related to obtaining federal, state or association recognition for efforts, or
grants/funding opportunities for healthy school environments will be coordinated with and
complementary of the wellness policy. Ivy will continue relationships with community
partners in support of this wellness policy's implementation. Existing and new community
partnerships and sponsorships will be evaluated to ensure that they are consistent with the
wellness policy and its goals.
A School Wellness Committee (SWC) will be set up at Ivy Academy.
Cafeteria
Atmosphere:
-School dining areas will have sufficient space for students to sit and consume
meals.
-School dining areas will be clean, safe, and pleasant environments that reflect the value
of the social aspects of eating.
-Enough serving areas will be available to ensure student access to school meals
with a minimum of wait time.
-Meal times will be scheduled near the middle of the day.
-Students will be given adequate time to enjoy healthy meals with friends.
MONITORING AND POLICY REVIEW and ASSESSMENT: The Ivy Academy Director,
school administrators, Coordinated School Health Supervisor, school nurses and/or School
Health Advisory Council members will work to ensure compliance with established
district-wide nutrition, health education, wellness and physical activity policies. In each
school, the principal or designee will ensure compliance with those policies in his/her
school and will report on the school's compliance to the Director of Schools or designee.
School nutrition staff at Ivy will ensure compliance with nutrition policies within the school
nutrition program and will report on this matter to the School Nutrition Program Director.
The School Wellness Committee with input from other interested individuals and groups
will at least annually review and make recommendations for updates and changes, if
needed, to the Ivy Academy Wellness Policy and Guidelines.
Assessments of the nutrition, health education, wellness and physical activity policies
will be repeated every three years to help review policy compliance, assess progress,
and determine areas in need of improvement. The district will, as necessary, revise the
wellness policies and develop work plans to facilitate their implementation. The
assessment will be posted on the Lawrence County Schools website. The Director of
Schools or designee will in turn report to the Ivy Academy Board, staff and public on the
compliance, progress and implementation of the Wellness Policy, based on input from
schools within the district and the triennial assessment.
Non-Discrimination Statement: This explains what to do if you believe you have been treated
unfairly.
In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights
regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions
participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on
race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity
in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.
Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program
information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the
Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing
or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800)
877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than
English.
To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination
Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: https://www.usda.gov/oascr/how-to-file-a-program
discrimination-complaint, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and
provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the
complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:
(1) Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410
(2) Fax: (202) 690-7442; or
(3) Email: program.intake@usda.gov
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.