With the passing of the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004, school districts participating in federally subsidized lunch and/or breakfast programs were required to establish a local school wellness policy by the beginning of the 2006-2007 school year. This policy was created by a student wellness committee, comprised of students, parents, community members, faculty, staff, administrators, and school board members. The committee met monthly during the 2005-2006 school year. During initial meetings a DPI assessment was completed, evaluating our current nutritional and physical activity environments. This evaluation allowed the committee to determine West De Pere School District’s strengths and weaknesses, and gain a focus for the policy.
In November of 2005, representatives from the committee attended an all-day seminar presented by the DPI, during which the first draft of this policy was written. It was then given to all committee members for review and discussion. At subsequent meetings, revisions were made, taking all points of view into account. Consideration was given to several existing wellness policies from area districts, including Appleton, Ashwaubenon, and East De Pere. WDP’s policy focuses heavily on the area of student nutrition, recognizing that our district has an established tradition of excellence in the area of physical activity opportunities for students. For a complete approach to wellness, it is essential to balance physical activity with a healthy nutritional environment.
Specific nutritional standards were chosen based on evidence linking nutrition to the functioning of the brain. An understanding was reached that the foods made available before and during the school day should be appropriate for the educational arena and should not hinder student potential. Although we cannot control students’ food and beverage consumption outside of our buildings, it is our responsibility to educate and properly nourish them during the school day, giving them every opportunity to achieve their full potential. The nutrition portion of the policy aims to limit access to “junk” foods and make available healthier food options. Student wellness can have an important impact on the educational success of students. Because students are our most precious resource, West De Pere School District is committed to a continuous effort in creating the ideal conditions for students to learn.
