Wellness Policy 6140

Wellness Policy 6140

Purpose

The Eastern North Carolina School for the Deaf (ENCSD) believes that students need to be healthy and active to learn and grow.  ENCSD is committed to providing a school and residential environment that enhances the development of lifelong wellness practices.  ENCSD recognizes that for students who are Deaf and hard of hearing, wellness is inextricably linked to accessible communication, social-emotional belonging, and physical health.

This policy adopts the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) model to ensure that wellness initiatives are integrated across both the instructional day and the residential living experience.

Definitions

For the purposes of this policy, the following definitions apply:

Wellness Program: A Coordinated set of school and residential policies, practices, and activities designed to promote students’ physical, mental, social, and emotional health.

Competitive Foods: Foods and beverages sold or provided to students on campus outside of the federal school meal programs.

Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act (HHFKA): A federal law enacted in 2010 that authorizes funding and sets nutrition standards for school meal and child nutrition programs in the United States.  The Act aims to improve student health and reduce childhood obesity by increasing access to nutritious meals, aligning school meal standards with current dietary guidelines, and promoting wellness policies in schools.

 

 

 

I. Wellness Council

ENCSD shall maintain a Wellness Council to help plan, guide, and monitor wellness programs at ENCSD.  The Council advises the Board and works with the lead wellness official, school nutrition staff, and residential staff.

The Council may include representatives from:

  • Board of Trustees
  • School administration
  • Instructional staff
  • Nutrition staff
  • Student Health Center
  • Residential staff
  • Student support services
  • Parents or guardians
  • Other community stakeholders, as appropriate
  • Student member

The Superintendent shall designate a Lead Wellness Official to ensure each school/program area complies with the policy.

The wellness program shall be designed to support the whole child across the instructional day and residential living experience and shall be periodically reviewed and updated as required by law.  All meetings shall be accessible, providing interpreters and accessible materials for full participation of all stakeholders.

II. Nutrition Promotion and Education

Nutrition education shall be integrated into the Healthful Living curriculum and the residential “Life Skills” programming.

  • Visual Learning: Education materials must be visually rich, utilizing ASL, graphics, and plain-language English to bridge any potential literacy gaps.
  • Promotion: The dining and residential areas shall display accessible signage promoting healthy choices.
  • Consistent Messaging: Nutrition themes will be reinforced in the classroom, the residential areas, and during extracurricular activities.

 

III. Nutrition Standards and Guidelines

  1. School and Residential Meals: All meals (breakfast, lunch, and residential dinner/snacks) must meet or exceed USDA National School Lunch and Breakfast Program standards.
  2. Competitive Foods (Smart Snacks): All foods and beverages sold on campus during the school day (midnight to 30 minutes after dismissal) must meet USDA Smart Snacks in School nutrition standards.  This includes vending machines and a-la-carte items.
  3. Residential Food Environment: Foods provided in the residential program outside of the meal program (e.g. evening snacks) shall prioritize nutrient-dense options.
  4. Water Access: Free, safe, unflavored drinking water shall be available to all students throughout the school day and in residential areas.
  5. Marketing: Only foods and beverages that meet Smart Snacks standards may be advertised or marketed on campus.

IV. Physical Education and Physical Activity

ENCSD shall provide a physical activity program that is aligned with state policies.

  • Physical Education: A standards-based PE curriculum shall be taught by certified teachers.  It will be adapted as needed to meet the needs of students’ Individualized Education Plan (IEP)
  • Recess and Activity: K-8 students shall have at least 30 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity daily.  This may not be taken away as a form of punishment.
  • Residential Recreation: The residential program shall provide structured and unstructured physical activity daily (e.g., intramural sports, fitness center access, or outdoor play).

V. Social, Emotional, and Mental Health

ENCSD recognizes that mental, emotional, and behavioral health is essential to student success in both instructional and residential settings.

ENCSD shall:

  • Provide an inclusive environment that reduces social isolation.
  • Offer mental health services supported by qualified interpreters as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
  • Implement evidence-based Social Emotional Learning (SEL) that addresses identity, resilience, and healthy relationships within the DHH community.

Students will have access to counseling and support services as needed.  Interpreting will be provided.

VI. Accessiblity and Communication

ENCSD shall ensure that wellness-related instruction, programs, services, and communications are accessible to our students, families, and staff.

This includes, as appropriate:

  • Provision of qualified interpreters, captioning, or other auxiliary aids and services
  • Use of visual, plain-language, and culturally responsive instructional materials
  • Consideration of communication needs identified in a student’s Individualized Education Plan (IEP) or Section 504 Plan

VII. Implementation, Assessment, and Transparency

  1. Triennial Assessment: Every three years, ENCSD will conduct an assessment of the wellness policy to measure:
    1. Compliance with the policy.
    2. How the policy compares to model wellness policies.
    3. Progress made in attaining the goals of the policy.
  2. Public Updates: The results of the Triennial Assessment and the annual progress reports will be made available to the public via the ENCSD website in an accessible format.
  3. Annual Reports: The lead wellness official prepares annual reports for the Superintendent, Board of Trustees, and NCDPI.
  4. Recordkeeping: The Lead Wellness Official shall maintain documentation of Council meetings, participation, and assessment results.

Legal References

  • Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 (P.L. 111-296)
  • National School Lunch Act 7C.F.R. Parts 210 and 220
  • N.C.G.S. 115C-264.2; 16 N.C.A.C. 6H.0104
  • State Board of Education Policies CHNU-002, SHLT-000 (Healthy Active Children)
  • Americans with Disabilities ACT
  • Section 504 of the Rehabilitiation Act
Policy