Quartzsite Elementary School District

Local Wellness Policy

Date Created: 10/15/2019

Last Updated: 6/18/2025

1. Wellness Policy Goals 

Goals for Nutrition Promotion: 

 1. The district will encourage participation in school meal programs.

2. The district will encourage participation in school meal programs by utilizing Smarter Lunchroom Techniques.

3. The district will ensure that menus are distributed throughout the community by utilizing the website and backpack mail.

4. Foods and beverages promoted to students meet the USDA’s Smart Snacks in Schools Standards.

5. Participation in meal programs will be promoted to families

Goals for Nutrition Education: 

1. Nutrition education is designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to promote and protect their health.

2. Nutrition education is incorporated into instruction through health education and other subjects such as math, science, language arts, social sciences, and electives.

3. Nutrition education includes enjoyable and developmentally appropriate participatory activities, including (but not limited to):

1. School gardens 

2. Farm tours

Nutrition education at all levels of the curriculum shall include, but not be limited to, the following essential components designed to help students learn:

1. Age-appropriate nutritional knowledge, including the benefits of healthy eating, essential nutrients, nutritional deficiencies, principles of healthy weight management, the use and misuse of dietary supplements, safe food preparation, handling, and storage, and cultural diversity related to food and eating.

2. Age-appropriate nutrition-related skills, including, but not limited to, planning a healthy meal, understanding and using food labels, and critically evaluating nutrition information, misinformation, and commercial food advertising; and

3. How to assess one’s eating habits, set goals for improvement, and achieve those goals.

5. To reinforce and support nutrition education efforts, the guidelines will ensure that:

1. Cooperation with agencies and community organizations is encouraged to provide opportunities for appropriate student projects related to nutrition.

2. Consistent nutrition messages are disseminated from the District throughout the schools, communities, homes, and media; and

3. Nutrition education is extended beyond the school environment by engaging and involving families and the community.  

6. Health Education lesson topics should include, but are not limited to:

1. Relationships between healthy eating and personal health and disease prevention

2. Reading and using FDS’s Nutrition Facts labels

3. Eating a variety of foods every day

4. Balancing food intake with physical activity

5. Eating more fruits and vegetables, and whole grain products

6. Choosing foods that are low in fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol and contain zero trans fat

7. Choosing foods and beverages with little added sugar

8. Eating calcium-rich foods

9. Preparing healthy meals and snacks

10. Risks associated with unhealthy weight control practices

• Acceptance of differences in body sizes

• Food safety

• Importance of water consumption

• Importance of eating breakfast

• Eating disorders

p. Reducing sodium intake

q. Social influences on healthy eating, including media, family, press, and peers

• Resisting peer pressure related to unhealthy dietary behavior.

Goals for Physical Activity: Recess shall be required and provided as described in Governing Board Policy JL

1. The District discourages the use of physical activity as punishment, the withholding of participation in physical education class as punishment, or the use of physical education class time to complete assignments from other classes.

2. The District, to the extent practicable, will ensure that its grounds and facilities are safe and that equipment is available for all students to be active.

3. The district will work with schools to ensure that inventories of physical activity supplies and equipment are known to encourage physical activity for as many students as possible.

4.  All district elementary students in each grade will receive physical education for a minimum of 50 minutes per week

5. The district will provide students with formal, age-appropriate physical education, consistent with national and state standards for physical education

6.  Students will be encouraged to participate in programs that promote students' physical fitness and activity assessments, ie. Presidential Youth Fitness Program

7.  Students will be moderately to vigorously active for at least 50% of class time during most or all physical education class sessions.

8.  Physical education teachers in the district will be required to participate in at least one per year professional development in education

9.  All physical education classes in the district shall be taught by licensed teachers who are certified or endorsed to teach physical education, except in situations in which certified Physical education teachers are unable to be hired

10.  All elementary schools shall offer a minimum of 20 minutes of recess daily

11.  Recess shall be offered outdoors, weather permitting

12.  Recess is in addition to physical education classes

13.  Recess monitors will encourage students to be active and may, at their discretion, be physically active along with students

14.  The students shall have opportunities for physical activities before the school day begins

15.  The district shall encourage after-school programs to provide developmentally appropriate physical activity for participating children and reduce or eliminate the time spent in sedentary activities such as watching television or videos.

16.  Students will be offered periodic opportunities to be physically active on most days, as recess is offered at a minimum of twice daily.

17.  Teachers may incorporate movements and kinesthetic learning approaches into core subject instruction when possible to reduce sedentary behavior during the day.

18.  The district encourages students to utilize walk-to-school, bike-to-school programs.

Goals for Other School-Based Activities that Promote Student Wellness: 

1. All school-sponsored wellness events will include physical activity and healthy eating opportunities

2. The district will continue to develop relationships with community partners as appropriate to encourage wellness activities

3. The district will promote to parents/caregivers, families, and the general community the benefits of and approaches to healthy eating and physical activity throughout the school year.

4. Families will be informed and invited to participate in school-sponsored activities and will receive information about health promotion efforts.

5. The district will use electronic and non-electronic mechanisms to ensure that all families are actively notified of opportunities to participate in school-sponsored activities and receive information about health promotion efforts.

6. The district promotes staff member participation in health promotion programs

7. When feasible, the district will offer annual professional learning opportunities and resources for staff to increase knowledge and skills about promoting healthy behaviors in the classroom and schools.

2. Nutrition Standards 

School Meals 

The school meal programs aim to improve the diet and health of school children, help mitigate childhood obesity, model healthy eating to support the development of lifelong healthy eating patterns, and support healthy choices while accommodating cultural food preferences and special dietary needs. 

1. All schools in the district will participate in the National School Lunch Program.

2. All meals will, at a minimum, meet the New Meal Pattern requirements.

3. Free, potable water will be available to all students during meal periods. 

Additional standards include: 

1.  All schools in the district will participate in the School Breakfast Program

2.  Meals are accessible to all students

3.  Meals will be appealing and attractive to students

4. Meals will be served in clean and pleasant settings

5. Meals served will meet or exceed current nutrition requirements established by local, state, and Federal statutes and regulations

6. Students will be given ample time to eat their meals.  I.e., 10 minutes for breakfast and 20 minutes for lunch

7. The district's child nutrition program will accommodate students with special dietary needs

8. Students will be served lunch at a reasonable and appropriate time of day

9. Local and/or regional products will be incorporated into school meal programs when feasible

10. Water sources and containers will be maintained regularly to ensure good hygiene and health safety standards

11. Students will be allowed to bring and carry approved water bottles with only water in them throughout the day

Competitive Foods and Beverages

Nutrition standards for competitive foods and beverages must, at a minimum, meet the USDA’s Smart Snacks in Schools guidelines. 

 These guidelines apply to all foods sold in the following locations: 

1.  May not be sold in or near the dining area, serving area, or kitchen areas.

2. List any additional criteria the district has established for competitive foods here:

3. The principal of each school site may approve  the sale of competitive foods if:

All income from the sale of such food accrues to the benefit of the nonprofit school food service or the school or student organizations that are approved by the District.

b. Any competitive food must be sold in locations other than the dining, serving, and kitchen areas

c. The school promotes an overall school environment that encourages students to make healthy food choices.

d.The Competitive food must meet the guidelines for Smart Snacks

Celebrations and Rewards

Arizona Law (ARS 15-242) states that all food and beverages served to students in grades K-8 must meet the USDA’s Smart Snacks in Schools guidelines. 

1. Describe your standards for all foods and beverages provided, but not sold, to students during the school day: 

 The District does not provide any food or beverages outside the National School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program.  

2. These guidelines apply to (check all that apply):

☐School-sponsored events

☐Celebrations and parties

☒Classroom snacks provided by parents

☐Classroom rewards and Incentives

Fundraising

Describe your policy on food and beverage-related fundraisers sold to students on the school campus during the school day, including the frequency and duration of exempt fundraisers as appropriate:

1. The Principal of each school must approve all fundraising activities.  The items from the fundraiser may not be sold in the dining area, kitchen area, or serving area.  The school or student organization must be approved by the District, and any income from the fundraiser must accrue to the benefit of the school or student organization.  Fundraising activities will center on nonfood items or food items that meet the Smart Snacks standards.

2. The district will allow exempt fundraisers that sell food or beverages that do not meet the USDA’s Smart Snacks in Schools standards on the school campuses outside of normal school hours.  Ie.  Athletic Events, Literacy Nights, etc.

3. Certain fundraisers may be exempt from the Smart Snacks in Schools standards if they happen infrequently and are approved by the building principal.  Infrequently is defined by the district to be no more than one time per quarter.

4. Fundraisers are to be conducted for an appropriate period.  The district defines short duration as no more than 5 days.  

Food and Beverage Marketing in Schools

Food and beverage marketing is defined as advertising and other promotions in schools. Food and beverage marketing often includes oral, written, or graphic statements made to promote the sale of a food or beverage product made by the producer, manufacturer, seller, or any other entity with a commercial interest in the product. All products marketed on the school campus must, at a minimum, meet the Smart Snacks guidelines. 

Describe your policies for food and beverage marketing: All food and beverage marketing on campus during the school day must align with Smart Snacks standards. No branded fast food or sugary drink advertising is allowed.

Allowable marketing activities that promote healthful behaviors include vending machine covers promoting water, pricing structures that promote healthy options in a’ la carte lines, and the sale of fruit for fundraisers. 

Describe any additional policies for foods and beverages marketed to students: The district will assess marketing practices annually and remove any materials that do not meet guidelines.

1. Any food and beverages advertised on the school campus during the school day will meet or exceed the USDA Smart Snacks in school nutrition guidelines.

2. As the district, school nutrition, athletic director, PTO/PTA reviews existing contracts and considers new contracts, equipment, and purchasing, decisions should reflect the applicable marketing guidelines established by the wellness policy.y

3. School Wellness Committee 

Committee Role and Membership

The District will convene a representative district wellness committee that meets to establish goals for and oversee school health and safety policies and programs, including development, implementation,n and periodic review, and update of this district-level wellness policy.  

1. Describe frequency of meetings: Quarterly

2. Description of who the LEA permits to participate in the wellness policy process. (e.g., parents, students, and representatives of the school food authority, teachers of physical education, school health professionals, the school board, and school administrators):

 The LEA encourages all stakeholders to participate in and attend the wellness committees.  This includes teachers, parents, administrators, and students.  The LEA will incorporate a wellness committee with its individual School Improvement Committees.  

3. Description of how the public is notified that their participation is permitted: 

The School Improvement meetings are announced ahead of time and placed on the calendar of events.  This can also be put on the website.

Leadership

The district has designated one or more LEA and/or school official(s) who have the authority and responsibility to ensure each school complies with the local wellness policy.

1. The designated official for oversight of implementation at each school is: Principal or their designee.

2. The designated official for convening the wellness committee is: Principal or their designee.

3. The person designated for informing the public about the wellness policy is: Principal or their designee.

4. Wellness Policy Implementation, Monitoring, Accountability, and Community Engagement

Implementation of the Wellness Policy

1. Describe the District’s plan for implementation to manage and coordinate the execution of this wellness policy. 

   • The District will continue to implement the wellness policy.  School sites will use an assessment tool provided to them by ADE Nutrition to assess their wellness policy and make changes.  Schools will post the wellness policy and assessment reports online on their web pages.

2. Records will be kept for compliance purposes. 

   • Documentation that should be kept: a written copy of the wellness policy, documentation of meetings for review and updating, annual public notification requirements, assessment of the most recent wellness policy, and documentation demonstrating that the most recent assessment on implementation of the policy has been made available to the public.

3. Each year, the local wellness policy will be made available to families and the community by utilizing the individual school websites.  

Triennial Progress Assessments 

At least once every three years, the LEA must conduct an assessment of its wellness policy. To accomplish this, the District will evaluate compliance with its wellness policy and assess progress toward meeting the goals of the District's Wellness policy. Additionally, USDA requires that the District compare its policy to the Alliance for a Healthier Generation’s model wellness policy.

1. The District will assess compliance and progress of its local wellness policy at least once every 3 years. 

   • Describe how the District will assess the progress made in attaining the goals of the District’s wellness policy:

The District improvement committee will perform the assessment and make the information gathered from the assessment known on our website.

• (Optional) The person responsible for this assessment is: Superintendent or their designee

• Describe how the District will assess each school’s compliance with sections I-IV of this wellness policy. 

• (Optional) The person responsible for this assessment is: Superintendent or their designee

2. The District will assess how its wellness policy compares to model wellness policies.  

   • Describe how the District will compare its policy with the model policies.

The district will use the wellness policy assessment comparison with a model policy check form to determine where the wellness policy is at, where deficiencies may occur, and to the extent to plan for improvement.

(Optional) The person responsible for

• (Optional) The person responsible for this assessment is: Superintendent or their designee

Revisions and Updating the Policy

The District will update or modify the wellness policy as appropriate.

1. Describe how often the LEA will update or modify the wellness policy: The wellness policy will be reviewed and updated at least once every three years, or more frequently if necessary due to program changes or updated federal/state guidelines.

   • When district priorities change, when community priorities change, when wellness goals are met, when new science emerges, or when new federal or state guidance/standards are issued.

Notification of Wellness Policy, Policy Updates, and Triennial Assessment

The District will inform families and the public each year of any updates to the wellness policy and every three years of their compliance with the written wellness policy.

1. Describe how the LEA will make the district wellness policy available to the public: The wellness policy will be posted on the school district website, and printed copies will be available at the district office. 

2. The annual progress reports and updates can be found at: www.qsd4.org 

3. The District will make the Triennial Assessment available at www.qsd4.org 

In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.

Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.

To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/USDA-OASCR%20P-Complaint-Form-0508-0002-508-11-28-17Fax2Mail.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:

mail:  U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights

          1400 Independence Avenue, SW

          Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;

fax: (202) 690-7442; or

Email: program.intake@usda.gov.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.