Report to Board of EducationAugust 11, 2014

Where it began… Long-Range Strategic Planning Survey 2012

“I would like to see less junk food at parties and classroom events.”

“An awareness of the serious threat to our kids' health presented by prevalent and inexpensive genetically modified foods ... I'd like to see meal planning that seeks to avoid/prohibit using genetically modified foods .”

“Food consciousness!” “I would like to see a focus on health and a health

curriculum added.”

Where it began… Long-Range Strategic Planning Survey 2012

“I don't like to see that children can purchase Doritos and other chips as a snack . I would rather see apples and oranges available for purchase. It would be great if the food was cooked right at school. Fresh soups, veggies, etc...”

“The curriculum teaches about healthy eating but the schools are not very healthy!”

An Email from a parent…

“In the past 7 days the following has happened in my son's classroom: student of the week - brownies birthday celebration - donuts birthday celebration - cupcakes birthday celebration - donuts student of the week - cupcakesUpcoming: Valentines Day party - I can only imagine what he will get then!”

What the proposed policy is:

Thoughtful and Reflective

• 21 hours of meetings; at least 20 people at each meeting

• A collaborative effort; melding of different viewpoints

• A response to real, contemporary issues

• A place to start; not an ending point

What the proposed policy is:

Research-Based

• Articles from Alliance for a Healthier Generation, Healthy Schools Campaign, State and Federal websites,

• Policy review: CABE, Orange, other districts, other states

• A response to real, contemporary issues – and local issues, as well.

• A place to start; not an ending point

What the proposed policy is:

Research-Based

• Articles from Alliance for a Healthier Generation, Healthy Schools Campaign, State and Federal websites,

• Policy review: CABE, Orange, other districts, other states

• A response to real, contemporary issues – and local issues, as well.

• A place to start; not an ending point

What the proposed policy is:

“Best for Kids!”

• Retains celebrations

• Provides MANY healthy choices for celebrations

• Addresses current curriculum needs

• Addresses current cafeteria needs

What the proposed policy is NOT:

Dictatorial or Inflexible

• The proposed BOE Adopted Guideline is FULL of choices

• The choices are fun and inviting … for kids to choose in the classroom… for families to make the day before!

• The Friday eBlasts and the Pinterest Board will provide even more ideas, including seasonal treats.

What the proposed policy is NOT:

Dictatorial or Inflexible

• The proposed BOE Adopted Guideline is FULL of choices

• The choices are fun and inviting … for kids to choose in the classroom… for families to make the day before!

• The Friday eBlasts and the Pinterest Board will provide even more ideas, including seasonal treats.

What the proposed policy is NOT:

Punishing or Mean

• The policy does not limit the number or nature of celebrations.

• We don’t ‘punish’ kids when we provide healthy snacks.

• It is not ‘mean’ to let every families make its own choices regarding candy or other sweets.

What the proposed policy is NOT:

Perfect or All-Encompassing

• Ordered 4 salad bars – lots of choices.

• Nutritional values of meals added to webpage

• Improved menus

Our wish for all kids: Health

What does it look like?

“The absence of disease and infirmity, but also the presence of physical, mental, and social well being.” (Research from New England Journal of Medicine with support from World Health Organization)

Quality of life issues are directly impacted, and even driven by, proper nutrition and fitness.

Nutrition Objective

To translate the science of food into practical solutions for everyday healthy living

(phrase adopted from Yale’s research-based, “Nutritional Health Program”)

Neuro-nutrition

Learning is Rooted in Biological Function

Food is fuel and drives performance Cell function connected to two major areas

Brain performancePrecision in body movement (athleticism, etc.)

It’s time to upgrade the standard for the healthy food choices made available to our kids while at school!

Physical Activity Objective

Children need to exercise more -- not a news flash.

Consequences of an inactive lifestyle.

Gym is infrequent

When it comes to children’s fitness, or lack thereof, the

word epidemic is often used.

“Idea Fitness Journal”

American College of Sports Medicine

“Spark” by John J. Ratey, M.D.

Exercise = a sense of well being, energy and focus

Exercise = reverses anxiety and depression. The brain, although not a muscle, is much like

one Exercise causes neurons to grow Body to mind connection undeniable—powerful

stuff! We can influence our own biology

Clip RE: Sound bytes underscoring the awareness our committee wants to share

“Fed-Up Clip”

The Fed-Up Talking Points

Epidemic far worse than originally anticipated.

Voracious appetites and they don’t exercise enough.

Our brain is short-circuited by large doses of sugar.

First generation of children to face diabetes, high

blood pressure, etc. two decades earlier.

What do we do with what we know?

Moral obligation to our kids

Accountability

Action

How does this play out here in Orange?

We are fortunate

Not the worst, but can do better

ALL-inclusive (not only about obesity or disease)

Mindset: strike a balance

The Heart of it All

Quality of life outcomes (our children deserve it)

We cannot and should not “control” -- rather “guide, support, and cheer on!”

What can we do with what we know?

“Public health experts consider a host of overarching and

powerful influences beyond any one person’s control to be

the pivotal causes of childhood obesity. Consequently, it is

more useful from a prevention and policy standpoint to

examine the increasingly ‘toxic environments’ in which we

live, consider a comprehensive strategy, and introduce,

implement, and enforce public health policy to change

those environments.”

Yale Pediatric Medicine

What can we do with what we know?

For us to consider:

As a community, we, the BOE, the administration, teachers, support staff, and parents, can unite to be a positive ‘powerful influence’ in the lifelong health of our children.

The Survey Results

1. No staff member may use food or candy either as a reward for good behavior or as a punishment for poor behavior.

• Did you know of this? – 51% Yes– 49% No

• Can you implement this? – 89% Yes– 11% No

The Survey Results

2. Staff members shall not deny recess or assign physical exercises as a form of discipline or punishment.

• Did you know of this? – 88% Yes– 12% No

• Can you implement this? – 91% Yes– 9% No

The Survey Results

3. Teachers are encouraged to incorporate physical activity breaks between long lessons; these can be used as rewards.

• Can you implement this? – 90% Yes– 10% No

The Survey Results

4. Proposed policy does NOT mandate that celebrations must be food-free. Instead, it asks room-parents and school staff to make choices for celebrations from these resources:

• A 'Board Approved Healthy Foods List‘• A Pinterest Board @ Good4Kids2014 • A weekly eBlast

Can you implement this? – 76% Yes– 24% No

The Survey Results

6. For curricular celebrations which include food, the proposed policy asks that parents provide a list of the ingredients in advance.

Can you implement this? – 80% Yes– 20% No

The Survey Results

7. The proposed policy would NOT allow 'unplanned celebrations' such as a parent bringing in morning donuts or afternoon pizza unannounced. Such unannounced foods will be sent home.

Can you implement this? – 72% Yes– 28% No

The Survey Results

8. The policy would NOT allow the following five foods which have little to no nutritional value: candy, soda, water ice (i.e. popsicles, or frozen flavored water, except 100% frozen fruit juice), fried snacks, or chewing gum. This would include 'goodie bags' being sent home

Can you implement this? – 71% Yes– 29% No

The Survey Results

9. If 'modeling healthy lifestyles' meant you had to give up the five NO foods mentioned previously (candy, soda, popsicles, gum and fried snacks (such as potato chips), would you have difficulty implementing this in your classroom?

Can you implement this? – 56% Yes– 44% No

The Policy ‘Revisited’

The Truth about the BOE APPROVED LIST

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BOE APPROVED LIST

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BOE APPROVED LIST

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BOE APPROVED LIST

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FRIDAY EBLASTS and WEBPAGE

‘Good4Kids’PINTEREST BOARD

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