School Wellness Conference - a Day Full of Energy and Inspiration!

The Iowa Department of Education's School Wellness Conference was held on Thursday, March 28th! The day included presentations from schools from across the state of Iowa highlighting the awesome work they do each day to make Healthy Choices Count! Presentations included the following schools: West Des Moines CSD, Clear Creek Amana CSD, Ankeny CSD, Waterloo CSD, Southeast Polk CSD, Saydel CSD, Knoxville CSD, and Earlham CSD. Check out the agenda, presentation decks, and the Iowa Dept of Education Headline Article to learn more about the day!

Happy Retirement, Ann Feilmann!   Ann Feilmann, Iowa Dept of Education's Bureau Chief of Nutrition & Health Services retired in March. We greatly appreciate her work in child nutrition in the state of Iowa and beyond! We will miss her leadership and passion for child nutrition. We wish her the very best! Kala Shipley will join the Bureau of Nutrition and Health Services as Chief starting April 19. Kala is a registered dietitian who has worked for many years at the Iowa Dept of Public Health and has a broad experience in state government and nutrition.

Madrid CSD - Healthy Choices Count Sub-Grants

Madrid High School attended the Healthy Choices Count Summit last fall and received a $500 sub-grant to support their school wellness environment. With the funds they purchased an in-classroom greenhouse, UV grow lights, gardening supplies, and a 10-gallon insulated beverage dispenser. The supplies will be used to support their wellness goal of reducing sugary drinks and increasing water consumption through infused water availability. The concepts from the project have been incorporated into their Foods and Nutrition 2 and Environmental Science courses. For more information, contact Sadie Vorbrich (Family and Consumer Science Teacher): svorbrich@madrid.k12.ia.us.   A summary of the 10 schools that received sub-grant funds visit the Healthiest State Initiative.

State Board of Education Adopts New Physical Education and Health Standards for Iowa Schools

The Physical Education and Health Standards Review Team, comprised of Iowa health and physical education teachers, administrators, teacher leaders and community organizations, recommended that Iowa’s standards come from the Society of Health and Physical Educators (SHAPE) America standards and the National Health Education Standards. In addition to input from team members, public input was sought through a series of public forums and an online survey. For more information, visit the Physical Education & Health Standards Review Team's webpage.

5-A-Day Fruit & Veggie Band and 5-2-1-0 Brochures

Looking for a low-cost idea for an upcoming health fair or family night? Make 5-A-Day band packs! The packs include 5 bands for each of the 5 fruits and vegetables we should be eating each day. Start with all bands on one wrist and move them to the other wrist each time you eat a fruit or vegetable. Interested in the instruction page file that can be reprinted? Email carrie.scheidel@iowa.gov. In addition, the Iowa Dept of Public Health has new 5-2-1-0 brochures printed that you can order for free at the Iowa Healthiest State Initiative to share with your families! #healthychoicescount

School Wellness Policy Requirements Webinar

A local school wellness policy is a requirement within the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act that guides a local educational agency’s (LEA) efforts to establish a healthy school environment.

School Wellness Policies must be assessed at least once every three years to determine:

• Compliance with the wellness policy at each building level; 
• How the wellness policy compares to model wellness policies;
• Progress made in attaining the goals of the wellness policy.

The following must be made available to the public:

• The wellness policy, including any updates, on an annual basis;
• The Triennial Assessment, including progress toward meeting the goals of the policy; and
• Invitation to participate in School Wellness Policy Committee.

This webinar will provide an overview of the School Wellness Policy assessment and public notification requirements, examples of how Iowa schools are meeting these requirements, and how registering your school as a 5-2-1-0 site can support your school wellness policy. The webinar will be recorded and a link to the recording will be sent to all those that are registered. Register today!

Iowa Farm to School Conference June 21-22 at Central College in Pella. This two-day event is for schools and early care centers who are interested in or have already implemented a farm to school program. Learn more and register at ISU Extension and Outreach.

Agriculture Calendar Contest Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig encourages students from across Iowa to enter into the annual agriculture calendar contest. Artwork will be selected based on creativity and the ability to connect agriculture products from the farm to everyday life. Entries are reviewed by a panel of judges and 12 winners will be featured in the Choose Iowa calendar that will be distributed at the Iowa State Fair. Pictures should be drawn in a horizontal orientation using only black lines on plain white, 8 ½ by 11-inch paper. The pictures should not be colored in. Submit to: communications@iowaagriculture.gov. Deadline: June 1st

Healthy Happenings in the News!

• Newman Catholic Students Walk Their Way into Study
• Cedar Rapids Schools Bringing Local Food to School Lunches
• A Week to Celebrate 15,000 Breakfasts Each Day at Des Moines Public Schools
• Breakfast Program Offers Better Start to the Day (Ottumwa CSD)
• School Breakfast Week Reminds Students of Importance of Fueling Up (Waukee CSD)

USDA Nondiscrimination Statement

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, and at any USDA office, or write a letter ad- dressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the com- plaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:

1. Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture
   Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
   1400 Independence Ave SW
   Washington, D.C. 20250-9410
2. Fax: (202) 690-7442
3. Email: program.intake@usda.gov

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

Iowa Nondiscrimination Statement

It is the policy of this CNP provider not to discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or religion in its programs, activities, or employment practices as required by the Iowa Code section 216.6, 216.7, and 216.9. If you have questions or grievances related to compliance with this policy by this CNP Provider, please contact the Iowa Civil Rights Commission, Grimes State Office Building, 400 E 14th St, Des Moines, IA 50319-1004; phone numbers 515-281-4121 or 800-457-4416; website: https://icrc.iowa.gov/.