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STUDENT & STAFF WELLNESS POLICY
Download printable version of the Wellness Policy and Procedures
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There are many reasons why the time has come for wellness policies in our
schools. Some issues are in the news almost daily; others are not discussed
nearly enough. All of them are important and, in combination, they have a
serious impact on children’s health and their academic performance.
Understanding these issues is essential for creating effective school wellness
policies. The more you know about them, the better you will be able to help MSD
implement our policy that meets the food and fitness needs of all children.
In 2004, when the US Congress authorized funding for nutrition programs in
schools (breakfast, lunch, and snacks), they added a new requirement. As part of
the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004 (P.L. 108-265), each
local educational agency receiving US Department of Agriculture (USDA) funds for
meals must develop and implement a school wellness policy by the first day of
the 2006-07 school year.
The Congressional mandate for school wellness policies is part of a larger
effort to address growing concerns about the health of American children. We
recognize that schools play a critical role in creating a healthy environment
for the prevention of childhood obesity and for combating problems, like Type 2
diabetes, that are associated with poor nutrition and physical inactivity. The
law placed the responsibility of developing a school wellness policy with each
local district so that the specific needs of each school community could be
addressed most effectively.
STUDENT AND STAFF WELLNESS WEBSITES
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