Philosophy
The Wisconsin School for the Deaf is committed to providing a school and dormitory environment that enhances learning and development of lifelong wellness practices. As a residential facility, we recognize that our school is in a unique position to make a significant impact on our student’s health, well-being, and ability to learn by supporting a healthy environment where children will learn and participate in positive dietary and lifestyle practices. We also believe that children need access to and the opportunity to participate in physical activities in order to grow, learn, and thrive.
Policy
It is the policy of the Wisconsin School for the Deaf that:
- The school will engage student body council, staff, and food service staff in developing, implementing, monitoring, and reviewing nutrition and physical activity policies.
- Students will be provided with access to a variety of nutritious and appealing foods that meet the health and nutrition needs of students; will seek to accommodate the ethnic and cultural diversity of the student body in meal planning; and provide safe, clean, and pleasant settings and adequate time for students to eat.
- To the maximum extent practicable, the school will participate in available federal school meal programs.
- The school will provide nutrition education, physical education, and tobacco, alcohol and drug (TAD) free lifestyle education to foster lifelong habits of good eating, health and physical activity.
- All students in grades K-12 and pre-school groups will have opportunities, support, and encouragement to be physically active on a regular basis.
- Foods and beverages sold or served with school meals will meet the nutrition recommendations of the U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
Implementation
Wisconsin School for the Deaf will assemble a wellness committee with one or more representatives from its students, staff, parents, food service staff, and others interested to establish and periodically review the school wellness policy. Wellness policy will include the seven areas below:
Nutrition Education
Academic performance, wellness, and quality of life are affected by the choice and availability of healthy foods in our schools. Good nutrition supports the physical growth, brain development resistance to disease, emotional stability, and overall wellness of our students and staff.
Goal 1: Student representatives for the Student Body Council will be given the opportunity to have input into menu planning. Cultural preferences will be respected.
Goal 2: Students will understand and be able to explain the importance of different food groups.
Goal 3: Students will understand how the consumption of calories and the level of physical activity impacts body weight.
Health Education
In elementary school, health education is presented within the core curriculum and the physical education program. Health Education is presented in the middle school for one semester in the sixth, seventh, or either grade and includes the following topics: nutrition, first aid, wellness, disease information, verbal and nonverbal communication skills, and human growth and development. In high school students are required to take a one semester health course which includes the following topics: alcohol and drug abuse, consumer health, CPI and First Aid, disease prevention and control, environmental health, family life, growth and development, mental health, nutrition, reproduction and heredity, shaken baby syndrome and tobacco use and prevention.
Goal 1: Students will learn about the human body system and factors that influence growth and development.
Goal 2: Staff will promote and enhance health and wellbeing through the use of effective communication and decision-making skills.
Physical Education
Physical Education and physical activity are important elements in WSD’s total education program. The program provides the opportunity for each student to develop the skills, knowledge, and attitude necessary to participate in a lifetime of healthy physical activity. All K-8 WSD students take Physical Education daily. WSD HS students are required to take one and one-half (1.5) credits of Physical Education for a WSD diploma. WSD also offers HS students Physical Education electives such as weightlifting and dance.
Goal 1: Students will acquire movement skills, understand concepts needed to engage in health enhancing physical activity.
Goal 2: Students will achieve and maintain a health enhancing level of physical fitness based upon continual self-assessment.
Goal 3: Students will develop team building skills by working with others through physical activity.
Goal 4: Students will learn principles of health promotion and the prevention and treatment of illness and injury.
Physical Activity
In addition to the PE program, WSD provides a recreational/extra-curricular program for our students. The program focuses on instilling an enjoyment for physical activity and to help students avoid a sedentary lifestyle. This program provides the opportunity for all students to develop the skills, knowledge, and attitudes necessary to participate in a lifetime of healthy physical activity.
Goal 1: Staff will provide each student with the opportunity to develop physically, socially, academically, and emotionally in a positive, structured, visually accessible communication environment.
Goal 2: Students will learn to enjoy and appreciate healthy physical activity which can be continued after graduation.
Social and Emotional Well-Being
Pupil services team (PST) and school nurses provide support and consultation to school and dormitory staff about strategies to promote the social, emotional, and physical development and mental health of all students. They may also be requested to provide screening and early detection approaches to identify students with social, emotional, and mental health problems.
Goal 1: Students will develop self-awareness and self-management skills to achieve success in school and in life.
Goals 2: Students will develop social awareness and practice interpersonal skills to establish and maintain positive relationships.
Goal 3: Students will demonstrate decision making skills and responsible behaviors in personal, school, and community situations.
Health Services
The WSD Health Center is open and staffed by a registered nurse twenty-four hours a day when students are on campus (there are a few exceptions where a nurse is on call instead). The philosophy of the health center is to promote health and rehabilitation of children with special needs by acting as a liaison between students, parents/guardian, school/dormitory staff and health care providers.
Goal 1: The Health Center staff will provide safe and healthy educational and living environments for the students and staff by serving as a resource facility.
Goal 2: In accordance with the Wisconsin School Health Code, the Health Center will ask from parents/guardians’ information on the required immunizations, physicals, diabetes from parents/guardians’ information on the required immunizations, physicals, diabetes screening & TB screening when applicable and results of dental checkups. The health center may provide vision and scoliosis screenings. They may also administer flu shots.
Goal 3: The health center staff will work with direct contact staff to formulate a plan of action to meet individual students’ medical needs.
Family, School and Community Involvement
Communication with parents/guardians is a continuous process. Community connections are being established to better address the social and emotional development of the students, in addition to their mental health needs. There are several agencies where WSD has established relationships. These include but are not limited to: Delavan-Darien High School, Gateway Technical College, SMILES. Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, Lakeland Hospital, Delavan Police Department, Human Social Services, Delavan Public Library. In addition, WSD offers ASL classes for families of students and for interested members of the community.
Nutrition Guidelines
- Nutrition guidelines require the use of products that are high in fiber, low in added fats, sugar and sodium and are served in appropriate portion sizes consistent with USDA standards shall be followed for all foods offered by our food service department.
- A la carte offerings to students shall be nutritious and meet federally recommended guidelines.
- A salad, including fresh vegetables and fresh fruit, will be available daily.
- School and dorm staff will observe students during each meal and assist students in making healthy choices.
- The cafeteria area will be a pleasant environment.
- Students will not have access to soda or snack vending machines during the school day.
- Foods and beverages will not be used as rewards for academic performance or good behavior. (There may be special occasions when the administrative team allows a school group to deviate from this policy), Nor will food and beverages be withheld as punishment.
- Classroom or group celebrations involving food or drinks during the school day should be limited to one party per month.
- WSD will extend the guidelines of the National School Breakfast and Lunch programs to all meals served to resident students and staff on weekends and other non-school days when children are present.
- All school meals (breakfast, lunch and supper) will be available to WSD students at no charge to the student or family. This includes all non-resident students arriving for class without having eaten at home.
Monitoring and Policy Review
The Director or their designee will ensure compliance with the established nutrition and physical activity wellness policy.
Food Service Authority will ensure compliance with the nutritional policies within the school food service area and report to their supervisor. In addition, the Food Service staff will report on the most recent USDA School Meals Initiative review findings and any resulting changes. The wellness committee will review established nutrition and physical activity wellness policies annually. A report with any suggested changes will be given to the Director.