Pomperaug Regional School District 15

Link:  Region 15 Wellness Policy 

On June 30, 2004, President Bush signed Public Law 108-265, the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004. Section 204 of this law [PDF]. This federal legislation requires that schools that participate in the USDA’s child nutrition programs must establish a local wellness policy by the 2006-2007 school year. At a minimum, the district School Wellness Policy must encourage healthy eating and physical activity. 

 In the classroom students are taught to eat healthfully and to be active, but they also need the opportunity to practice those behaviors. Wellness policies combine education with practice to create healthful school environments and encourage healthy behavior. The Wellness Policy focuses on the entire school environment, including lunch menus as well as physical activity and other activities to promote student wellness.

 The members of the Region 15 Wellness Committee included: parents, physical education teachers, PE & Health department head, director of operations, food service director, and students. The committee determined and prioritized needs, and developed an action plan. The committee then built awareness and support of the policy among students, staff, teachers, parents, and the community.