The Kindergarten through third grade students will have a weekly class that will be part of their physical education training. It will consist of guest speakers and discussions about what healthy food is and how food helps the body grow.
The third through sixth grade students will meet once a week as well but they will also be taught how to plan a menu for one meal and instructed on what they can choose for that meal to help make it a healthy choice.
By middle school the students will have much more freedom about what they choose to eat each day as the cafeterias at this level generally offer more choices. In addition the students have vending machines in their schools. The class policy at this age will be to help students make good choices even when allowed the freedom to make poor choices.
The course will be an overall class about nutrition in which students will be asked to keep a food diary.
In high school, the policy will be for students to meet for a semester in ninth grade for a full class credit. In that class they will study diabetes and other obesity related issues to underscore the importance of maintaining a healthy diet.
A recent study with data collected revealed that school principals perceive their leadership role in regards to the promotion of nutritional health among students primarily as that of an overseer from a management perspective because there is "no clearly defined role." Only through curriculum and instruction do they become involved. One of the key points in the effective school leadership literature is that principals have vision for their school, passion for leadership, and actively participate in decisions that affect the success of their students (Shahid, 2003)."
This is an indicator that the time has come for a policy with regard to food choices and school nutrition.
The next step in the school nutritional policy for California schools will be with regard to the education of principals.
Research shows that most principals do not have any formal training in the promotion of nutritional health among their students.
The new policy will require that by 2009 every principal in the state will be provided some training in the promotion of nutrition and health for their grade level.
The training will be not only in nutrition but will also be in how to promote good nutrition and health in the classroom.
The policy mandate will be that principals take a minimum one day course that can be signed up for at...
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