• Nutrition and Wellness Policy:

    It is the policy of the Parkway C-2 School District that all foods and beverages sold to students during the school day on any property under the jurisdiction of the district will meet the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) school meal and Smart Snacks in School (Smart Snacks) nutrition standards.

    These nutrition standards apply to all food and beverages sold to students, including those sold in vending machines, school stores and through district-sponsored fundraisers, unless an exemption applies. In addition, the Smart Snacks standards apply to all food and beverages provided, but not sold, to students outside the reimbursable school meals program during the school day.

    Nutrition Standards for Foods and Beverages Provided to Students during the School Day All foods and beverages the district provides or makes available to students during the school day will meet or exceed the Smart Snacks nutrition standards. This includes, but is not limited to, foods and beverages provided or made available to students for celebrations, classroom parties, and birthdays, regardless of the source of the food. The district will provide parents/guardians and district employees a list of foods and beverages that meet the Smart Snacks nutrition standards and a list of healthy party ideas, including nonfood celebration ideas. Food and beverages should not be used as a reward or withheld as punishment.

    *The school day is the time period from midnight before to 30 minutes after the official school day. These meal standards do not apply to food sold at other times, such as evening or weekend events.

    FUNDRAISING:

    If the item being sold is a nonfood item or a food item that meets the Smart Snacks standards, it can be sold anytime.  State agencies can permit occasional exempt fundraisers, allowing the sale of foods that do not meet the standards. Organizations planning fundraisers of foods that do not meet the standards must work with their school administration to determine if their fundraiser can be allowed as one of the school’s limited exempt fundraisers.

    In Missouri, each school is allowed to have a maximum of 5 exempt fundraisers, per building, per school year, with a duration of one day. The USDA defines the school day as beginning at midnight and continuing until 30 minutes after school is dismissed.

    If you need more information on Smart Snacks, please reach out to our Resident Dietitian, Kenny Witte, at Kenneth.Witte@compass-usa.com

    If you would like to utilize one of your schools exempt fundraisers, you must reach out to the principal of your school for permission. The principal must then send this form, to the Director of Child Nutrition, Rachael Mintz at Rachael.Mintz@compass-usa.com for audit tracking purposes. 

    Please Note: If you do not follow these guidelines, you run the risk of obtaining a financial penalty for your school through the MO Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

    Foods and beverages should not be used as a reward or withheld as punishment.

    Water: Students will have access to safe and unflavored drinking water throughout the school day in every district facility used by students. Free, safe and unflavored drinking water will be available to students during mealtimes in the places where meals are served.

    Meal Times: Students are not permitted to leave school campus during the school day to purchase food or beverages. Mealtimes will comply with the following guidelines:

    • Mealtimes will provide students with at least 15 minutes to eat after sitting down for breakfast and 20 minutes after sitting down for lunch.
    • Activities such as tutoring or meetings will not be held during mealtimes unless students may eat during such activities.
    • Students will have access to hand-washing facilities before and after they eat meals or snacks.
    • Students will be allowed to converse during meals.
    • The cafeteria will be clean, orderly and inviting.
    • Adequate seating and supervision will be provided during mealtimes.

    Nutrition Education:The district's nutrition education goal is to integrate sequential nutrition education with the comprehensive health education program and, to the extent possible, the core curriculum taught at every grade level in order to provide students with the necessary knowledge and skills to make healthy nutrition decisions.  In order to achieve the nutrition education goal, the district will: 

    1. Provide students at all grade levels with adequate nutrition knowledge
    2. Provide students with nutrition-related skills 
    3. Provide instructional activities that stress the appealing aspects of healthy eating and are hands-on, behavior based, culturally relevant, developmentally appropriate and enjoyable. 
    4. Encourage district staff to cooperate with local agencies and community groups to provide students with opportunities for volunteer work related to nutrition
    5. Provide information to all school staff about the symptoms of nutrition-related conditions such as unhealthy weight, eating disorders and other nutrition-related health problems. 
    6. Coordinate the food service program with nutrition instruction. Food service staff should also work closely with those responsible for other components of the school health program to achieve common goals. 

    Nutrition Promotion: Nutrition promotion will use evidence-based techniques to encourage healthy nutrition choices and participation in school meal programs positively influences lifelong eating behaviors. Students and staff will receive consistent nutrition messages throughout district facilities. Nutrition promotion also includes marketing and advertising nutritious foods and beverages to students and is most effective when implemented consistently by school staff, parents/guardians and the community. 

    If you would like the Nutrition Services Department to support your nutrition education and promotion efforts, please contact our resident dietitian, Kenny Witte at Kenneth.Witte@compass-usa.com

    Marketing and Advertising: Marketing in district facilities will be consistent with the goals of the district's wellness program and comply with Board policy. The district will strive to promote the wellness program and educate parents/guardians regarding the quality of district foods. Food and beverage marketing will be limited to the promotion of foods and beverages that meet the Smart Snacks nutrition standards. 

    Community Involvement: Staff will collaborate with agencies and groups conducting nutrition education in the community to send consistent messages to students and their families. A list of foods and beverages that meet the Smart Snacks nutrition standards and ideas for healthy celebrations, rewards and nonfood fundraising activities will be provided to community organizations that serve youth. Guest speakers invited to address students will receive appropriate orientation to the relevant policies of the district.

    For a list of Smart Snack compliant foods and beverages, please contact our resident dietitian, Kenny Witte at Kenneth.Witte@compass-usa.com  

    Staff Development and Training: Qualified nutrition professionals will administer the district meal programs and will receive ongoing, area-specific professional development. The district will provide continuing professional development for all district nutrition professionals. Staff development programs will include appropriate certification and/or training programs for child nutrition directors, school nutrition managers and cafeteria workers according to their levels of responsibility.

    The Nutrition Services Department has the following professionals running our program:

    Brooke Herrington, Resident District Manager- working on PhD in Public Health

    Rachael Mintz, Director of Child Nutrition- Registered and Licensed Dietitian, Certified Eating Disorder Specialist

    Kenny Witte, Resident Dietitian- Registered and Licensed Dietitian

     

    Click HERE to read the entire wellness policy, as posted in Board Docs.