Wellness Policy

The School Wellness Committee, with approval of the ICS president and the Board of Directors, and after presentation at a public meeting, developed the following policy:

The Irvington Community School will:

• Continue to serve meals that meet or exceed the legal nutritional guidelines, while working with its lunch vendor to create a more healthful menu.
• Ensure that all students shall have a healthful lunch available to them.
• Discourage students from trading food or drinks.
• Monitor lunches brought from home:
  • Sodas are not allowed.
  • Desserts, including candy, must be single-servings; multiple servings, which can be distributed to other students, will be taken from the student and sent home at the end of the day.
• Continue to partner with Learning Well, Inc., and Community Hospital East to provide nursing services to its students. The ICS will work with these partners to incorporate nutritional education into the school year.
• Not employ vending machines for students in the building, either during or after school hours.
• Introduce nutritional tools and information such as recipes into its newsletters and website.
• Arrange wellness screenings for students and parents.
• Not use food as a reward for behavior or academic achievement.
• Work with parents and classroom teachers to offer more healthful alternatives during special classroom events:
• Parties will not include sodas.
• Per health regulations, all food and beverage items must be store bought. Home-made food is not allowed.
• A dessert (cupcakes, cookies, etc.) must be accompanied by a healthful option.
• Guidelines are:
• 1 cupcake or cookie per student.
• 1 small bag of candy or miscellaneous items that are not intended for consumption at school.
• At least one other healthful choice.
• The wellness committee will discuss these guidelines the PTA at its first meeting each year.

The ICS´s Physical Education program is as in-depth as any program in the state. We will continue to emphasize P.E. within the school and will:

• Continue to provide its students a daily, standards-based approach to P.E.
• Continue to enroll students in the Governor´s Physical Fitness Council program, with a minimum 80% annual completion rate, and the President´s Physical Fitness program, with an annual success rate of at least 25%.
• Continue to offer daily recess to all of its students.
• Expand its extracurricular sports program to provide more opportunities for students to exercise.
• Seek out additional programs (such as the already employed Jump for Heart) to increase awareness of good life-long health approaches.
• Cooperate with the city to help with the creation of the Pennsy Trail, a planned recreational trail that borders the schools´ property and offers parents and students an outlet for walking, running, and bicycling.