Wellness Policy addresses physical fitness, nutrition, health
education
Gilroy – Prying an amply frosted cupcake or greasy piece of pizza from the hands of an adolescent isn’t easy, but that’s basically the objective of the district’s Wellness Policy – without actually having to nab the offending grub of course.
District food service personnel, board members, parents, administrators and the school nurse drafted the federally mandated report and presented it at Thursday’s Gilroy Unified School District board meeting. The Wellness Policy addresses physical education, nutrition, health education, parent and community involvement, mental health and a safe and healthy school environment.
The goal of the 16-page policy is to curb obesity by ensuring that health education is incorporated into every classroom at every site, encourage students to eat fresh fruits and vegetables and to emphasize the correlation between caloric intake and physical activity.
Serving healthier foods on campus and in the cafeteria is a major component of the policy.
El Roble Principal Mike Nebesnick, who served on the committee, also addressed the issue of fundraising, pointing out that most are based on the sale of “candy bars or doughnuts.”
“We know we’re changing a culture,” he said.
Dealing with school parties, which are often laden with cookie, brownies and cakes, is also an issue. But one of the committee members mentioned that she attended an Antonio Del Buono Elementary School Valentine’s Day party and was overjoyed to see that the teacher had laid out a spread of sliced bananas and strawberries.
The policy also addresses hygiene issues, such as advising parents to keep their sick children home, washing hands and to encourage students to drink more water by installing new, more inviting drinking fountains.
One element of the base that elicited a few chuckles was for staff to serve as role models. Committee members noted that teachers will often chug Cokes at their desks. And Trustee Javier Aguirre pointed out that the district honors the recipients of its monthly Recognition Program with thickly frosted cake.
The sale of soda has already been eliminated throughout the district. A statewide legislation that banned soda at all California elementary and middle schools was enacted in 2003 and Gilroy went one more step, banning the carbonated treats at all district schools this school year.
The state legislation allows the sale of fruit juice and vegetable-based drinks that are at least half fruit juice without added sweeteners, water and electrolyte drinks with no more than 42 grams of added sweetener per 20-ounce serving.
Lowfat milk, rice or soy beverages are permitted.
