News & Press Releases

ICS to Implement New School Wellness Policy in 2008-2009

Thanks to the work of the ICS Wellness Committee during the past school year, a comprehensive school wellness policy has been developed and will be fully instituted in 2008-2009. The new policy follows federal guidelines, providing “goals for nutrition education, physical activity and other school-based activities that are designed to promote student wellness,” as stated in Section 204 of the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004.

Wellness Committee members include: Jennifer McNeely, ICS physical education teacher; Ariel Jacobs, ICS science teacher; Tim Ehrgott, school president; Sid Norton, ICS Board member; Brooke Robeson, RN, ICS school nurse; Mike Wiselogel, food service provider; Elise Lindstrom, nutritionist; and ICS parents Wendy Arnold and Stephanie Kelly.

After a number of committee meetings to formulate policy, a draft was prepared then reviewed by the ICS Board of Directors in May and presented to the ICS Parent/Teacher/Student Association chapter by Mrs. McNeely at the May 27 PSTA meeting. After PSTA member discussion, the policy was approved. Mr. Ehrgott completed his final review and the school board approved the policy at the ICS board meeting on Monday, June 23.

As we look toward the rapidly approaching 2008-2009 school year, you might be interested to learn about some of the policy’s main points, which state that the ICS will:

• Continue to serve meals that meet or exceed the legal nutritional guidelines while working with our lunch vendor to create a more healthful menu.

• Discourage students from trading food or drinks to guard against allergies.

• Not use food as a reward for behavior or academic achievement.

• Monitor lunches brought from home. (For example, sodas are not allowed. And desserts, including candy, must be single-servings; multiple servings, which can be distributed to other students, will be confiscated 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 our students. (The ICS will work with these partners to incorporate nutritional education into the school year.)

Of note, per health regulations, all food and beverage items must be store bought. (This means that homemade food is not allowed for class parties and functions during school hours.)

For more information about the ICS School Wellness Policy, once school is back in session (as of Monday, July 28), please contact . Meanwhile, questions can be fielded by or , ICS client services manager. All can be reached by calling the ICS at 357-5359.

Posted Tue Jun 24 at 11:47 am