Wellness Policy
Destiny School's local wellness policy promoting healthy food choices, physical activity, and student well-being.
What is a School Wellness Policy?
A wellness policy focuses on improving health and preventing childhood obesity. The goal is to create a school environment that includes healthy food choices and encourages physical activity as well as other wellness activities.
Why do Schools need a Wellness Policy?
The wellness policies are required for all schools participating in USDA's Child Nutrition Programs — school breakfast, school lunch or the after-school snack program. Any school with one of these programs was required to have a wellness policy in place by the beginning of the 2006–07 school year.
Who developed the School Wellness Policy?
Destiny School used a team of people to develop the policy, including Board members, school administrators, school employees, school health aid, teachers and parents.
Wellness Committee
The Wellness Committee advises the school on recommended policies, practices, and programs that support and improve the overall health of the school community. This includes monitoring the school that includes goals for nutrition education, physical activity, school activities, and nutrition standards for all foods available on school campus. The committee has membership comprised of parents, students, community members, the school board, school administrators, and teachers.
Wellness Policy Assessment Comparison Tool
Destiny School will assess the wellness policy every 3 years, at a minimum. The assessment will determine compliance with the wellness policy, how the policy compares to other wellness policies, and progress made in attaining the goals of the wellness policy. Results of this assessment may be requested at the Destiny School Office.
Resources & Documents
School Food Sales
Smart Snack regulations were implemented as part of the Healthy Hunger Free Kids Act of 2010. The guidelines were designed to combat the large number of sales and marketing of unhealthy foods toward students in all grades. Although this does pose a challenge to student fundraising, the strategic plan of Destiny School is to raise students that are set up for success in life. Their safety and well-being are part of that success. Healthy students are in school more often, learn more, and are set up to be healthier adults. Eating habits and making good choices around food and drink start young.
When selecting whether an item must meet smart snack regulations, you must consider when it is being sold. If it is sold during breakfast or lunch anywhere on campus, it must meet the regulations, no exceptions. If it is being sold outside of those meal times, please complete the exemption form under quick links.
Fundraising Guidelines
Destiny School activities that are done for the purpose of fund-raising must be initiated, sponsored, and recorded by one of the following: Destiny School authorized student activity club. Receipts and expenditures must be recorded in the Destiny School Checking Account and in the Destiny School accounting system.
Student Activity Club Fund-Raisers
Fund-raisers that are sponsored by a Destiny School employee must follow the accounting procedures. The Fund-raising Cash Counting Form must be completed, signed by the sponsor and submitted to the Business Manager with the funds for deposit. Fund-raising efforts should not begin until the fund-raiser has been officially approved by the Principal or Vice Principal. Note: Fund-raising activities that cause Destiny School to go into the community to make sales on a door-to-door basis are strictly prohibited. Students are not allowed to participate in any raffle or gambling-type fund-raiser.
Parent Support Organization Fund-Raisers
Fund-raisers coordinated by a parent support organization may involve: Parents/boosters only (requires Fund-raising Authorization and Approval form signed by organization President and site Principal); Parents/boosters and student body but not a specific Student Activity club (requires Fund-raising authorization and Approval form signed by organization President and approved by the Principal); Parents/boosters and specific Student Activity club (requires Fund-raising Authorization and Approval Form signed by the club and organization President and approved by the Principal). Note: When parent support organizations and Student Activity clubs are involved in joint fund-raising, proceeds must be allocated proportionately between the two entities based on effort devoted by each.
Paying Students
Students can only be paid when they are employed by the District in a Governing Board approved position that is required for school operations. Students cannot be paid for their involvement in extra-curricular activities, fundraisers, coursework, or participation in school sponsored events. Such payments violate Board policy and State law. Students are not permitted to personally keep the funds from any student activity fundraisers.
Vending Machines
Vending machines may be located on school campuses. Vending machines will only dispense foods that meet nutrition standard guidelines as set forth by the Arizona Department of Education Child Nutrition Programs and the U.S. Department of Agriculture requirements for foods and beverages that are sold individually. Vending machines shall not compete with the School food service program.
Competitive Food Sales
Competitive food sales and marketing will be consistent with nutrition education and health promotion. Schools will limit food and beverage marketing to the promotion of foods and beverages that meet nutrition standards for meals or for foods and beverages sold individually. School-based marketing of Foods of Minimal Nutritional Value (FMNV) is prohibited. The promotion of healthy foods, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat dairy products is encouraged. Allowable marketing activities that promote healthful behaviors include vending machine covers promoting water; pricing structures that promote healthy options in á la carte lines or vending machines; sales of fruit for fund-raisers; and coupons for discount health and fitness memberships.
Legal References
- •A.R.S. § 15-242 Nutrition Standards
- •The National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.) and the Child Nutrition Act (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq.), as amended.