Union Ridge Wellness Policy

The goals for addressing nutrition education and nutrition promotion include the following:

• Union Ridge School will support and promote sound nutrition for students.
• Union Ridge School will foster the positive relationship between sound nutrition, physical activity, and the capacity of students to develop and learn.
• Nutrition education will be part of the District’s comprehensive health education curriculum. See Board policy 6:60, Curriculum Content.

The goals for addressing physical activity include the following:

• Union Ridge School supports and promotes an active lifestyle for all.
• Physical education is taught in all grades and includes a developmentally planned and sequential curriculum that fosters the development of movement skills, enhances health-related fitness, increases students’ knowledge, offers direct opportunities to learn how to work cooperatively in a group setting, and encourages healthy habits and attitudes for a healthy lifestyle.
• Unless otherwise exempted, all students are required to engage daily during the school day in a physical education course.
• Physical Education curriculum is consistent within and incorporates Illinois Learning Standards for Physical Development and Health as established by the Illinois State Board of Education.

Union Ridge School offers and promotes nutritious food and beverage choices consistent with the current Dietary Guidelines for Americans and Food Guidance System published jointly by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.  In addition, to promote health and reduce childhood obesity, Union Ridge School shall establish administrative procedures to control food sales that compete with the District’s non-profit food service in compliance with the Child Nutrition Act. Food service rules prohibits the sale of foods of minimal nutritional value as defined by the U.S. Dept.of Agriculture in the food service areas, and complies with all applicable rules of the Illinois State Board of Education.

Reimbursable school meals served meet the nutrition requirements and regulations for the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program.

The school wellness committee provides periodic implementation data and reports to the District 86 Board of Education concerning this policy’s implementation sufficient to allow the Board to monitor and adjust the policy as necessary. 

Union Ridge School welcomes suggestions and comments concerning implementation, and improvement of the School Wellness Policy from parents, students, staff, and members of our school community. Suggestions or comments may be submitted via e-mail to the Union Ridge School Board of Education, boardofeducation@urs86.org or cmartin@urs86.org, or by contacting the District Office at 708-867-5822 ext.406.