New Haven Wellness Policy

Date: revised February 2019 after the Wellness Policy Committee meeting and assessment.

Wellness Committee

The New Haven Wellness Committee shall remain an active committee, which will consist of the Food Service staff, the Teachers, the Director of Operations, the Director of Education, the Residential Program Specialist, the Nurse, youth who are interested in attending and any other interested staff members available to attend the quarterly meetings. The Committee will meet on planned/scheduled “teacher in service days” thru out the year to review New Haven’s Wellness Policy, Wellness Procedures, assessment results and any new regulations. After review, the Director of Operations will amend the current Wellness Policy with any updates and recommendations as appropriate.

The Director of Education is responsible for implementation at the school level.
The Teachers are responsible for implementation at the classroom level.
The Program specialist is responsible for implementation at the residential program level.
The Director of Operations is responsible for implementation in the Food Services Department.
The Nurse is responsible for implementation in the Medical Services Unit.

Health and Nutrition Education

The following goals and areas of interest to be maintained for the implementation of the Wellness Policy in the area of Health and Nutrition Education.

Goal 1: Nutrition education in the classroom will incorporate lessons helping children acquire skills for reading food labels in order to make healthier choices.

Goal 2: Nutrition education will incorporate lessons helping youth acquire skills for cooking healthy foods and practicing those skills in the kitchen via the Culinary class elective in school and in the residential program by assisting Staff with making dinner and participating in the bi-monthly ILS cooking night on the weekends in the residential program.

Goal 3: New Haven will plan a field trip to a working farm so youth can have the opportunity to see where food is produced that may be purchased for school meals.

Goal 4: Staff will model healthy eating at lunch in school and at dinner in the residential program.

Curriculum Materials

New Haven believes that health education should foster the knowledge, skills and behaviors that students need in order to lead healthy, productive lives. The school shall provide a planned, sequential health education curriculum for students in grades 6–12 that is research based and age appropriate. The content of health instruction shall be offered in accordance with law and state curriculum frameworks.
The Director of Education must approve curriculum materials utilized within the school.
Current curricula on nutrition education aligned with State Frameworks include materials from:
- Health for Life 2014 text book
- USDA MyPyramid Program

Curricula Implementation

The New Haven Wellness Council will provide oversight and support in evaluating a 6-12 health and nutrition education program implementation.
New Haven strongly encourages the integration of health and nutrition education into existing curricula, other core subjects and the residential program.
- The culinary class elective serves as the lab in which youth can practice skills learned in the classroom.
- Youth in the residential program put health and education skills to practice when they budget for, plan, shop and cook their own dinner twice a month on a weekend day.

Nutrition Advertising/Marketing

The School and Residential programs are encouraged to utilize media such as signage, websites, radio and television and other campaigns to disseminate positive messages about health and nutrition that will reinforce New Haven’s goals for health and nutrition education.
The School and Residential program staff are responsible for monitoring and enforcing any advertising and marketing to which youth may be subject.

Measurement Device/Assessment

The New Haven Wellness Committee will create and facilitate the administration of a pre and post health and nutrition education student survey to aid in determining the success of our implemented curricula.
Teacher surveys will also be used to attain qualitative data about the curriculum products, student comprehension and implementation techniques.
The New Haven Wellness Committee will analyze survey data to determine any changes in student knowledge, attitude and behavior.
The Nurse is required by Community Care Licensing to take height and weight measurements monthly which is another way New Haven can assess wellness at the youth level.

Agency Outreach

The New Haven Wellness Committee will utilize multiple forms of communication to educate the New Haven community (School and Residential Program,) about health and nutrition including our monthly staff newsletter, “Q Train”, handouts at staff meetings, signage in the group homes and in the school lunch room, shared relevant articles via email, and youth assemblies, and school menus.

Physical Education and Physical Activity Goals

The physical education and activity procedures will follow New Haven’s policies. Physical education and physical activity programs should be designed to foster and promote optimal physical fitness.

Goal 1: Participation in at least 30 minutes of physical activity daily in the school via the PE class and 1 hour daily in the residential program.

Goal 3: Develop joint use agreement with Boys and Girls Club next to New Haven non public school campus and/or Trade Tech Charter High School to use indoor gym on days that weather prevents outdoor play as New Haven does not have an indoor gym.

Goal 4: Staff will model participation in physical activities at PE in school and in physical activity time in the residential program after school and on weekend days to get youth engaged.

Curriculum

The physical education curriculum shall be consistent with expectations established in the state’s curriculum framework and standards, and designed to build the skills and knowledge to maintain a healthy lifestyle. The 6-12 physical education programs shall meet or exceed required minutes.
Because New Haven is a nonpublic school, we are exempt from the requirement that says a certified/licensed teacher who is endorsed to teach physical education must teach physical education. All of our special education teachers participate in teaching P.E. and the entire school has PE at the same time but students are able to select different activities to meet their needs, i.e….some participate in yoga while others walk laps.
Shall provide all students physical education that teaches them the skills needed for lifelong physical fitness.
All students, including students with disabilities, special health-care needs, and in alternative educational settings, will receive regular physical education (equivalent to 400 minutes every 10 days for grades 7-12) for the entire school year.
Physical activity may NOT be used as a consequence for poor behavior or punishment for any reason….i.e….you may not demand that a youth run laps for cursing.
Physical activity may NOT be withheld as a consequence for poor behavior.

Physical Activity

Physical activity opportunities shall be provided on a regular basis through:
- Physical education or activities in the school.
- Recess/breaks in school daily.
- School or residential program intramural athletics when youth express interest….i.e…a New Haven soccer team.
- Club programs when youth express interest.
- Other structured and unstructured activities when youth express interest…..i.e….a flag football game between two group homes after school.
- Physical activity is scheduled daily for an hour in the residential program after school and on weekend days.
- Outings on weekends such as “Get Air,” “Sky Zone,” “Disc golf” and “Lazer Tag” are encouraged for their calorie burning potential.
- Time spent at parks after school and on weekends.
- Skate parks
- Hiking trails are utilized on the weekend in the residential program.

Agency Outreach

Agency outreach activities will include, but not be limited to:Sharing the results of physical fitness achievement with both youth and treatment team members, i.e…placing agency, family, Community Care Licensing, Social workers and New Haven Staff.Increasing agency outreach and involvement efforts to emphasize the relationship between student health and fitness and academic performance. Increasing agency involvement through consistent communication messages about the benefits and the value of physical education/activity

Nutritional Guidelines for Foods and Beverages Available on New Haven property

Nutritional standards for all food and beverages served to students on property will strictly adhere to all laws and regulations of the federal and state governments, as well as the New Haven Wellness Policy. Occasions when food and beverages may be served to students include, but are not limited to:
- National School Breakfast Program
  - The breakfast program is offered in the residential group homes before school and not in the classroom.
- National School Lunch Program
  - The Lunch period is 30 minutes and youth sit outside in a picnic area to enjoy their lunch.
  - A water jug and cups are available in the lunchroom as well as the picnic area every day and students have access to water throughout the lunch period.
  - A water jug and cups are available in classrooms and students have access to water throughout the day.
  - All youth, residential students as well as day students are offered FREE lunch.
    - New Haven elects not to claim day student lunches.
    - Day students may elect to bring their own lunch.
  - All New Haven School Staff are offered FREE lunch after all students have been served.
    - New Haven elects not to charge adult employees for lunch.
- Snacks
  - All snacks in school and in the residential program meet the “Smart Snack” requirements.
    - To qualify as a Smart Snack, a snack must first meet the general nutrition standards:
      - Be a grain product that contains 50 percent or more whole grains by weight (have a whole grain as the first ingredient) or
      - Have as the first ingredient a fruit, a vegetable, a dairy product, or a protein food; or
      - Be a combination food that contains at least ¼ cup of fruit and/or vegetable; and
      - The food must meet the nutrient standards for calories, sodium, sugar, and fats:
        200 calories or less
        Sodium 200 mg or less
        Total Fat 35% of calories or less
        Saturated Fat Less than 10% of calories
        Trans Fat 0 g
        Sugar 35% by weight or less
  - A snack is offered and is free to all students, residential and day students, at the recess/break before lunch.
    - New Haven elects not to claim snacks for reimbursement but chooses snacks that are approved by the Smart Snack Calculator.
  - Another snack time occurs in the residential program after school and before dinner.

Caffeine
- New Haven does not provide any caffeinated beverages for any reason during the school day or in the residential program.
- Students or youth who are 18 years of age or older may consume caffeine on a limited basis provided it does not interfere with their participation in school or the residential program.

Nutritional Standards for Child Nutrition Programs

All foods served through the Nutrition Services Department at New Haven will meet or exceed all federal and state guidelines. Breakfast and lunch menus are analyzed by the Food Service Staff for nutrient content to ensure that all dietary guidelines as required by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) are met: School lunches meet one-third of the Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA) for protein, calcium, iron, vitamins A and C, and specific calorie levels by age group. Breakfasts meet one-fourth the RDA.

Students are offered a variety of foods; a diet low in fat, saturated fat, and plenty of vegetables, fruits, and whole grain products.
Local foods will be purchased and promoted as often as is feasible and/or financially doable in the preparation of school meals and in dinners prepared in the residential program.
On average, our weekly menus provide breakfast and lunch meals that:
- Are less than 10% of total calories from saturated fat.
- Are 400 to 600 calories with sodium that is <640 mg per breakfast meal.
- Are 600 to 850 calories with sodium that is <1140 mg per lunch meal.

Definitions

1. Reimbursable Meal – any combination of food items that meet the USDA approved School Breakfast Program or National School Lunch Program meal pattern requirements.

2. Entrée – a food generally regarded as the primary food in a meal and shall include, but not be limited to sandwiches, burritos, pasta, and pizza.

3. Nutritious Foods – Foods that provide healthy nourishment.

4. Beverage – any potable liquid.

5. Snack – a food that is generally regarded as supplementing a meal.

6. Potentially Hazardous Food – a food item that has to be cooked, refrigerated, washed, frozen, mixed, or prepared before serving

Food and Beverage Sales on Campus

New Haven does not sell any foods or beverages on property during the school day or during the residential program hours.

Portion Sizes

Portion sizes for all foods served to students will incorporate generally accepted quantities as defined by USDA. Examples are one-half cup serving of fruits and vegetables; 8 oz servings of milk, water, or 4oz serving of juice and between 2 to 4 oz servings of meat/ meat alternate or grain/bread items (or combination of the two.)

The following procedures are to be followed, to be in compliance with the New Haven Wellness Policy:

After School Snacks outside of Child Nutrition Programs

All school and residential program snacks are Smart Snack approved or meet the Smart Snack requirements but New Haven chooses not to claim those snacks for reimbursement.

Homemade or home baked foods

New Haven is the recipient of non-program foods and baked goods/desserts on a limited and sporadic basis by generous local charities, typically around holidays and those items are permitted in the residential program and only offered after dinner.

New Haven does not fundraise thru the sale of foods on or off property.

Student Store

The New Haven student store does not carry food items and is designed to be part of a behavioral incentive program. The items in the store are earphones, MP3 players and gift cards. The items are purchased with “stamps” that youth receive for on program or positive treatment goal behavior in classrooms.

On Site Vending

New Haven does not have any food vending machines on property.

Daily Rewards

Food or beverages shall not be used for academic or behavior rewards on a daily basis. An exception may be made when the use of food or beverage is included in an IEP report for the educational purpose of the student.
We strongly suggest physical activities be used as a reward or incentive.
Teachers and staff are provided with a list of alternative rewards other than food items.

Classroom Reward

A special event meal may be utilized as a reward when it is part of the National School Lunch program. In addition, food may be part of the reward when it is not the focus of the event. Examples of this are lunch with a teacher, principal or special staff person and assemblies where the food is not the award. When food or beverage items are being utilized as the award, they must be given after the lunchtime of the students and an allowable snack or school beverage must be utilized.

Classroom Educational Events

Classroom events that include food must be part of the educational process for the students. Events may include food items; however, if any item is a potentially hazardous food, all safe food handling procedures must be followed. Whenever possible, the food items should be prepared or purchased through a facility that has a health permit.

Birthday or Personal Celebrations

In order to support the New Haven wellness policy, teachers planning/participating in any student-based celebration (birthday party, holiday celebration or other event) that involves food as a component of that activity, will include only food and beverage that meets the nutritional standards as outlined in previous sections of this wellness policy. Teachers may use the New Haven Food Services Department to help provide food items (such as for pizza parties) that meet these standards.
Birthdays are celebrated in the residential program after dinner and a “cupcake cake” is provided that yields 8 portions for the 6 youth and 2 staff to continue to help align with healthy portion sizes and sweets in moderation.

Marketing

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 for foods and beverages sold individually.
The promotion of healthy foods, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat dairy products is advised and signage in the lunchroom and the group homes promotes those choices.
The advertising of foods and beverages that are not available in school or supported by the NSBLP will not be advertised on school property, equipment, cups or supplies, screen savers or anywhere else.
Education materials, classroom signage and posters chosen will be free of brand name/logos and illustrations of unhealthy foods.

Communication

New Haven will use multiple forms of communication to educate the families of our youth and the agency about proper nutrition using newsletters and important articles. New Haven will also encourage Teachers and Staff to select assembly subjects about proper nutrition for the students during the school day that can include subjects that we feel are important.

Qualifications for Nutrition Services Staff

The USDA Professional Standards for state and local nutrition programs are followed to ensure that professional development in the area of food and nutrition is provided for food service directors, manager and staff. New and current food service directors must have at least 12 hours; new and current managers must have at least 10 hours; new and current staff must have at least 6 hours.
All Nutrition Services staff are required to have a Food Handlers card.
The Director of Operations who supervises the Food Service Staff has a Food Safety Manager’s Certification.
The Culinary Teacher has a Food Safety Manager’s Certification.
Food Handlers cards or Food Safety Certificates are to be posted or kept in New Haven’s Non-public school kitchen and in the offices of the residential group homes.
Food Service Staff will handle all foods with the utmost care and follow all prescribed guidelines of the Department of Environmental Health.

Guidelines for Safe Food Handling on Campus

Nutrition Services Staff, teachers, aides, and other staff as per Department of Environmental Health Cal Code requirements will handle all foods and beverages. Hot foods must be kept hot; cold foods must be kept cold.

Employee Wellness:

New Haven is a non-smoking campus.
New Haven will provide free bottled water and healthy snacks in the employee break room.
New Haven offers FREE school lunch to employees who are not responsible for direct care and supervision of youth and who might otherwise be able to leave campus for lunch.

Reviews and Updates

These procedures are to be utilized and reviewed quarterly by the Wellness Policy Committee.

Program Implementation and Evaluation

To help with the Wellness Policy implementation, the members of the Wellness Policy Committee will complete an assessment of the policy using, “The Wellness Assessment Tool or WellSAT3” and discuss the following indicators:
- Descriptions of New Haven’s nutrition education, physical education, and health education curricula;
- Number of minutes of physical education instruction offered at each grade span;
- Number and type of exemptions granted from physical education;
- Results of the state’s physical fitness test;
- An analysis of the nutritional content of meals served based on a sample of menus
- Student participation rates in school meal programs;
- Feedback from food service personnel, school administrators, family/guardians, students, and other appropriate persons.