Thursday, October 12, 2006

Blog bits

Wellness Bit, Pieces, and Responses

We’ve been writing this blog for several years now and this is the first time we’ve gotten some good responses. So, for those who took the time to write thoughtful responses, I would like to thank you. First, I would like to address several of the responses and then I would like to share information from the Wellness Advisory Board.

We did some research on how snacks would improve ISTEP scores. We found nothing. We did find that insuring that students ate a good breakfast was very important to their success. I would like to applaud Webster’s PTO for providing breakfast for all students during ISTEP week. We feel fortunate to serve breakfast in all of our schools and hope in the future that the school, PTO’s, and parents can all partner to insure that our children eat a good breakfast, either at home or at school.

I do have to apologize for one of the statements I made in my last post. After the post I got a call from one of our kitchen workers. She said that during the first week of school she did go through a student’s lunch and talk to him about the drink he had in his lunch. So, to the parent who wrote that response, please accept my apology. I will do everything in my power to insure that something like that doesn’t happen again.

There are no pop and candy machines in the elementary schools with the exception of the staff lounges. The pop and candy machines at the junior high contain 50% “Better Choice” items and are turned off thirty minutes before school starts through thirty minutes after school ends. The pop and candy machines at the high school also contain at least 50% “Better Choice” items. The “Better Choice” items can be sold until school starts and then after school ends. The machines that do not contain “Better Choice” items have to be turned off thirty minutes before school starts through thirty minutes after school ends. It has taken a while for the companies to comply with our policy because they had to retrofit their machines with times and / or key switches.

When the high school’s cafeteria was renovated, the Red Rock Café took the place of the salad bar. The Red Rock Café serves subs, salads, fruit, hot and cold sandwiches, grab-n-go lunches and a variety of “Better Choice” ala carte items. If we can insure an appropriate seat time during lunch periods at the high school, we may see the return of soup.

Our lunches have to meet the requirements of the Federal Hot Lunch Program including a caloric limit of 700 – 800 per lunch. We have not changed the portion sizes of lunches at the high school or any other school for that matter. Two weeks ago we did ask students who wanted a double lunch to eat their first lunch, and then get in line again to buy a second lunch. This was to insure that all students standing in line were able to get appropriate seat time for eating their lunch. We have observed the lunch period several times over the last two weeks. Our students are getting through much faster now and for those who want additional food, they have plenty of time to get a second lunch.

Based upon our consultations with doctors and nutritionists, we are confident that we are on the right track. The school’s wellness mission should be to educate students about good nutrition and exercise. Our policies should reflect that mission. Then, the choices students make outside of the school day should reflect what they’ve learned in school and at home.

Our Wellness Advisory Board met October 3, 2006 to organize the Wellness Summit to be held on October 27, 2006. During the summit we will focus on the following:

1. Wellness Education for students, staff, and parents
a. Aligned Curricula in health, PE, and FACS
b. K-12 Nutritional Unit
c. Parent Education
2. Wellness Program for Staff Members
3. Breakfast and Snacks in Elementary Schools (ISTEP)
4. Celebration Guidelines
5. Daily Physical Education for Students
6. Measurable Wellness Objectives

In addition, we plan to hold educational meetings this year where doctors and nutritionists can talk with teachers and parents about health concerns linked to nutrition and exercise. We also plan to hold open forums where parents and teachers can express their opinions concerning nutrition and exercise at the school. Until then, I invite you to talk to a member of the Wellness Advisory Board if you have questions or comments. The advisory board is made up of the following:
Community Representatives
Karen Richey, Purdue Extension
Lisa Jones, Holm Medical Group
Parents
Lisa Poczik, Elementary Parent
Val Carlberg, Secondary Parent
Other
Kelly Skirvin, SJMC Nurse
Frank Brubaker, PCSC Board
Gloria Burnam, PCSC Food Services
Eleanor Danielson, Dietician
Administrators
Dan Tyree, Chair
Jeni Hirschy, Assistant Principal
Students
Brendan Fox, Senior
Rebecca Moberly, Sophomore
PCSC Staff Members
Aimee Portteus, Secondary
Alyssa VanVactor, Elementary

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

My son is a student at Menominee. His teacher walked into class this morning eating a Pop-tart. Believe me, I completely understand running late in the morning and grabbing something on your way out the door. However, why is it o.k. for the teacher to eat an unhealthy food at school? Can the wellness committee please address this? Is the policy across the board or does it only apply to the students? Shouldn't the teachers be setting a good example for the students?

Personally, i don't think what the teacher eats for breakfast is any of the schools business anymore than it being the schools business what my child eats. We have so many awesome teachers in our community and our school board is ruining their teaching style. Please school board go away!!!!!! Let our teachers teach and let our parents parent.

Anonymous said...

Is there a website where the PCSC's Wellness Policy is posted? If not, I feel this would be a good way for parents to have easy access to the guidelines and perhaps dispel the rumors and criticism that seem to be overtaking this subject on this blog. As a parent, I applaud the PCSC for trying to teach my kids healthy eating habits. Although I may not agree with ALL of what’s been implemented, I think it’s a step in the right direction. Instead of complaining, I think we all should step up and try to improve what’s been implemented.

Anonymous said...

I know that some of the wellness policy is good but why can we not have healthy treats for kids birthday's? Why can we not teach kids about other options on snacks to eat that are heatly? Maybe if they tried a healthy snack at school they could take that option home to their family? I just feel like one fun thing about school that we could still keep could be the birthday treats. Kids love celebrating their birthday's at school. We do not need to have junk snacks but it would be nice if we could allow healthy ones. PCSC is one of the only schools in the area with such a strict wellness policy. I wish we could lighten up a little. The job of the school is to educate the kids not raise them.

Anonymous said...

In reference to birthday treats....As a teacher, I do not want to be held responsible for students getting sick because they ingested something that was brought into my classroom. My own child (and 10-12 others) became ill a few years ago after a birthday 'treat' was consumed. Whether it was accidental or a result of malicious intent, doesn't minimize what happened. I think 'better safe than sorry' is a prudent way to approach this. Have your birthday parties at home. Perhaps the educational process will improve by eliminating these distractions.

Anonymous said...

....or maybe the wellness policy leaves a little to be desired.....

Anonymous said...

just curious how were the representatives chosen for the wellness summit. The student representatives seem to both be, from what i know, students at the top of their class and not representing the entire student body....

Anonymous said...

Did your son or daughter want to be a part of it?

Anonymous said...

no i just feel that the actual student body has a false representation....and was wondering how they were chosen.

Anonymous said...

I don't think the two students were expected to represent the entire student body. This would be impossible to do, wouldn't it? Given the size of the student body at PHS. I think they just needed to show that they had students on the committee, and that they were given an opportunity to express their thoughts.

Dan and Rodger said...

I generally call the high school counseling department when I need student representation for a committee. Last year I was given three names. All three were invited and to join the committee and none of them were present at the meetings. We finally drafted a fourth student near the end of the process last year to have a student voice.

This year I was given three names and asked all three if they would allow the board to appoint them to the committee. Two of the three accepted.

At the first meeting both students did a good job of representing their peers. They weren't afraid to speak up and both had some good ideas.

One of the students is a senior and will graduate at the end of the year. We will be looking for someone in next year's freshman class to join the board. I hope this answers your questions about student representation on the advisory board.