Child Nutrition
Our mission is to provide quality nutritional meals that support the foundation for our students to perform physically and excel academically.
Great news for our parents and students! All enrolled students of Cleveland School District are eligible to receive a healthy breakfast and lunch at school at no charge to your household each day of the 2023-2024 school year. No further action is required of you. Your child(ren) will be able to participate in these meal programs without having to pay a fee or submit an application.
Cleveland School District participates in the School Breakfast Program. Your child is eligible for a FREE and healthy school breakfast each day of the 2023-2024 school year.
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Shenika Newson |
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Child Nutrition Director | |
Snewson@cleveland.k12.ms.us | |
(662)843-9041 |
Nutrition News
- Prepayment Options
- Public Release
- Forms-Food Alergy-Substitutions
- Community Eligibility Provision
- Unpaid Meals Charge Policy
- Wellness Policy
- Non-Discrimination Statement
- Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Nutrition Facts Sheets
- School Wellness Plans
- Meet Our Staff
- Summer School Feeding Program-2024
Prepayment Options
You may send cash or a check to your child(ren)'s school cafeteria. We have computerized point-of-sale machines that keep track of all money and meals or snacks served.
If you would like to pay online and be able to track your student's account, you may go to MySchoolBucks. You will need to register for an account. If you have any questions about getting started, please call 1-855-832-5226.
If you need assistance with prepaying, please call (662)843-9041.
Public Release
Child Nutrition Public Release
The CLEVELAND SCHOOL DISTRICT is participating in the USDA’s National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program for the duration of the 2023-2024 school year.
Nutrition is a cornerstone of learning and the CLEVELAND SCHOOL DISTRICT is proud to participate in these programs to ensure the nutritional needs of every child are fulfilled, enabling our students to attain their greatest potential.
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:
- mail:
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or - fax:
(833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or - email:
Program.Intake@usda.gov
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
Forms-Food Alergy-Substitutions
Forms- Food Allergy - Substitutions
Food Allergies and Substitutions- Eating and Feeding Evaluation
Child Nutrition will only make substitutions in the daily menu for students who have a documented medical need such as food allergies, swallowing difficulties, or Diabetes Mellitus I and II. A written medical statement must be provided by a licensed physician in order for any student to receive modified meals. The medical statement must be updated and provided to the Child Nutrition Director and nurses at the beginning of each school year.
Religious Statement for Food Substitutions
Community Eligibility Provision
Free Meals for All Students
We are pleased to inform you that all Cleveland School District schools will be implementing an option available to schools participating in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs called the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) for School Year 2023-2024.
What does this mean for you and your children attending the school(s) identified above?
Great news for you and your students! All enrolled students of Cleveland School District are eligible to receive a healthy breakfast and lunch at school at no charge to your household each day of the 2023-2024 school year. No further action is required of you. Your child(ren) will be able to participate in these meal programs without having to pay a fee or submit an application.
Unpaid Meals Charge Policy
Policy Code - EEAC
Policy name - Student Charged Meals
CLEVELAND SCHOOL DISTRICT
MEAL CHARGE POLICY
- Purpose
The goal of Cleveland School District is to provide students with healthy and nutritious meals each day.
However, unpaid charges place a large financial burden on our Food Services Department. The purpose of this policy is to insure compliance with federal reporting requirements for the USDA Child Nutrition Program, and to provide oversight and accountability for the collection of outstanding student meal balances. The intent of this policy is to establish uniform meal account procedures throughout the Cleveland School District. The provisions of this policy pertain to regular priced school breakfast and lunch meals only. While the USDA Child Nutrition Program does not require that a student who pays for regular priced meals be served a meal without payment, Cleveland School District provides this policy as a courtesy to those students in the event that they forget or lose their lunch money.
- Policy
Full Pay Students
Full pay status students will pay for meals at the district’s published standard rate each day. A student will be allowed to charge a maximum of ten (10) meals to their account after the balance reaches zero. Once a student has charged those ten meals, he/she will not be allowed to charge a la carte items, however he/she will be offered a designated menu alternate. Example: Soybutter and jelly sandwich, veggie sticks, fruit and milk. This designated menu alternate will be charged to the child’s meal account at the standard rate.
Free Meal Benefit
Free status students will be allowed to receive a free breakfast and lunch each day. A la carte purchases must be paid in cash or paid in advance via www.myschoolbucks.com.
Reduced Meal Benefit
Reduced status students will be allowed to receive a breakfast for $.30 and lunch for $.40 each day. A student will be allowed to charge a maximum of ten (10) meals to their account after the balance reaches zero. Once a student has charged those ten meals, he/she will not be allowed to charge a la carte items, however he/she will be offered a designated menu alternate. Example: Soybutter and jelly sandwich, veggie sticks, fruit and milk. This designated menu alternate will be charged to the child’s meal account at the reduced rate.
Parents/Guardians are responsible for meal payment to the food service program. Notices of low or deficit balances will be sent to parents/guardians at regular intervals during the school year. If the account remains deficit, there will be attempts to contact parents/guardians via the telephone.
All school cafeterias possess computerized point of sale/cash register systems that maintain records of all monies deposited and spent for each student and said records are available by setting up an account at www.myschoolbucks.com or by speaking with the cafeteria manager.
Students/Parents/Guardians may pay for meals in advance via www.myschoolbucks.com or with a check payable to Cleveland Child Nutrition. Further details are available on our webpage at www.cleveland.k12.ms.us. Funds should be maintained in accounts to minimize the possibility that a child may be without meal money on any given day. Any remaining funds for a particular student will be carried over to the next school year.
Refunds for withdrawn, and graduating students; a written request for a refund of any money remaining in their account must be submitted. An e-mail request is also acceptable. Students who are graduating at the end of the year will be given the option to transfer to a sibling’s account with a written request.
Unclaimed Funds must be requested within one school year. Unclaimed funds will then become the property of the Cleveland School Food Service Program.
Balances Owed
Parents/guardians will be contacted via mail and telephone in attempts to resolve owed balances.
If a student is without meal money on a consistent basis, the administration will investigate the situation more closely and take further action as needed. If financial hardship exists, parents and families are encouraged to apply for free or reduced priced meals for their child(ren) by going to www.cleveland.k12.ms.us and clicking the link for “lunch application.”
2 CFR Part 200, Subpart E (Section 200.426) lists bad debts as a non-allowable expenditure of Federal Funds. Therefore, losses from meals charged cannot be paid with Child Nutrition Funds.
Wellness Policy
Section: | J Students |
Policy Code: | JG School Wellness Policy |
Policy: SCHOOL WELLNESS POLICY |
Preamble
Cleveland School District (hereto referred to as the District) is committed to the optimal development of every student. The District believes that for students to have the opportunity to achieve personal, academic, developmental and social success, we need to create positive, safe and health-promoting learning environments at every level, in every setting, throughout the school year.
Research shows that two components, good nutrition and physical activity before, during and after the school day, are strongly correlated with positive student outcomes. For example, student participation in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) School Breakfast Program is associated with higher grades and standardized test scores, lower absenteeism and better performance on cognitive tasks.[1],[2],[3],[4],[5],[6],[7] Conversely, less-than-adequate consumption of specific foods including fruits, vegetables and dairy products, is associated with lower grades among students.[8],[9],[10] In addition, students who are physically active through active transport to and from school, recess, physical activity breaks, high-quality physical education and extracurricular activities – do better academically.[11],[12],[13],[14]. Finally, there is evidence that adequate hydration is associated with better cognitive performance. 15,16,17
This policy outlines the District’s approach to ensuring environments and opportunities for all students to practice healthy eating and physical activity behaviors throughout the school day while minimizing commercial distractions. Specifically, this policy establishes goals and procedures to ensure that:
- Students in the District have access to healthy foods throughout the school day ? both through reimbursable school meals and other foods available throughout the school campus? in accordance with Federal and state nutrition standards;
- Students receive quality nutrition education that helps them develop lifelong healthy eating behaviors;
- Students have opportunities to be physically active before, during and after school;
- Schools engage in nutrition and physical activity promotion and other activities that promote student wellness;
- School staff are encouraged and supported to practice healthy nutrition and physical activity behaviors in and out of school;
- The community is engaged in supporting the work of the District in creating continuity between school and other settings for students and staff to practice lifelong healthy habits; and
- The District establishes and maintains an infrastructure for management, oversight, implementation, communication about and monitoring of the policy and its established goals and objectives.
This policy applies to all students, staff and schools in the District. Specific measureable goals and outcomes are identified within each section below.
- The District will coordinate the wellness policy with other aspects of school management, including the District’s School Improvement Plan, when appropriate.
I. School Wellness Committee
Committee Role and Membership
The District will convene a representative district wellness committee (hereto referred to as the DWC or work within an existing school health committee) that meets at least four times per year to establish goals for and oversee school health and safety policies and programs, including development, implementation and periodic review and update of this district-level wellness policy (heretofore referred as “wellness policy”).
The DWC membership will represent all school levels (elementary and secondary schools) and include (to the extent possible), but not be limited to: parents and caregivers; students; representatives of the school nutrition program (e.g., school nutrition director); physical education teachers; health education teachers; school health professionals (e.g., health education teachers, school health services staff [e.g., nurses, physicians, dentists, health educators, and other allied health personnel who provide school health services], and mental health and social services staff [e.g., school counselors, psychologists, social workers, or psychiatrists]; school administrators (e.g.., superintendent, principal, vice principal), school board members; health professionals (e.g., dietitians, doctors, nurses, dentists); and the general public. When possible, membership will also include Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education coordinators (SNAP-EDEDSNAP-Ed). To the extent possible, the DWC will include representatives from each school building and reflect the diversity of the community.
- Each school within the District will establish an ongoing School Wellness Committee (SWC) that convenes to review school-level issues, in coordination with the DWC
Leadership
The Superintendent or designee(s) will convene the DWC and facilitate development of and updates to the wellness policy, and will ensure each school’s compliance with the policy.
The designated officials for oversight are the Assistant Superintendent of Support Services, Child Nutrition Director, and School Nurses.
The names, titles, and contact information of these individuals will be updated as needed and kept on file.
Each school will designate a school wellness policy coordinator, who will ensure compliance with the policy.
II. Wellness Policy Implementation, Monitoring, Accountability and Community Engagement
Implementation Plan
The District will develop and maintain a plan for implementation to manage and coordinate the execution of this wellness policy. The plan delineates roles, responsibilities, actions and timelines specific to each school; and includes information about who will be responsible to make what change, by how much, where and when; as well as specific goals and objectives for nutrition standards for all foods and beverages available on the school campus, food and beverage marketing, nutrition promotion and education, physical activity, physical education and other school-based activities that promote student wellness. It is recommended that the school use the Healthy Schools Program online tools to complete a school-level assessment based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s School Health Index, create an action plan that fosters implementation and generate an annual progress report.
This wellness policy can be found at: www.cleveland.k12.ms.us
Recordkeeping
The District will retain records to document compliance with the requirements of the wellness policy at the Child Nutrition office. Documentation maintained in this location will include but will not be limited to:
- The written wellness policy;
- Documentation demonstrating that the policy has been made available to the public;
- Documentation of efforts to review and update the Local Schools Wellness Policy; including an indication of who is involved in the update and methods the district uses to make stakeholders aware of their ability to participate on the DWC;
- Documentation to demonstrate compliance with the annual public notification requirements;
- The most recent assessment on the implementation of the local school wellness policy;
- Documentation demonstrating the most recent assessment on the implementation of the Local School Wellness Policy has been made available to the public.
Annual Notification of Policy
The District will actively inform families and the public each year of basic information about this policy, including its content, any updates to the policy and implementation status. The District will make this information available via the district website and/or district-wide communications. The District will provide as much information as possible about the school nutrition environment. This will include a summary of the District’s events or activities related to wellness policy implementation. Annually, the District will also publicize the name and contact information of the District/school officials leading and coordinating the committee, as well as information on how the public can get involved with the school wellness committee.
Triennial Progress Assessments
At least once every three years, the District will evaluate compliance with the wellness policy to assess the implementation of the policy and include:
- The extent to which schools under the jurisdiction of the District are in compliance with the wellness policy;
- The extent to which the District’s wellness policy compares to the Alliance for a Healthier Generation’s model wellness policy; and
- A description of the progress made in attaining the goals of the District’s wellness policy.
The DWC, in collaboration with individual schools, will monitor schools’ compliance with this wellness policy.
The Districtwill actively notify households/families of the availability of the triennial progress report via the District’s website, www.cleveland.k12.ms.us.
Revisions and Updating the Policy
The DWC will update or modify the wellness policy based on the results of the annual School Health Index and triennial assessments and/or as District priorities change; community needs change; wellness goals are met; new health science, information, and technology emerges; and new Federal or state guidance or standards are issued. The wellness policy will be assessed and updated as indicated at least every three years, following the triennial assessment.
Community Involvement, Outreach and Communications
The District is committed to being responsive to community input, which begins with awareness of the wellness policy. The District will actively communicate ways in which representatives of DWC and others can participate in the development, implementation and periodic review and update of the wellness policy through a variety of means appropriate for that district. The District will also inform parents of the improvements that have been made to school meals and compliance with school meal standards, availability of child nutrition programs and how to apply, and a description of and compliance with Smart Snacks in School nutrition standards. The District will use electronic mechanisms, such as email or displaying notices on the district’s website, as well as non-electronic mechanisms, such as newsletters, presentations to parents, or sending information home to parents, to ensure that all families are actively notified of the content of, implementation of, and updates to the wellness policy, as well as how to get involved and support the policy. The District will ensure that communications are culturally and linguistically appropriate to the community, and accomplished through means similar to other ways that the district and individual schools are communicating important school information with parents.
The District will actively notify the public about the content of or any updates to the wellness policy annually, at a minimum. The District will also use these mechanisms to inform the community about the availability of the annual and triennial reports.
III. Nutrition
School Meals
Our school district is committed to serving healthy meals to children, with plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fat-free and low-fat milk; that are moderate in sodium, low in saturated fat, and have zero grams trans fat per serving (nutrition label or manufacturer’s specification); and to meeting the nutrition needs of school children within their calorie requirements. The school meal programs aim to improve the diet and health of school children, help mitigate childhood obesity, model healthy eating to support the development of lifelong healthy eating patterns and support healthy choices while accommodating cultural food preferences and special dietary needs.
All schools within the District participate in USDA child nutrition programs, including the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), the School Breakfast Program (SBP), and After School Snack Program, Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Program (FFVP), and Summer Food Service Program (SFSP).All schools within the District are committed to offering school meals through the NSLP and SBP programs, and other applicable Federal child nutrition programs, that:
- Are accessible to all students;
- Are appealing and attractive to children;
- Are served in clean and pleasant settings;
- Meet or exceed current nutrition requirements established by local, state, and Federal statutes and regulations. (The District offers reimbursable school meals that meet USDA nutrition standards.)
- Promote healthy food and beverage choices using some of the following Smarter Lunchroom techniques:
− Whole fruit options are displayed in attractive bowls or baskets (instead of chaffing dishes or hotel pans).
− Sliced or cut fruit is available daily.
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Daily fruit options are displayed in a location in the line of sight and reach of students.
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All staff members, especially those serving, have been trained to politely prompt students to select and consume the daily vegetable options with their meal.
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White milk is placed in front of other beverages in all coolers.
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Alternative entrée options (e.g., salad bar, yogurt parfaits, etc.) are highlighted on posters or signs within all service and dining areas.
− Student surveys and taste testing opportunities are used to inform menu development, dining space decor and promotional ideas.
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Student artwork is displayed in the service and/or dining areas.
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Daily announcements are used to promote and market menu options.
- Menus will be posted on the District website or individual school websites. Nutrient content and ingredients can be requested by contacting the Child Nutrition department.
- Menus will be created/reviewed by a nutrition professional.
- School meals are administered by a team of child nutrition professionals.
- The District child nutrition program will accommodate students with special dietary needs.
- Students will be allowed at least 10 minutes to eat breakfast and at least 20 minutes to eat lunch, counting from the time they have received their meal and are seated.
- Students are served lunch at a reasonable and appropriate time of day.
- Participation in Federal child nutrition programs will be promoted among students and families to help ensure that families know what programs are available in their children’s school.
Staff Qualifications and Professional Development
All school nutrition program directors, managers and staff will meet or exceed hiring and annual continuing education/training requirements in the USDA professional standards for child nutrition professionals. These school nutrition personnel will refer to USDA’s Professional Standards for School Nutrition Standards website to search for training that meets their learning needs.
Water
To promote hydration, free, safe, unflavored drinking water will be available to all students throughout the school day. The District will make drinking water available where school meals are served during mealtimes via fountains and/or beverage dispensers.
Competitive Foods and Beverages
The District is committed to ensuring that all foods and beverages available to students on the school campus during the school day support healthy eating. The foods and beverages sold and served outside of the school meal programs (e.g., “competitive” foods and beverages) will meet the USDA Smart Snacks in School nutrition standards, at a minimum. Smart Snacks aim to improve student health and well-being, increase consumption of healthful foods during the school day and create an environment that reinforces the development of healthy eating habits. A summary of the standards and information, as well as a Guide to Smart Snacks in Schools are available at http://www.fns.usda.gov/healthierschoolday/tools-schools-smart-snacks. The Alliance for a Healthier Generation provides a set of tools to assist with implementation of Smart Snacks available at www.foodplanner.healthiergeneration.org.
To support healthy food choices and improve student health and well-being, all foods and beverages outside the reimbursable school meal programs that are sold to students on the school campus during the school day* will meet or exceed the nutrition standards These standards will apply in all locations and through all services where foods and beverages are sold, which may include, but are not limited to, à la carte options in cafeterias, vending machines, school stores and snack or food carts.
Celebrations and Rewards
All foods offered on the school campus will meet or exceed the USDA Smart Snacks in School nutrition standards, including through:
- Celebrations and parties. The district will provide a list of healthy party ideas to parents and teachers, including non-food celebration ideas. Healthy party ideas are available from the Alliance for a Healthier Generation and from the USDA.
- Classroom snacks brought by parents. The District will provide to parents a list of foods and beverages that meet Smart Snacks nutrition standards.
- Rewards and incentives. The District will provide teachers and other relevant school staff a list of alternative ways to reward children. Foods and beverages will not be used as a reward, or withheld as punishment for any reason, such as for performance or behavior.
Fundraising
Foods and beverages that meet or exceed the USDA Smart Snacks in Schools nutrition standards may be sold through fundraisers on the school campus* during the school day*. The District will make available to parents and teachers a list of healthy fundraising ideas.
- Schools will use non-food fundraisers at least 25% of the time, and encourage those promoting physical activity (such as walk-a-thons, Jump Rope for Heart, fun runs, etc.).
- Fundraising during school hours will sell only non-food items or foods and beverages that meet or exceed the Smart Snacks nutrition standards. These fundraisers may include but are not limited to, donation nights at restaurants, cookie dough, candy and pizza sales, market days, etc.
Nutrition Promotion
Nutrition promotion and education positively influence lifelong eating behaviors by using evidence-based techniques and nutrition messages, and by creating food environments that encourage healthy nutrition choices and encourage participation in school meal programs. Students and staff will receive consistent nutrition messages throughout schools, classrooms, gymnasiums, and cafeterias. Nutrition promotion also includes marketing and advertising nutritious foods and beverages to students and is most effective when implemented consistently through a comprehensive and multi-channel approach by school staff, teachers, parents, students and the community.
The District will promote healthy food and beverage choices for all students throughout the school campus, as well as encourage participation in school meal programs.
Nutrition Education
The District will teach, model, encourage and support healthy eating by all students. Schools will provide nutrition education and engage in nutrition promotion that:
- Is designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to promote and protect their health;
- Is part of not only health education classes, but also integrated into other classroom instruction through subjects such as math, science, language arts, social sciences and elective subjects;
- Includes enjoyable, developmentally-appropriate, culturally-relevant and participatory activities, such as cooking demonstrations or lessons, promotions, taste-testing, farm visits and school gardens;
- Promotes fruits, vegetables, whole-grain products, low-fat and fat-free dairy products and healthy food preparation methods;
- Emphasizes caloric balance between food intake and energy expenditure (promotes physical activity/exercise);
- Links with school meal programs, cafeteria nutrition promotion activities, school gardens, Farm to School programs, other school foods and nutrition-related community services;
- Teaches media literacy with an emphasis on food and beverage marketing; and
- Includes nutrition education training for teachers and other staff.
Essential Healthy Eating Topics in Health Education
The District will include in the health education curriculum a minimum of 12 of the following essential topics on healthy eating:
- Relationship between healthy eating and personal health and disease prevention
- Food guidance from MyPlate
- Reading and using FDA's nutrition fact labels
- Eating a variety of foods every day
- Balancing food intake and physical activity
- Eating more fruits, vegetables and whole grain products
- Choosing foods that are low in fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol and do not contain trans fat
- Choosing foods and beverages with little added sugars
- Eating more calcium-rich foods
- Preparing healthy meals and snacks
- Risks of unhealthy weight control practices
- Accepting body size differences
- Food safety
- Importance of water consumption
- Importance of eating breakfast
- Making healthy choices when eating at restaurants
- Eating disorders
- The Dietary Guidelines for Americans
- Reducing sodium intake
- Social influences on healthy eating, including media, family, peers and culture
- How to find valid information or services related to nutrition and dietary behavior
- How to develop a plan and track progress toward achieving a personal goal to eat healthfully
- Resisting peer pressure related to unhealthy dietary behavior
- Influencing, supporting, or advocating for others’ healthy dietary behavior
Food and Beverage Marketing in Schools
The District is committed to providing a school environment that ensures opportunities for all students to practice healthy eating and physical activity behaviors throughout the school day while minimizing commercial distractions. The District strives to teach students how to make informed choices about nutrition, health and physical activity. These efforts will be weakened if students are subjected to advertising on District property that contains messages inconsistent with the health information the District is imparting through nutrition education and health promotion efforts. It is the intent of the District to protect and promote student’s health by permitting advertising and marketing for only those foods and beverages that are permitted to be sold on the school campus, consistent with the District’s wellness policy.
Any foods and beverages marketed or promoted to students on the school campus* during the school day* will meet or exceed the USDA Smart Snacks in School nutrition standards such that only those foods that comply with or exceed those nutrition standards are permitted to be marketed or promoted to students.
Food and beverage marketing is defined as advertising and other promotions in schools. Food and beverage marketing often includes an oral, written, or graphic statements made for the purpose of promoting the sale of a food or beverage product made by the producer, manufacturer, seller or any other entity with a commercial interest in the product.[15] This term includes, but is not limited to the following:
- Brand names, trademarks, logos or tags, except when placed on a physically present food or beverage product or its container.
- Displays, such as on vending machine exteriors
- Corporate brand, logo, name or trademark on school equipment, such as marquees, message boards, scoreboards or backboards (Note: immediate replacement of these items are not required; however, districts will replace or update scoreboards or other durable equipment when existing contracts are up for renewal or to the extent that is in financially possible over time so that items are in compliance with the marketing policy.)
- Corporate brand, logo, name or trademark on cups used for beverage dispensing, menu boards, coolers, trash cans and other food service equipment; as well as on posters, book covers, pupil assignment books or school supplies displayed, distributed, offered or sold by the District.
- Advertisements in school publications or school mailings.
- Free product samples, taste tests or coupons of a product, or free samples displaying advertising of a product.
As the District/school nutrition services/Athletics Department/PTA/PTO reviews existing contracts and considers new contracts, equipment and product purchasing (and replacement) decisions should reflect the applicable marketing guidelines established by the District wellness policy.
IV. Physical Activity
Children and adolescents should participate in at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day. A substantial percentage of students’ physical activity can be provided through a comprehensive school physical activity program (CSPAP). A CSPAP reflects strong coordination and synergy across all of the components: quality physical education as the foundation; physical activity before, during and after school; staff involvement and family and community engagement and the district is committed to providing these opportunities. Schools will ensure that these varied physical activity opportunities are in addition to, and not as a substitute for, physical education (addressed in “Physical Education” subsection). All schools in the district will be encouraged to participate in Let’s Move! Active Schools (www.letsmoveschools.org) in order to successfully address all CSPAP areas.
Physical activity during the school day (including but not limited to recess, classroom physical activity breaks or physical education) will not be withheld as punishment for any reason. “This does not include participation on sports teams that have specific academic requirement. The district will provide teachers and other school staff with a list of ideas for alternative ways to discipline students.
To the extent practicable, the District will ensure that its grounds and facilities are safe and that equipment is available to students to be active. The District will conduct necessary inspections and repairs.
Physical Education
The District will provide students with physical education, using an age-appropriate, sequential physical education curriculum consistent with national and state standards for physical education. The physical education curriculum will promote the benefits of a physically active lifestyle and will help students develop skills to engage in lifelong healthy habits, as well as incorporate essential health education concepts (discussed in the “Essential Physical Activity Topics in Health Education” subsection). The curriculum will support the essential components of physical education.
All students will be provided equal opportunity to participate in physical education classes. The District will make appropriate accommodations to allow for equitable participation for all students and will adapt physical education classes and equipment as necessary.
All District elementary students in each grade will receive physical education for at least 60-89 minutes per week throughout the school year.
All District secondary students (middle and high school) are required to take the equivalent of one academic year of physical education.
The District physical education program will promote student physical fitness through individualized fitness and activity assessments (via the Presidential Youth Fitness Program or other appropriate assessment tool) and will use criterion-based reporting for each student.
Essential Physical Activity Topics in Health Education
Health education will be required in all grades (elementary) and the district will require middle and high school students to take and pass at least one health education course. The District will include in the health education curriculum a minimum of 12 the following essential topics on physical activity:
- The physical, psychological, or social benefits of physical activity
- How physical activity can contribute to a healthy weight
- How physical activity can contribute to the academic learning process
- How an inactive lifestyle contributes to chronic disease
- Health-related fitness, that is, cardiovascular endurance, muscular endurance, muscular strength, flexibility, and body composition
- Differences between physical activity, exercise and fitness
- Phases of an exercise session, that is, warm up, workout and cool down
- Overcoming barriers to physical activity
- Decreasing sedentary activities, such as TV watching
- Opportunities for physical activity in the community
- Preventing injury during physical activity
- Weather-related safety, for example, avoiding heat stroke, hypothermia and sunburn while being physically active
- How much physical activity is enough, that is, determining frequency, intensity, time and type of physical activity
- Developing an individualized physical activity and fitness plan
- Monitoring progress toward reaching goals in an individualized physical activity plan
- Dangers of using performance-enhancing drugs, such as steroids
- Social influences on physical activity, including media, family, peers and culture
- How to find valid information or services related to physical activity and fitness
- How to influence, support, or advocate for others to engage in physical activity
- How to resist peer pressure that discourages physical activity.
Recess (Elementary)
All elementary schools will offer at least 20 minutes of recess on all days during the school year This policy may be waived on early dismissal or late arrival days. If recess is offered before lunch, schools will have appropriate hand-washing facilities and/or hand-sanitizing mechanisms located just inside/outside the cafeteria to ensure proper hygiene prior to eating and students are required to use these mechanisms before eating. Hand-washing time, as well as time to put away coats/hats/gloves, will be built in to the recess transition period/timeframe before students enter the cafeteria.
Outdoor recess will be offered when weather is feasible for outdoor play.
In the event that the school or district must conduct indoor recess, teachers and staff will follow the indoor recess guidelines that promote physical activity for students, to the extent practicable.
Recess will complement, not substitute, physical education class. Recess monitors or teachers will encourage students to be active, and will serve as role models by being physically active alongside the students whenever feasible.
Classroom Physical Activity Breaks (Elementary and Secondary)
The District recognizes that students are more attentive and ready to learn if provided with periodic breaks when they can be physically active or stretch. Thus, students will be offered periodic opportunities to be active or to stretch throughout the day on all or most days during a typical school week. The District recommends teachers provide short (3-5-minute) physical activity breaks to students during and between classroom time at least three days per week. These physical activity breaks will complement, not substitute, for physical education class, recess, and class transition periods.
The District will provide resources and links to resources, tools, and technology with ideas for classroom physical activity breaks. Resources and ideas are available through USDA and the Alliance for a Healthier Generation.
Active Academics
Teachers will incorporate movement and kinesthetic learning approaches into “core” subject instruction when possible (e.g., science, math, language arts, social studies and others) and do their part to limit sedentary behavior during the school day.
The District will support classroom teachers incorporating physical activity and employing kinesthetic learning approaches into core subjects by providing annual professional development opportunities and resources, including information on leading activities, activity options, as well as making available background material on the connections between learning and movement.
Teachers will serve as role models by being physically active alongside the students whenever feasible.
Before and After School Activities
The District offers opportunities for students to participate in physical activity either before and/or after the school day (or both) through a variety of methods. The District will encourage students to be physically active before and after school.
Active Transport
The District will support active transport to and from school, such as walking or biking. The District will encourage this behavior by engaging in six or more of the activities below; including but not limited to:
- Promote activities such as participation in International Walk to School Week, National Walk and Bike to School Week
- Instruction on walking/bicycling safety provided to students
- Promote safe routes program to students, staff, and parents via newsletters, websites, local newspaper
- Use crossing guards
- Use crosswalks on streets leading to schools
- Document the number of children walking and or biking to and from school
V. Other Activities that Promote Student Wellness
The District will integrate wellness activities across the entire school setting, not just in the cafeteria, other food and beverage venues and physical activity facilities. The District will coordinate and integrate other initiatives related to physical activity, physical education, nutrition and other wellness components so all efforts are complementary, not duplicative, and work towards the same set of goals and objectives promoting student well-being, optimal development and strong educational outcomes.
Schools in the District are encouraged to coordinate content across curricular areas that promote student health, such as teaching nutrition concepts in mathematics, with consultation provided by either the school or the District’s curriculum experts.
All efforts related to obtaining federal, state or association recognition for efforts, or grants/funding opportunities for healthy school environments will be coordinated with and complementary of the wellness policy, including but not limited to ensuring the involvement of the DWC/SWC.
All school-sponsored events will adhere to the wellness policy guidelines. All school-sponsored wellness events will include physical activity and healthy eating opportunities when appropriate.
Community Partnerships
The District will develop relationships with community partners (e.g., hospitals, universities/colleges, local businesses, SNAP-Ed providers and coordinators, etc.) in support of this wellness policy’s implementation. Existing and new community partnerships and sponsorships will be evaluated to ensure that they are consistent with the wellness policy and its goals.
Community Health Promotion and Family Engagement
The District will promote to parents/caregivers, families, and the general community the benefits of and approaches for healthy eating and physical activity throughout the school year. Families will be informed and invited to participate in school-sponsored activities and will receive information about health promotion efforts.
As described in the “Community Involvement, Outreach, and Communications” subsection, the District will use electronic mechanisms (e.g., email or displaying notices on the district’s website), as well as non-electronic mechanisms, (e.g., newsletters, presentations to parents or sending information home to parents), to ensure that all families are actively notified of opportunities to participate in school-sponsored activities and receive information about health promotion efforts.
Staff Wellness and Health Promotion
The DWC will have a staff wellness subcommittee that focuses on staff wellness issues, identifies and disseminates wellness resources and performs other functions that support staff wellness in coordination with human resources staff.
Schools in the District will implement strategies to support staff in actively promoting and modeling healthy eating and physical activity behaviors. The District promotes staff member participation in health promotion programs and will support programs for staff members on healthy eating/weight management that are accessible and free or low-cost.
Professional Learning
When feasible, the District will offer annual professional learning opportunities and resources for staff to increase knowledge and skills about promoting healthy behaviors in the classroom and school (e.g., increasing the use of kinesthetic teaching approaches or incorporating nutrition lessons into math class). Professional learning will help District staff understand the connections between academics and health and the ways in which health and wellness are integrated into ongoing district reform or academic improvement plans/efforts.
Glossary:
School Campus - areas that are owned or leased by the school and used at any time for school-related activities, including on the outside of the school building, school buses or other vehicles used to transport students, athletic fields and stadiums (e.g., on scoreboards, coolers, cups, and water bottles), or parking lots.
School Day – the time between midnight the night before to 30 minutes after the end of the instructional day.
Triennial – recurring every three years.
[1] Bradley, B, Green, AC. Do Health and Education Agencies in the United States Share Responsibility for Academic Achievement and Health? A Review of 25 years of Evidence About the Relationship of Adolescents’ Academic Achievement and Health Behaviors, Journal of Adolescent Health. 2013; 52(5):523–532.
[2] Meyers AF, Sampson AE, Weitzman M, Rogers BL, Kayne H. School breakfast program and school performance. American Journal of Diseases of Children. 1989;143(10):1234–1239.
[3] Murphy JM. Breakfast and learning: an updated review. Current Nutrition & Food Science. 2007; 3:3–36.
[4] Murphy JM, Pagano ME, Nachmani J, Sperling P, Kane S, Kleinman RE. The relationship of school breakfast to psychosocial and academic functioning: Cross-sectional and longitudinal observations in an inner-city school sample. Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine. 1998;152(9):899–907.
[5] Pollitt E, Mathews R. Breakfast and cognition: an integrative summary. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 1998; 67(4), 804S–813S.
[6] Rampersaud GC, Pereira MA, Girard BL, Adams J, Metzl JD. Breakfast habits, nutritional status, body weight, and academic performance in children and adolescents. Journal of the American Dietetic Association. 2005;105(5):743–760, quiz 761–762.
[7] Taras, H. Nutrition and student performance at school. Journal of School Health. 2005;75(6):199–213.
[8] MacLellan D, Taylor J, Wood K. Food intake and academic performance among adolescents. Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice and Research. 2008;69(3):141–144.
[9] Neumark-Sztainer D, Story M, Dixon LB, Resnick MD, Blum RW. Correlates of inadequate consumption of dairy products among adolescents. Journal of Nutrition Education. 1997;29(1):12–20.
[10] Neumark-Sztainer D, Story M, Resnick MD, Blum RW. Correlates of inadequate fruit and vegetable consumption among adolescents. Preventive Medicine. 1996;25(5):497–505.
[11] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The association between school-based physical activity, including physical education, and academic performance. Atlanta, GA: US Department of Health and Human Services, 2010.
[12] Singh A, Uijtdewilligne L, Twisk J, van Mechelen W, Chinapaw M. Physical activity and performance at school: A systematic review of the literature including a methodological quality assessment. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med, 2012; 166(1):49-55.
Non-Discrimination Statement
Non-Discrimination Statement
If you think you may have been discriminated against. Please immediately contact Shenika Newson, Child Nutrition Director, at 662-843-9041 or at 500 N. Sharpe Avenue, Cleveland, MS 38732. Civil Rights Complaint Form
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:
- mail:
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or - fax:
(833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or - email:
Program.Intake@usda.gov
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Nutrition Facts Sheets
School Wellness Plans
Meet Our Staff
Meet Our Staff
Belinda Sampson, DM Smith Elementary
Child Nutrition Manager
Thelma Hudley, Bell Academy
Child Nutrition Manager
Mona Wilson, Cleveland Central Middle School
Child Nutrition Manager
Maxine More, Cleveland Central High School Lower Campus
Child Nutrition Manager
Sharon Watkins, Cleveland Central High School Upper Campus
Child Nutrition Manager
Eorma Rodgers, Hayes Cooper Center
Child Nutrition Manager
Mamie Toliver, Nailor Elementary
Child Nutrition Manager
Dianne Pearce, Parks Elementary
Child Nutrition Manager
Kathryn Hall, Pearman Elementary
Child Nutrition Manager
Deborah Henry-Matthews, Belinda Sampson, Keldrick Jones, Sara Mell
DM Smith Elementary Child Nutrition Staff
Tameshia Reed, Leona Fulton, Thelma Hudley, Dippel Brewer
Bell Academy Child Nutrition Staff
Mona Wilson, MaShawn Thomas, Fawn Revels, Joyce Jones, LaShondra Brown
Cleveland Central Middle School Child Nutrition Staff
Brenda Allison, LaKeisha Washington, Sharon Marhsall, Maxine Moore
Cleveland Central High School Lower Campus Child Nutrition Staff
Sharon Watkins, Fannie Young, Anita Jones
Cleveland Central High School Upper Campus Child Nutrition Staff
Emma Nix, Bessie O'Briant, Eorma Rodgers
Hayes Cooper Center Child Nutrition Staff
Abgelica Lee, Mamie Toliver, Ora Sanders, Christine Crump
Nailor Elementary Child Nutrition Staff
Lillian Dianne Pearce, Marketa Peterson, Audrey Marshall, Robin Parfait
Parks Elementary Child Nutrition Staff
Jerry Burton, Kathryn Hall, Angeline Perry, Sandra Daniels
Pearman Elementary Child Nutrition Staff
Summer School Feeding Program-2024
The Cleveland School District will be offering FREE breakfast and lunch through the Summer Food Service Program to anyone 18 years old and younger!
Meals will be provided at a first come, first serve basis at the sites and times as follows:
Nailor Elementary
June 5, 2023 - June 23, 2023 (Monday – Friday)
Breakfast 7:30 AM – 9:00 AM
Lunch 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Bell Academy
June 5, 2023 - June 29, 2023 (Monday – Thursday)
Breakfast 7:25 AM – 8:30 AM
Lunch 10:45 AM – 12:30 PM
Parks Elementary
June 1, 2023 - June 28, 2023 (Monday – Thursday)
Breakfast 7:30 AM – 8:30 AM
Lunch 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM
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.