St. Leo School Wellness Policy
School districts with a federally-funded school meals program must develop and implement wellness policies that address nutrition and physical activity of their students. Children need access to healthful foods and opportunities to be physically active in order to grow, learn, and thrive.
Therefore, St. Leo School (STL) is committed to providing school environments that promote and protect children’s health, well-being, and ability to learn by supporting healthy eating and physical activity.
Wellness Committee-
-The school will form and maintain a Wellness Committee.
-The Wellness Committee's role is advisory, and should include representation from the school community - administration, faculty, food services, parents, and health-related professionals that can be members of staff, parent body, or the community.
-The Wellness Committee will meet a minimum of twice a year, and focus on educating and supporting students and staff, and promoting wellness through a collaboration between curriculum, extra-curricular activities (Athletics, Yoga Club, etc.), and community connection.
Nutrition-
The school's food service program will:
- meet the health and nutrition needs of St. Leo School students and adhere to or exceed the USDA School Meal Regulations.
- students are encouraged to bring water bottles and refill them throughout the day, and water will be made available when meals are being served.
- school administration will ensure that the school adheres to the nutrition standards set by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health for school-sponsored or school-related events, concession stands, fundraising activities, and special classroom activities.
Physical Activity-
-STL students have Physical Education classes twice a week. Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten are scheduled for 60 minutes weekly, and grades 1-8 are scheduled for 90 minutes weekly.
-STL students in Kindergarten through grade 8 opportunities to participate in extra-curricular activities such as Cheer, Basketball, Cross-Country, Yoga Club, etc.
-All students at St. Leo School, from Pre-K through grade 8, have recess daily.
Free and Reduced-priced Meals-
St. Leo School will make every effort to eliminate any social stigma attached to, and prevent the overt identification of, students who are eligible for free and reduced-priced school meals.
Qualifications of the School's Food Service Staff-
-Qualified nutrition professionals will administer the school meal programs.
-Appropriate certification and/or training programs will be provided for food services manager and food services staff, according to their levels of responsibility, as well as professional development for the food services manager.
Food Allergies/Sensitivities
-All staff are required to complete food allergy and epinephrine auto-injector training each year.
-The nurses at St. Leo School maintain and disseminate a student allergy list to administration, faculty, staff, and food services.
-All faculty and staff have access to student epinephrine auto-injector pens. Teachers of younger children keep epinephrine auto-injector pens in the classroom, and take them to the cafeteria, snack, and recess.
-St. Leo School is a nut-restricted school. Students and staff may not bring snacks/lunches that contain peanuts, tree nuts, or sesame, and/or are produced on a manufacturing line that processes foods with nuts. Signage is present throughout the school.
Monitoring-
-School administration will ensure compliance with the established school-wide nutrition and physical activity wellness policies.
-School food service staff will ensure compliance with nutrition policies within school food service areas and will report on this matter to the principal.
-Revised 2019
School districts with a federally-funded school meals program must develop and implement wellness policies that address nutrition and physical activity of their students. Children need access to healthful foods and opportunities to be physically active in order to grow, learn, and thrive.
Therefore, St. Leo School (STL) is committed to providing school environments that promote and protect children’s health, well-being, and ability to learn by supporting healthy eating and physical activity.
Wellness Committee-
-The school will form and maintain a Wellness Committee.
-The Wellness Committee's role is advisory, and should include representation from the school community - administration, faculty, food services, parents, and health-related professionals that can be members of staff, parent body, or the community.
-The Wellness Committee will meet a minimum of twice a year, and focus on educating and supporting students and staff, and promoting wellness through a collaboration between curriculum, extra-curricular activities (Athletics, Yoga Club, etc.), and community connection.
Nutrition-
The school's food service program will:
- meet the health and nutrition needs of St. Leo School students and adhere to or exceed the USDA School Meal Regulations.
- students are encouraged to bring water bottles and refill them throughout the day, and water will be made available when meals are being served.
- school administration will ensure that the school adheres to the nutrition standards set by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health for school-sponsored or school-related events, concession stands, fundraising activities, and special classroom activities.
Physical Activity-
-STL students have Physical Education classes twice a week. Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten are scheduled for 60 minutes weekly, and grades 1-8 are scheduled for 90 minutes weekly.
-STL students in Kindergarten through grade 8 opportunities to participate in extra-curricular activities such as Cheer, Basketball, Cross-Country, Yoga Club, etc.
-All students at St. Leo School, from Pre-K through grade 8, have recess daily.
Free and Reduced-priced Meals-
St. Leo School will make every effort to eliminate any social stigma attached to, and prevent the overt identification of, students who are eligible for free and reduced-priced school meals.
Qualifications of the School's Food Service Staff-
-Qualified nutrition professionals will administer the school meal programs.
-Appropriate certification and/or training programs will be provided for food services manager and food services staff, according to their levels of responsibility, as well as professional development for the food services manager.
Food Allergies/Sensitivities
-All staff are required to complete food allergy and epinephrine auto-injector training each year.
-The nurses at St. Leo School maintain and disseminate a student allergy list to administration, faculty, staff, and food services.
-All faculty and staff have access to student epinephrine auto-injector pens. Teachers of younger children keep epinephrine auto-injector pens in the classroom, and take them to the cafeteria, snack, and recess.
-St. Leo School is a nut-restricted school. Students and staff may not bring snacks/lunches that contain peanuts, tree nuts, or sesame, and/or are produced on a manufacturing line that processes foods with nuts. Signage is present throughout the school.
Monitoring-
-School administration will ensure compliance with the established school-wide nutrition and physical activity wellness policies.
-School food service staff will ensure compliance with nutrition policies within school food service areas and will report on this matter to the principal.
-Revised 2019