Lunch Program

Civil Rights Non-Discrimination Statement

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/ad-3027.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:

1. mail:
   U.S. Department of Agriculture
   Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
   1400 Independence Avenue, SW
   Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or
2. fax:
   (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or
3. email:
   Program.Intake@usda.gov

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

Wellness Policy

Rationale

Recognizing the strong link between nutrition, physical activity, and learning, Saint Stanislaus Kostka School’s Wellness Policy is committed to providing a school environment that promotes and protects children’s health, well-being and ability to learn. Healthy eating and a physically active life style are also linked to reduced risk for many chronic diseases, like Type 2 diabetes. Saint Stanislaus Kostka School takes seriously its responsibility to help students learn, establish, and maintain healthy eating and activity patterns. Staff wellness also is an integral part of a healthy school environment, since school staff can be daily role models for healthy behaviors.

Goal

All students in Saint Stanislaus Kostka School shall possess the knowledge and skills necessary to make nutritious food choices and enjoyable physical activity choices for a lifetime. All staff members in Saint Stanislaus Kostka School are encouraged to model healthful eating and physical activity as a valuable part of daily life.

To meet this goal, Saint Stanislaus Kostka School adopts this school wellness policy with the following commitments to nutrition, physical activity, comprehensive health education, and implementation.

Commitment to Nutrition

Saint Stanislaus Kostka School will:

• Offer a school lunch program with menus that meet the meal patterns and nutrition standards established by the USDA and the Massachusetts Department of Education, Child Nutrition Program.
• Encourage school staff and families to participate in the school lunch program.
• Operate the school lunch program with food service staff that is properly qualified according to current professional standards.
• Establish food safety as the key component of all school food operations.
• Establish guidelines for all foods available on the school campus during the school day with the objective of promoting student health and reducing childhood obesity.
• Provide adequate time for students to eat and enjoy school meals. Students at all grade levels will have a thirty minute lunch period.
• Establish a cafeteria environment conducive to a positive dining experience, with socializing among students and with supervision by adults who model proper conduct and voice level, as well as healthy eating habits.
• Additionally, students who choose to bring their lunch from home are prohibited from consuming high sugar beverages such as soda or high sugar treats, e.g. candy bars, during their school lunch period.

Commitment to Physical Activity

Saint Stanislaus Kostka School will:

• Provide a physical education program for students at all grade levels, Pre-K through Grade 8.
• Offer a planned sequential program of physical education instruction incorporating individual and group activities, which are student centered and taught in a positive environment.
• Participate in the Presidential Youth Fitness Program which leads to youth who are active for life.
• Students in Grades Pre-K through Grade 2 use refurbished playground and newly installed playground equipment which encourages movement between play areas and development of gross motor skills.
• Students in Grades 3 through 8 are encouraged to actively participate in recess. Equipment available to them includes: swings, a slide, two basketball hoops, balls, jump ropes, hoola hoops, etc.
• Schedule recess before lunch times in order to increase food consumed, decrease plate waste, and improve cafeteria behavior.
• Disseminate information to families about available town youth athletic programs, e.g. soccer, basketball, and baseball.
• Utilize 5 minute physical activity sessions in classrooms to enhance subject concepts and to transition between different lessons.

Commitment to Comprehensive Health Education

Saint Stanislaus Kostka School will:

• Using both the school’s Science curriculum and resources such as Discovery Education videos, provide healthy nutrition education at all grade levels.
• Emphasize the role of healthful foods and regular physical activity in disease prevention using available school resources.
• Teach the connection between good hygiene such as hand washing to maintain safe food consumption and preventing illness.

Commitment to Marketing a Healthy School Environment

Saint Stanislaus Kostka School will:

• Disseminate timely reminders from the health office concerning seasonal illness, school policy for return to school after illness, germ control practices, etc.
• Provide positive, motivating messages about healthy lifestyle practices. School personnel will consistently reinforce these messages.
• Ask students for input and feedback through classroom discussions and give attention to their comments.

Commitment to Implementation

Saint Stanislaus Kostka School will:

• Conduct a review of the progress toward school wellness policy goals each year to identify areas for improvement.
• Prepare and submit a yearly report to the Advisory School Board regarding the progress toward implementation of the school’s wellness policy and recommendations for any revisions to the policy as necessary.

(Assessment and update completed October 3, 2023)

The St. Stanislaus Kostka School Wellness Committee meets quarterly throughout the year. Our Wellness Policy is reviewed regularly and updated at least every three years. Our most recent meeting minutes can be found here.

The school’s Unpaid Meal Charge Policy can be found here.