Indian Community School of Milwaukee, Inc.
School Wellness Policy

With Indian Values at the heart of our mission, the Indian Community School provides each child in our care with the best educational opportunity to develop spiritually, morally, emotionally, physically, socially, artistically and intellectually in order to achieve the child’s greatest personal and community potential.
Core values are gifts from the Creator that express the Indian philosophy of life through fundamental convections, collective beliefs and exemplary character. Among the many Core Values given by the Creator, the Indian Community School experience focuses on:

Bravery Love Truth Wisdom Humility Loyalty Respect

The Indian Community School of Milwaukee is committed to providing a school environment that promotes and protects children's health, well-being, and ability to learn through healthy nutrition and physical activity. The Indian Community School of Milwaukee, Inc. confirms that:

  • Good nutrition is key to the optimal growth and development of children;
  • Good nutrition plays a highly significant role, in both short and long term effect, in the status of children's health;
  • Good nutrition positively influences academic, physical, social and athletic performance; and
  • Learning nutrition values and behaviors at an early age makes it easier for individuals to make nutritional decisions that can lead to positive health outcomes throughout one's lifetime.

    • Therefore, it is the policy of the Indian Community School that:

  • Children are taught healthy nutrition in their classrooms and healthy nutritional values are promoted by examples set through school activities and services. The activities and services include, but are not limited to, parties, fund raising events, and vending machines.
  • ICS will engage students, parents, teachers, food service providers, health professionals and other interested community members essential in developing, implementing, monitoring and reviewing nutrition and physical activity policies.
  • ICS will provide physical education to foster lifelong habits of healthy eating and physical activity.
  • ICS will increase the amount of time students are engaged in physical activity during school and provide a variety of balanced opportunities for all grade levels through after school activities.
  • ICS will establish collaborations between health education and school meal programs, with related community services.
  • ICS will regularly evaluate the implementation of the Wellness Policy and recommend changes as appropriate.

    • Nutrition Education Goals

    The health curriculum provides the basis for instruction to help assure that students will develop the knowledge, attitudes, skills and behaviors for life long healthy eating habits and physical activity. ICS has an approved K-8 nutrition curriculum as part of the comprehensive health curriculum. The nutrition curriculum supports the philosophy that the quality of life is dependent upon the student's interaction with their total environment, which enhances their physical, mental and social growth and development.

  • Students will learn healthy eating habits to build and maintain optimum health. Instruction includes food nutrients, dietary guidelines, food guide pyramid, serving sizes, labeling, weight problems, eating disorders, food safety, food allergies, and food sensitivities.
  • All education staff who teach cooking classes will be ServSafe certified, as to guarantee the wholesomeness of the food prepared and consumed as part of the class.

    • Physical Activity Goals

    The entire school environment shall be aligned with healthy school goals to positively influence the understanding of a student's, beliefs and habits as they relate to regular physical activity. Children who are physically fit are better able to participate actively in their education and contribute to the experience of the entire school and community.

    The Indian Community School of Milwaukee, Inc. promotes healthy schools by supporting wellness, good nutrition, and physical activity as a part of the total learning environment. Further, it recognizes the significant health risks associated with our urban native families. By facilitating learning through the support and promotion of good nutrition and physical activity, our school will contribute to the vital health status of our children. To foster the health and well being of all students, it is the policy of ICS to:

  • Kindergarten through eighth grade students will receive physical education from a certified licensed instructor 90 minutes or more per week.
  • Physical activity will be included in the daily education program for all grades. Physical activity can include a variety of regular instructional physical education, recess, classroom physical activities and extra-curricular activities after school.
  • All students will receive 60 minutes of physical activity per instructional day. This includes the regular PE class consisting of 45 minutes per period twice per week. On days when PE is not part of the class schedule, students will meet their required 60 minutes per day through the following activities: recess, classroom fitness break, school activity or other supplemental options.
  • All students will participate in physical education unless an acceptable medical excuse is provided.

    • Nutrition Goals for All Foods Available During the School Day

    The Indian Community School desires to provide nutrition integrity in its school environment and its activities. Nutrition integrity is a guaranteed level of performance that assures that foods served for school sponsored events and meals:

    A. Meet recommended dietary allowances and dietary guidelines;

  • All meals and snacks will meet the minimum USDA School Meal Nutrition Standards. The school will limit the amount of fat to 30% or less of total calories over the course of the school meal week, and saturated fat will be limited to 10% or less.

    • B.Meet federal and state standards/regulations;

  • ICS will offer all students free breakfast and lunch regardless of whether they qualify for free or reduced-price meals under the Federal Breakfast and Lunch School Meal Program.
  • All Food Service Staff will complete Food Sanitation and Food Preparation training twice per year.
  • Foods of negligible nutritional value, including soda, candy and fast food will not be permitted in the cafeteria and discouraged on school grounds. A list of healthy food choices will be sent home to inform parents of what foods are classified as healthy choices and will be encouraged at school.

    • C.Provide for the development of lifelong, healthy eating habits;

  • Students will be given a minimum of 30 minutes to eat lunch, therefore having adequate time to consume their meal.

    • Further, nutrition integrity is guaranteed through:

    D.School Meals:

    Teachers and staff will not schedule tutoring, clubs or organizational meetings or other activities during mealtimes, unless students may eat their meals during such activities. School meals will:

  • Be scheduled between 7:20 AM - 8:30 PM and 11:00 AM -1:00 PM during school day; Will be appealing and attractive to children;
  • Be served in clean and pleasant setting;
  • Offer a variety of fruit and vegetables;
  • Ensure that half of the served grains are whole grain;
  • Offer only low fat (2%) and fat-free milk, including low fat flavored milk;
  • Be posted on the School's website, informing parents, teachers and staff of monthly menus for both breakfast and lunch. This website will also be used to disseminate nutrition and physical education;
  • Students will be encouraged to try all food items offered at meals, unless existing medical conditions prohibit the consumption of these items.
  • Breakfast will, to the extent possible, be served as "grab and go" to encourage all student participation.
  • ICS will notify parents and students twice per year of the availability of the School Breakfast Program.
  • School will encourage parents to provide healthy meals for their children through newsletter articles, take home materials and school website.
  • Seconds will not be given during breakfast or lunch, with the exception of fruits and vegetables that are not breaded or used as a starch component of a meal.
  • Juice will be provided to those students who have a doctor’s note notifying the Food Service staff of an allergy or intolerance.
  • Water will be available to all students during meal times and during school hours. Students will be encouraged to drink plenty of water throughout the day.

    • E.Foods, Beverages and Fundraisers:

    To support children's health and school nutrition education efforts, school fundraisers will not involve food or will use only foods that meet the nutritional and portion size standards for foods and beverages sold individually.

  • The Food Service Department will give guidance on all food and beverages provided to student events outside of school hours. The "Suggested Snack List" and "Suggested Fundraiser Guide" are to be used as guidelines for fund raising events to support a healthy school environment. Foods and Beverages will meet the following nutrition and portion size standards:

    • Beverages:

    1. Allowed: water without caloric sweeteners, 100% fruit and vegetables juices. Flavored or unflavored low fat or fat-free milk.
    2. Not Allowed: Soft drinks containing caloric sweeteners, fruit base drinks that contain less than 100% fruit juice. Beverages that contain caffeine such as energy drinks ie:Rockstar, Monster etc, excluding low-fat or fat-free chocolate milk.
    Foods:
    1. A choice of at least one fruit and or vegetable will be offered for sale at any location on the school site where foods are sold. Such items could include, but are not limited to, a food whose main ingredient is fruit, fresh fruit and vegetables; 100% fruit or vegetable juice; and cooked, canned or dried fruits.
    2. Limit portion sizes of food sold individually such as cookies, ice cream, or bakery goods.
    3. Nuts and seeds are exempt from these standards because they are nutrient rich in protein, fiber and good fat.
    4. The Food Service Department will provide suggestions on all foods and beverages provided to all students during the school day. See above guidelines for standards.
    5. No Fundraisers will be permitted on school grounds that involve food before lunch is served to all students.

    F.Teacher-To-Student Incentive:

  • The use of non-food items as part of incentive programs is strongly encouraged. Should teachers feel compelled to utilize food items as an incentive, they are encouraged to adhere to the "Suggested Snack List." Under no circumstances will food be withheld as a form of punishment or consequence for inappropriate behaviors.
  • ICS will celebrate birthdays each month during a specified time and day. Other celebrations and parties must be approved by the school administrator. Parents are highly encouraged to adhere to this policy and are to use the "Suggested Snack List" as a guideline, if they contribute to the celebrations.

    • G. Parent Nutrition Education:

  • Nutrition education will be provided to parents at all school levels.
  • Nutrition education may be provided in the form of handouts, posting on the Food Service website, or presentations during meetings, workshops and events that focus on nutritional value and healthy lifestyles.

    • H.Qualifications of School Food Service Staff:

  • Qualified nutrition professionals will administer the school meal programs. As part of ICS’s responsibility to operate a food service program, the school will provide continuing professional development for all school food service personnel. Staff development programs will include appropriate certification and/or training programs for the Food Service Manager and food service employees.

    • As teachers, we are mentors of our children for all time.
    We labor to stand against anger, sadness, criticism and defeat.
    Our hearts shall be full of peace and our minds filled with urgency for the welfare of our children.
    With endless patience, we embrace our duty.
    Our firmness shall be tempered with tenderness.
    Our words and actions shall be marked by calm deliberation.

    5/5/2009