Health & Wellness

S.O.U.L. Academy recognizes that good nutrition and regular physical activity affect the health and well-being of our students. Furthermore, research suggests that there is a positive correlation between a student's health and well-being and his/her ability to learn. Our role is important in the developmental process by which students establish their health and nutrition habits. We provide nutritious meals and snacks through our school’s meal program, supporting the development of good eating habits and promoting increased physical activity both in and out of school.

• S.O.U.L. Academy is committed to creating an environment that promote and protect the overall well-being of our students and staff. The guidelines listed below encourage a comprehensive wellness approach that is sensitive to both individual and community needs.

Our School Team meet twice during the school term, September and February to ensure compliance and to facilitate the implementation of our wellness policy. The school principal and local school staff shall have the responsibility to comply with federal and state regulations as they relate to S.O.U.L. Academy wellness policy. At S.O.U.L. Academy, the Kitchen Manager is responsible for establishing the Healthy School Team that will ensure compliance with the policy.

The Healthy School Team should include, but not be limited to, the following stakeholders: parents, students, school food service program representatives, school administrators, school health professionals, physical education teachers and the general public. 

Our Healthy School Team is responsible for:

• Ensuring compliance with federal and state regulations for competitive food and beverage items sold on the school campus (7 CFR 210.11 and FAC 5P-1.003);
• Maintaining a school calendar identifying the dates when exempted competitive food fundraisers will occur in accordance with the frequency specified in paragraph (c) of FAC 5P-1.003;
• And reporting its school’s compliance of the aforementioned regulations to the Kitchen Manager the person responsible for ensuring overall compliance with S.O.U.L. Academy’s wellness policy.

S.O.U.L. Academy will review and consider evidence-based strategies and techniques in establishing goals for nutrition promotion and education, physical activity and other school based activities that promote student wellness to include, at a minimum, a review of Smarter Lunchroom tools and techniques.

Nutrition Promotion

Nutrition promotion can positively influence lifelong eating behaviors by creating food environments that encourage healthy choices and encourage participation in the school meal programs. 

• The school environment, including the cafeteria and classroom, shall provide clear and consistent messages that promote and reinforce healthy eating. 
• Students will have access to useful nutrition information. Posters, worksheets and brochures will be available in classrooms and throughout each school’s campus. 
• Schools will provide parents with healthy snack ideas, lists of foods for healthy celebrations and opportunities for physical activity before and after school.
• Organizations operating concessions at school functions will promote healthy food choices at a lower profit margin to encourage student selection.

Nutrition Education

Academic performance and quality of life issues are affected by the choice and availability of nutritious foods in our schools. Healthy foods support student physical growth, brain development, resistance to disease, emotional stability and ability to learn.

• The nutrition benchmarks included in Florida’s Physical Education Standards shall be taught as part of the structured and systematic unit of instruction during physical education classes and will be integrated into other subject areas (e.g., math, science) where there is a natural fit.
• Students receive nutrition education that is interactive and teaches skills they need to adopt healthy eating behaviors. Classroom lectures, activities and student participation are provided in nutrition and health classes. Classroom written tests (such as multiple choice, essay and fill in the blank) are given in the areas of nutrition.
• Students will understand how food reaches the table and the implications that has for their health and future. Staff shall integrate hands-on experiences such as working in a garden, cooking activities and enrichment activities such as farmer’s market tours and visits to community gardens with the core curriculum. Students will receive homework supporting these activities to ensure comprehension.
• Nutrition education will be incorporated within the larger school community. The nutrition education program shall work with the school meal program to develop school gardens and use the cafeteria as a learning lab. Students will harvest vegetables from the school garden and work with the cafeteria staff to create wholesome snacks. 
• Nutrition education will teach skills that are behavior-focused. Students will be taught about calorie balance, energy expenditure and how to read and interpret nutrition facts labels.
• The staff responsible for nutrition education will be adequately prepared and participate regularly in professional development activities to effectively deliver an accurate nutrition education program as planned. Preparation and professional development activities will provide basic knowledge of nutrition combined with skill practice in program-specific activities and instructional techniques and strategies designed to promote healthy eating habits.

Physical Activity

S.O.U.L. Academy shall ensure that physical activity is an essential element of each school’s instructional program. The program shall provide the opportunity for all students to develop the skills, knowledge and attitudes necessary to participate in a lifetime of physical activity. 

• All students in grades pk4 to K-5 shall receive 150 minutes per week of instructionally relevant physical education. For middle school physical education in grades 6-8, all students shall receive a minimum of one semester of physical education in each of the three years. In grades 9-12, students receive a minimum of one credit of physical education in senior high school as required. One semester must be personal fitness while the second semester may be any physical education course offered by S.O.U.L. Academy with the approved state course codes. (Sunshine State Standards) 
• All elementary school students will have at least 20 minutes of daily recess. Each school will provide space, equipment and an environment conducive to safe and enjoyable play.
• Students will have the opportunity to be involved in physical activity through physical education programs, before and after school activities or other activity programs. Students will be encouraged to participate in community-offered fitness and athletic programs.
• Staff will be encouraged to participate in 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity (e.g., brisk walking, jogging, swimming) every week. Staff will be informed of the opportunity to participate in physical activity in afterschool programs and community events.
• Regular classroom teachers will be encouraged to provide short physical activity breaks for at least 20 minutes per day.

Other School-Based Activities 

S.O.U.L. Academy will integrate wellness activities across the entire school setting. These initiatives will include nutrition, physical activity and other wellness components so that all efforts work towards the same set of goals and objectives used to promote student well-being, optimal development and strong educational outcomes. 

General Guidelines

-S.O.U.L. Academy shall consider the components of the Centers for Disease Control’s Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) model in establishing other school-based activities that promote wellness.

-The goals outlined by the wellness policy will be considered in planning all school-based activities (such as school events, field trips, dances and assemblies).

- Afterschool programs will encourage healthy snacking and physical activity.

-S.O.U.L. Academy shall actively develop and support the engagement of students, families and staff in community health-enhancing activities and events at the school or throughout the community.

-Each school within S.O.U.L. Academy shall be in compliance with drug, alcohol and tobacco-free policies.

Eating Environment

-Students will be provided an adequate amount of time to consume their meal with a minimum of 20 minutes after receiving their food from the line.

-Each school will provide nutritious, fresh, locally grown food that reflects Florida’s bountiful harvest.

-Convenient access to facilities for hand washing and oral hygiene will be available during meal periods.

Healthier US School Challenge

-All schools will be encouraged to join the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Team Nutrition program and submit an application to be recognized as a Healthier US School Challenge: Smarter Lunchrooms (HUSSC: SL) school. 

Recycling

-Each school shall maximize the reduction of waste by recycling, reusing, composting and purchasing recycled products. 

Employee Wellness

-S.O.U.L. Academy wellness committee will have a staff wellness subcommittee that focuses on staff wellness issues, identifies and distributes wellness resources and performs other functions that support staff wellness in coordination with human resources staff.

-All staff will be provided with opportunities to participate in physical activities and healthy eating programs that are accessible and free or low-cost.

Health Services

-A coordinated program of accessible health services shall be provided to students and staff and shall include, but not be limited to, violence prevention, school safety, communicable disease prevention, health screening, including body mass index, community health referrals, immunizations, parenting skills and first aid/CPR training.

Use of School Facilities Outside of School Hours

-Each school will promote the use of school facilities outside of school hours for physical activity programs offered by community-based organizations and for the school community’s use. Parents will be allowed to bring their children to the school and have access to basketball courts, playgrounds and track facilities.

Behavior Management

-S.O.U.L. Academy is committed to prohibiting the use of food as a reward, unless incorporated into an activity that promotes positive nutrition messages (such as a guest chef or field trip to a farm). 

-Teachers and other school personnel will not deny or require physical activity as a means of punishment.

Guidelines for All Foods and Beverages Available During the School Day 

S.O.U.L. Academy shall operate and provide food service in accordance with USDA’s National School Lunch Program (NSLP) standards and applicable laws and regulations of the state of Florida. The guidelines for reimbursable school meals shall not be less restrictive than regulations and guidance issued by USDA.

General Guidelines

-All reimbursable meals will meet nutrition standards mandated by USDA, as well as any additional state nutrition standards that go beyond USDA requirements.

-School meals will include a variety of nutrient-dense foods, including whole grains and fiber-rich fruits and vegetables, while accommodating special dietary needs and ethnic and cultural food preferences. 

-To the maximum extent possible, S.O.U.L. Academy will participate in available federal school meal programs, including the SBP, NSLP, ASSP, AMP, and SFSP.

-Free, potable water will be made available to all children during each meal service.

Competitive Foods

-All foods and beverages sold on the school campus to students outside of reimbursable school meals are considered “competitive foods,” and must comply with the nutrition standards for competitive food as defined and required in 7 CFR 210.11.

o School campus means, for the purpose of competitive food standards implementation, all areas of the property under the jurisdiction of the school that are accessible to students during the school day. 

o School day means, for the purpose of competitive food standards implementation, the period from the midnight before, to 30 minutes after the end of the official school day.

-Competitive foods include items sold a la carte in the cafeteria, from vending machines, school stores, snack bars and for in-school fundraisers.

-Unless being sold by S.O.U.L. Academy food service program, it is impermissible for any competitive food item sold to students during the school day to consist of ready-to-eat combination foods of meat or meat alternate and grain products, as defined in 7 CFR 210.10 and 210.11. (FAC 5P-1.003)

-To be allowable, all competitive food items sold to students must meet general nutrition requirements and nutrient standards.

General nutrition requirements for competitive foods: 

-Be a grain product that contains 50 percent or more whole grains by weight or have a whole grain as the first ingredient; or

-Have as the first ingredient one of the non-grain major food groups: fruits, vegetables, dairy or protein foods (meat, beans, poultry, seafood, eggs, nuts, seeds, etc.); or

-Be a combination food that contains 1⁄4 cup of fruit and/or vegetable.

-If water is the first ingredient, the second ingredient must be one of the above.  

Nutrient standards for competitive foods;

Nutrient Standards                        Snack Items and Side Dishes                                      Entrée Items 

Calories                                                200 calories or less                                                          350 calories or less

Sodium Limits                                     200mg or less                                                                   480mg or less

Total Fat Limits                                   35% or less of total calories                                           35% or less of total calories

Saturated Fat                                      Less than 10% of total calories                                      Less than 10% of total calories

Sodium Limits                                     200mg or less                                                                   480mg or less as served 

                                                              (less than or equal to 0.5g per portion)                       (less than or equal to 0.5g per portion)

Sugar                                                    35% of weight from total sugar as served or less      35% of weight from total sugar as served or less

Exemptions;

• Any entrée item offered as part of the breakfast or lunch program is exempt if it is served as a competitive food on the day of service or the day after service in the breakfast or lunch program.  
• Fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables with no added ingredients, except water. 
• Canned fruits with no added ingredients except water, which are packed in 100 percent juice, extra light syrup or light syrup. 
• Low sodium/No salt added canned vegetables with no added fats.  
• Reduced fat cheese, nuts, seeds and nut/seed butters, as well as seafood and whole eggs with no added fat are exempt from the total fat and saturated fat standards.                                                                                                                                                                         *Refer to 7 CFR 210.11 competitive food service standards for additional exemptions.  

Nutrition standards for beverages:

Portion sizes listed are the maximum that can be offered.

Beverages                                                                Elementary       Middle                High

Plain water                                                               unlimited            unlimited          unlimited

Unflavored   low-fat milk                                         8floz                   12floz                   12floz

Unflavored   or flavored fat-free milk                   8floz                    12floz                   12floz

100%   fruit or vegetable juice                                8floz                   12floz                   12floz

100%   fruit or vegetable juice diluted                  8floz                   12floz                   12floz             with water but no added sweeteners

Other flavored and/or carbonated                      not allowed        not allowed         20floz                                                                                                                                                              

beverages that are labeled to contain 5 calories or less per 8 fl. oz., or 10 calories or less per 20 fl. oz.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

Other flavored and/or carbonated beverages     not allowed         not allowed     12floz (that are labeled to contain 40 calorie or less per 8 fl. oz. or 60 calories or less per 12 fl. oz.)

For elementary and middle school students: foods and beverages must be caffeine-free with the exception of trace amounts of naturally occurring caffeine substances. Food and beverages for high school students may contain caffeine.

Standards for food and beverages available during the school day that are  not sold to students: 

• The school will provide parents and teachers a list of ideas for healthy celebrations/parties, rewards and fundraising activities. 
• Class parties or celebrations shall be held after the lunch period and only foods that meet the Smart Snacks in School nutrition standards can be served. 
• Schools will limit celebrations that involve food during the school day to no more than one party per class per month. 

Fundraising

• Fundraising efforts will be supportive of healthy eating by complying with all applicable regulations and nutrition standards for competitive foods while also emphasizing the sale of nonfood items.   
• No fundraisers that include the sale of food items will occur until thirty (30) minutes after the conclusion of the last designated meal service period. 
• The school board is permitted to grant a special exemption from the standards for competitive foods as specified above for the purpose of conducting infrequent school-sponsored fundraisers, not to exceed the following maximum number of school days per school campus each school year: 

School Type Maximum                                                            Number of School Days to Conduct 

                                                                                                       Exempted Fundraisers

Elementary Schools                                                                      5 days

Middle School/Junior High Schools                                          10 days

Senior High Schools                                                                    15 days

Combination Schools                                                                  10 days

Our Healthy School Team will maintain a school calendar identifying the dates when exempted competitive food fundraisers will occur. (FAC 5P-1.003)