Philosophy: Providence Cristo Rey High School supports the health and well-being of the school’s students by promoting nutrition and physical activity at all grade levels.

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Therefore, in accordance with the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act, it is the policy of the School to:

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Statement of Purpose: Provide students access to healthy foods and beverages; provide opportunities for developmentally appropriate physical activity; and require that all meals served by the school corporation meet or exceed the federal nutritional guidelines issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. A Coordinated School Health Advisory Council will be formed and maintained to oversee these activities.

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I. Coordinated School Health Advisory Council

Providence Cristo Rey High School will engage students, parents/guardians, teachers, food service professionals, health professionals and other interested community members in developing, implementing, monitoring and reviewing corporation-wide nutrition and physical activity policies. A Coordinated School Health Advisory Council will be formed and maintained at the corporation level to oversee the development, implementation and evaluation of the school corporation’s wellness policy.

 

A. In accordance with Indiana Code 20-26-9-18, the school will form and maintain a Coordinated School Health Advisory Council that includes at least the following:

• Parents/Guardians

• Food service directors and staff

• Students

• Health care professionals/Registered dietitians

• Any interested members of the general public

• Representatives of interested community organizations

 

Other potential members of the Council include teachers (especially physical education teachers), school nurses, teaching assistants, and community representatives such as recreation professionals, city planners, industry professionals and voluntary service workers.

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B. The Advisory Council shall meet annually to review nutrition and physical activity policies and to develop an action plan for the coming year. The Council shall meet as needed during the school year to discuss implementation activities and address barriers and challenges.

C. The Advisory Council shall report annually to the School on the implementation of the wellness policy and include any recommended changes or revisions.

D. The School  will adopt or revise nutrition and physical activity policies based on recommendations made by the Advisory Council.

E. The School Wellness Policy shall be made available to students and families by means of school registration, the student handbook and the corporation’s website www.cristoreyindy.org.

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The designated official for oversight is Andrew Dishman, Director of Operations, adishman@pcrhs.org, 317-860-1000.

 

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II. Nutrition Education

Nutrition topics shall be integrated within the comprehensive health education curriculum and taught at every grade level according to standards of the Indiana Department of Education. Schools will link nutrition education activities with existing coordinated school health programs or other comparable comprehensive school health promotion frameworks.

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A. Nutrition education will be provided as part of a Comprehensive Health Education Program.

1.  Health education will be taught by a licensed health education instructor.

2. Healthy items, such as salads and fruits, will be displayed prominently in cafeterias to make healthier choices more appealing.

3. Nutrition labels will be provided on all foods to allow students to easily identify healthier foods.

4.   Will provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to promote and protect their health;

 

Foods of minimal nutritional value, including brands and illustrations, shall not be advertised or marketed in educational materials.

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III. Standards for USDA Child Nutrition Programs and School Meals

Providence Cristo Rey High School will provide and promote the National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs to ensure that all students have access to healthy foods to support healthier choices and promote optimal learning.

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A. School Meal Content

1.  Meals served through the National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs will:

• Be appealing and appetizing to children;

• Meet, at a minimum, the nutrition requirements established by the USDA for federally funded programs;

• Contain 0 percent trans fats;

• Offer a variety of fruits and vegetables;

• Include whole grains for at least half of all grains served.

    2. All cooked foods will be baked or steamed. Proper procurement procedures and preparation methods will be used to decrease excess fat, calorie and sodium levels in food.

    3. Schools are encouraged to purchase or obtain fresh fruits and vegetables from local farmers when practical.

    4. Students will have the opportunity to provide input on local, cultural and ethnic favorites.

    5. Special dietary needs of students will be considered when planning meals, according to the document Accommodating Children with Special Dietary Needs in the School Nutrition Programs.

 

B. School Meal Participation

1. To the extent possible, schools will provide the USDA School Breakfast Program to all students.

2. To the extent possible, schools will utilize methods to serve school breakfasts that encourage participation, serving “grab-and-go” breakfasts and arranging transportation schedules to allow for earlier arrival times.

3. Schools will inform families of the availability and location of Summer Food Service Program meals, in accordance with the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010. Schools in which more than 50 percent of students are eligible for free or reduced-priced school meals will sponsor the Summer Food Service Program when feasible.

 

C. Mealtimes and Scheduling

1. Adequate time will be provided to students to eat lunch (at least 20 minutes after being served) and breakfast (at least 10 minutes after being served).

2. School meals will be served in clean and pleasant settings.

3. Students will have convenient access to hand-washing and sanitizing stations.

4. Potable (drinking) water must be readily available at all mealtimes.

5. Appropriate supervision will be provided in the cafeteria and rules for safe behavior shall be consistently enforced.

 

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V. Physical Activity and Physical Education

Providence Cristo Rey High School supports the health and well-being of students by promoting physical activity through physical education, before- and after-school activities; and walking and bicycling to school.

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A. Physical Education

1. All students in grades will participate in physical education in order to meet the Physical Education Standards.

2. Waivers will not apply towards the physical education courses required for a diploma. Credit flexibility in physical education will be limited to elective physical education courses.

3. Physical education classes will have the same student/teacher ratio used in other classes. In Indiana, the ratio for a single school shall not exceed an average of 30 to 1.

4. The physical education program shall be provided adequate space and equipment to ensure quality physical education classes for students.

5. Physical education will be taught by a licensed physical education instructor.

6. All staff involved in physical education will be provided opportunities for professional development focusing on physical activity, fitness, health and wellness.

 

B. Physical Activity Opportunities Before and After School

1. Schools will offer intramurals, clubs, interscholastic sports and voluntary activities to increase opportunities for physical activity before and/or after school, taking into account student interest and supervisor availability.

2. After-school enrichment providers will include physical activity in their programs, to the extent space and equipment allow.