Sarasota District Schools' Food and Nutrition Services has emerged as one of the state's premier School Food Service operations. Each area of the department is devoted to customer service. Our priority is to provide quality food in a comfortable atmosphere with friendly faces and the best possible service.   Well trained employees serving attractive and good tasting meals in a pleasant environment is an ongoing priority. Employees are encouraged to recognize customers--the students, staff, parents, and the community as the reason for the program's existence.   A common theme throughout the department is financial responsibility and stability. Fair prices charged to paying students is a must, as a direct correlation exists between price and meal participation. Students eligible to receive free or reduced-price meals are encouraged to fully participate in both breakfast and lunch.   Nutritional integrity of meals and nutrition education are focal points for the department. The types of foods served are consistent with U.S. Dietary Guidelines, and allowance is provided for student preferences and tastes.   Quality ... value ... dedication to the customer ... a commitment to excellence ... maintaining our obligations to our customers, our employees, our School Board, and to our community. These are the solid cornerstones on which the future of Sarasota County Food and Nutrition Services will be built. These are the standards by which we will be judged.

 

WELLNESS POLICY

  I.          Philosophy and Commitment 

The School Board of Sarasota County believes that good health promotes student attendance and student achievement.  Staff wellness is also an integral part of a healthy school environment, since school staff can serve as daily role models for healthy behaviors.  Well-planned and effectively implemented school nutrition and fitness programs will promote and protect children’s health and well-being, as well as their behavior and ability to learn.

 

II.          Nutrition Goals

 

A.        To promote good nutrition, appropriate food choices, and food safety for students and staff for the development of overall health and well-being, in compliance with nutrition requirements established by federal, state and local laws and regulations. 

 

B.        To provide a variety of meal delivery strategies and meal schedules so that school meals are accessible to all students.

 

C.        To emphasize low-fat and fat-free milk, reduced-fat dairy products, a variety of fruits and vegetables and whole grain products in menu development.

 

D.        To limit the content and portion size of foods and beverages that are sold individually and in vending machines.

 

E.        To ensure that guidelines for reimbursable school meals are not less restrictive than regulations and guidelines issued by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

 

F.         To adhere to all requirements regarding competitive food sales and foods of minimal nutritional value, and to comply with nutrition standards established by the USDA and the Florida Department of Education.

 

G.        To encourage participation of eligible students in the free and reduced price meal program.

 

H.        To sponsor a summer nutrition program consistent with Florida Statutes.

 

I.          To promote guidelines for snacks and other foods used as classroom rewards, celebrations, school sponsored events and fundraising activities.

 

J.         To provide nutrition education to students through a planned, sequential curriculum and a variety of classroom and lunchroom activities.  Nutrition education will also be provided to families though menus, newsletters, the Food and Nutrition Services website, parent meetings and other wellness activities.

 

K.        To operate all child nutrition programs with school foodservice staff who are properly qualified according to current professional standards.

 

III.         Physical Activity Goals

 

A.        To provide a physical education program by a certified physical education teacher that emphasizes physical fitness and healthy lifestyles.

 

B.        To provide a physical education program that includes the development of positive attitudes toward wellness and physical activity, safety guidelines, responsible behavior in physical activity settings, appreciation for a variety of physical activities, and an understanding of the relationship between physical activity and wellness.

 

C.        To provide opportunities for physical activity before, during and after the school day in addition to scheduled physical education and other subject area classes.

 

D.        To encourage and assist students and staff in establishing personal fitness goals.

 

E.        To provide opportunities for school-wide events that promote physical activity, such as Field Days or Health Fairs.

 

F.         To encourage parents to promote physical activity and to participate in physical activities with their children.

 

G.        To avoid the use or elimination of physical activity as punishment.

 

H.        To make available adaptive physical education opportunities for students with disabilities.

 

IV         Health and Safety Goals

 

A.        To ensure that all buildings, structures, and grounds are inspected and meet health and safety standards.

 

B.        To maintain a school and worksite environment that is free from tobacco except in designated smoking areas.  It is unlawful for any person under 18 years of age to smoke tobacco in, on, or within 1000 feet of school campuses.

 

C.        To maintain a school and worksite environment that is free from alcohol and drugs.

 

D.        To encourage walking and bicycle riding where appropriate and safe.

 

E.        To provide a comprehensive health and safety education program for students.

 

            F.         To refer students, families and staff to health resources in the

                      community.

 

V.        Family and Community Involvement Goals

 

A.        To promote the involvement of students, staff and families in wellness activities.

 

B.        To make facilities available to the community for wellness related activities (in compliance with School Board Rule 9.30).

 

C.        To collaborate with community agencies and organizations to promote wellness activities in the community.

 

D.        To support and encourage participation in community activities such as organized walks, health screenings, and health and safety educational programs.

   

VI.        Wellness Implementation Plan

 

A.        The District will designate a Wellness Contact(s) to manage and coordinate the implementation of the program.

 

B.        A Wellness Steering Committee will consist of representatives from the School Health Advisory Committee and the Nutrition Review Committee.

 

C.        The Wellness Steering Committee will conduct a baseline assessment of current nutrition guidelines and activities, nutrition education, physical activity, involvement of students, families and staff in wellness activities, student attendance, staff absences, insurance usage rates, and other wellness related topics.

 

D.        The Wellness Steering Committee will work with staff to develop a comprehensive wellness program based on the adopted goals and results of the initial assessment.  The program will be continuously evaluated and updated.

 

E.        The Wellness Program shall meet the requirements of the National School Lunch Act and the Child Nutrition Act of 1966, revised 2004.

 

F.         The Wellness Program will adhere to “The School Board of Sarasota County Wellness Procedures Manual.”

 

            1.   Wellness Procedures Manual

 

Goal:

All students in the School Board of Sarasota County shall possess the knowledge and skills necessary to make nutritious food choices and enjoyable physical activity choices for a lifetime. All staff of the School Board of Sarasota County are encouraged to model healthful eating and physical activity as a valuable part of daily life.

 To meet this goal, the School Board adopts a Wellness Policy with the accompanying procedures, with the following commitments to nutrition, physical activity, student and staff wellness, and a plan for implementation. This plan is designed to effectively utilize school and community resources and to equitably serve the needs of students and staff.

 

Introduction:

The School Board of Sarasota County, Florida believes that children and youth who begin each day as healthy individuals can learn more effectively and are more likely to complete their formal education. The district also believes that healthy staff can more effectively perform their assigned duties and model appropriate wellness behaviors for students. This policy encourages a well-rounded approach to health, nutrition, and overall student and staff wellness that is sensitive to individual and community needs.

The link between nutrition, physical activity, and learning is well documented. Healthy eating and activity patterns are essential for students to achieve their full academic potential, full physical and mental growth, and lifelong health and well-being. Healthy eating and physical activity, essential for healthy weight, are also linked to reduced risk for many chronic diseases, including Type 2 diabetes mellitus, heart disease, and cancer. Schools have a responsibility to help students learn, establish, and maintain lifelong , healthy eating and activity patterns. Well-planned and effectively implemented school nutrition and fitness programs have been shown to enhance students’ overall health, as well as their behavior and academic achievement in school. Staff wellness is also an integral part of a healthy school environment, since school staff can serve as daily role models for healthy behaviors.

The School Board of Sarasota County acknowledges that:

Children need access to healthful foods and opportunities to be physically active in order to grow, learn, and thrive;

 Good health fosters student attendance and education;

Obesity rates have doubled in children and tripled in adolescents over the last two decades, and physical inactivity and excessive calorie intake are the predominant causes of obesity;

 Heart disease, cancer, stroke and diabetes are responsible for two-thirds of deaths in the Unites States, and major risk factors for those diseases, which include unhealthy eating habits, physical inactivity and obesity, often are established in childhood;

Approximately 33% of high school students do not participate in sufficient vigorous physical activity and 72% of high school students do not attend daily physical education classes;

Only 2% of children (2 to 19 years) eat a healthy diet consistent with the five main recommendations from the Food Guide Pyramid;

School districts around the country are facing significant fiscal and scheduling constraints; and

Community participation is essential to the development and implementation of successful school wellness policies;

Thus, the School Board of Sarasota County, Florida 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.  Therefore, it is the commitment of the School Board of Sarasota County, Florida that:

 

• The school district will engage students, parents, teachers, food service professionals, health professionals, and other interested community members in developing, implementing, monitoring, and reviewing district-wide nutrition and physical activity policies.

• All students in grades K-12 will have opportunities, support, and encouragement to be physically active on a regular basis.

• Foods and beverages sold or served at school will meet the nutrition recommendations of the U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

• Qualified child nutrition professionals will provide students with access to a variety of affordable, nutritious, and appealing foods that meet the health and nutrition needs of students; will accommodate the religious, ethnic, and cultural diversity of the student body in meal planning; and will provide clean, safe, and pleasant settings and adequate time for students to eat.

• All schools in our district will participate in the School Breakfast Program, National School Lunch Program, the After-School Snacks Program, and the Summer Food Service Program. 

• Schools will provide nutrition education and physical education to foster lifelong habits of healthy eating and physical activity, and will establish linkages between health education and school meal programs.

 

Implementation Strategy

The School Board of Sarasota County will:

Establish a Nutrition Review Subcommittee which will meet as needed (see following page for composition of panel).

Conduct a review of the progress toward school wellness policy goals each year to identify areas for improvement.

Prepare and submit an annual report to the School Board regarding progress toward implementation of the school wellness policy and recommendations for revisions to the policy, as necessary.

 

For questions or suggestions regarding the wellness policy, please contact Karla_Pignotti@sarasota.k12.fl.us

 

 

 

STATUTORY AUTHORITY:                                                    1001.41, 1001.42, F.S.

 

     LAW(S) IMPLEMENTED:    CHILD NUTRITION ACT OF 1966 (42 USC 1771 et seq.)    NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH ACT (42 USC 1751 et seq.) 

         RICHARD B. RUSSELL NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH ACT P.L. 108 265, SECTION 204    1001.43, 1003.42, 1006.06, 1006.0606, F.S. 

 STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION RULE(S)    6A-7.0411

 

                                                                                                             

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DIETARY GUIDELINES

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend that no more than 35% of an individual's calories come from fat and less than 10% from saturated fat. Regulations also require that school breakfasts provide one-fourth, and school lunches provide one-third of the Recommended Daily Allowances for protein, calcium, iron, vitamin A, vitamin C, and calories. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans can be implemented into the lifestyles of healthy individuals with the use of the MyPyramid.gov The pyramid is based on foods Americans eat and nutrients contained in these foods. My Pyramid serves as a tool to help individuals choose a variety of healthy foods.

Sixth Edition, 2005 U.S. Department of Agriculture U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

ASK MS. KARLA Send your nutrition questions via e-mail to: karla_Pignotti@sarasota.k12.fl.us and remember to include your name, grade, school and teacher. Questions can also be mailed to Ask Ms. Karla, Food and Nutrition Services, 101 Old Venice Road, Osprey, FL 34229. Dear Ms. Karla: What is the best way to eat during testing? 6th Grader, Sarasota Middle School Dear Student, Good nutrition is important every day, not just on test day. Follow the guidelines listed below to ensure that your body is ready to learn and ready for those big tests. Eat a Good Breakfast. Breakfast does exactly what its name implies, it breaks the fast. It provides fuel for the day. Studies show that students who eat breakfast do better in school than their non-breakfast-eating peers. No time for breakfast? Try school breakfast! Priced at $1.00 (middle and high schools) and $0.75 (elementary), it is a nutritious bargain. Watch the Sweets and Sodas. Most students consume too many. These foods provide a lot of calories with minimal nutrition. Many times students fill up on these foods and forget their fruits and vegetables. The Food Pyramid recommends that you consume sweets and sodas sparingly. Eat a Balanced Diet. A balanced diet includes carbohydrates (grains, fruits, and vegetables), protein (meat and milk), and fats. All these foods work together to help create a healthy body, ready to learn. Get Plenty of Fluids. The majority of our body is made up of water. Consuming high-quality hydrating fluids like water, 100% juice, and milk, are crucial to maintaining good mental performance. Get Plenty of Rest and Exercise. These two steps are not part of nutrition, but play an important role in good health and could ultimately affect performance. Good nutrition is a key to helping a student body get ready for test days, but it also makes a student ready to learn every day. Dear Ms. Karla: I was wondering, how much sugar is in a soda? Kindergartner, Southside Elementary School Dear Kindergartner, Sodas are mostly sugar. The average 12-ounce can contains nine to 12 teaspoons of sugar. That is a lot of sugar, especially when a student may not drink anything else. Many sodas contain caffeine, which can cause the body to become dehydrated (cause the body to lose water). It is recommended that students and adults consume sodas sparingly. Great alternatives are water, 100% fruit juice, and milk.

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MENU ANALYSIS Many parents and students ask, "How healthy is school lunch?" Check out our menu analysis.  Bon Appetite!

ELEMENTARY MENU ANALYSIS - K-1 Lunch Menu

SECONDARY MENU ANALYSIS - Lunch Menu

INTERNET LINKS OF INTEREST

 

Lunch Menu | Next Month's Lunch Menu | Breakfast Menu | Dietetic Internship |
Cafeteria Information | Catering | Take a Fresh Look at School Lunch |
Free and Reduced-Priced Meals | Monthly Nutrition Spotlight | Job Opportunities

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