School Wellness Advisory Committee (SWAC)

Annual Report to the Franklin School Committee

May 26, 2015

What is SWAC? • A standing committee appointed by the

Superintendent and has a requirement of representation from various groups

– School nurses, PE/Health staff, Teachers, Counselors, Administrators

– Parents/Community Members

– Students

– SC Representation

– Community Youth Serving Agencies

SWAC Membership 2014-15 Nancy Whitehouse, Nurse Leader

Chris Schmidt, FHS Assistant Principal

Paul Mahoney, Whitson’s Food Service Director

Kristen Cerce, Director of PE/Health; Michael Masto FHS PE/Health

Caroline Cafasso, Justin Bates; FHS Students

Corine Minkle, Oak Street Principal

Brian Wildeman, RMS Assistant Principal

Kyla Harrington, FHS Guidance Counselor

Frank Fitzgerald, RMS School Psychologist

Greg Lee, JFK School Psychologist

Pamela McIntyre, & Betsy Barry Community Member

Marykate Bergen, YMCA

Roberta Trahan, Franklin School Committee

Miriam Goodman, School Business Administrator

Sally Winslow, Assistant Superintendent of Schools

Role/Requirements

• Bring Local Wellness Policy (LWP) into compliance with federal & state requirements

• Meet at least four times per year

• Develop and implement annual improvement plan and SMART goals focusing on nutrition, physical activity and obesity based upon review of student health data and information about school programs and practices

• Annual report to Superintendent and School Committee regarding progress on the annual plan

It takes a village…

• LWP and SMART Goals Tied to DIP and SIP

• Engaged other individuals and groups in the work (e.g. psychologists, counselors, nurses, Health/PE teachers, related service providers)—multi-disciplinary approach

• Food Service, Health/PE, YMCA collaborated to write grants to support nutrition, physical activity and social-emotional well-being

SMART Goals 2014-15

Three Student-focused Goals:

• Mental Health—ID causes of stress and anxiety in school and develop coping strategies

• Physical Activity—goals at elementary, middle and HS level around increasing opportunities for physical activities for students

• Nutrition—Increase awareness of healthy eating habits and meal and snack choices

Mental Health Goal: Progress & Activities

• Psychologists, counselors, nurses, and administrators district-wide in working on this goal

• Developmental guidance model initiative—curricular/instructional approach to providing all children with instruction in social-emotional learning standards which are critical to academic achievement and college and career readiness

• Development of social-emotional learning curriculum—year two

Elementary Level • Zones of Regulation, Social Thinking

Curriculum, relaxation techniques • Self-regulation and coping strategies to stay in

class and reduce visits to nurse and counselors • Common vocabulary and strategies for

students and teachers • Students have demonstrated gains in following

transitions, self-advocacy and self-control • Slight decreases in nurses visits for somatic

symptoms (headaches, stomach, etc.)

Middle School Level

• Worked with 8th graders on HS preparation and college readiness, career exploration and social emotional learning

• All 8th graders completed a high school course plan

• Whole class instruction, advisory period & teacher consultation

• Teacher training & common language for students and staff

High School Level • Guidance Counselors have developed and

delivered 4 seminar classes to each grade, 9-12

• Adjustment Counselors each doing a section of “Therapeutic Academic Support” as well as some parent information & training

• Decrease in stress related to college application process and financial aid (student survey data)

• Decrease in nurse visits and unscheduled visits to the counseling office

Physical Activity Goal Progress and Activities

• BOKS programs at Oak, DT, JFK & Keller (new)

• Fit and Lit Exercise & Reading Program piloted in grade 3 at Oak—next year will be whole school in June!

• Recess mile running club offered at Oak with 20-30 students participating, 2x/week, spring/fall

• Walk to school day—Oak, Keller, Parmenter, DT

Physical Activity Goal continued…

• RMS—Fall Spartan Race, Turkey Trot, Intramurals & Next Level Conditioning Program for Athletes

• ASMS—Intramurals, Frisbee Club

• HMMS—Intramurals, Monday Sports Academy

• FHS—Ski Club increased from 150-200 students

• Ultimate Frisbee Club more than doubled to 74 students

Nutrition Goal Progress and Activities

• FHS won Bronze Level Healthy US Schools Challenge Award (Recognition & $500)

• Visiting Executive Chef at FHS

• RMS received $3,725 Fuel Up to Play Grant for implementation of Breakfast Program

– Average of 30 students/day in May

Nutrition Goal continued…

• Collaboration with YMCA

– Implementation of Nutrition Detectives Curriculum for all students in grade three

– Mass in Motion funding ($10,000) to promote breakfast and develop school gardens at ECDC, Oak, Jefferson, Parmenter, HMMS, RMS and FHS

Next Steps…

• Review data from School Climate Survey sent out again this year to parents through K-12 Insight

• Continue to review data regarding health, nutrition and social emotional for development of SMART goals for 2015-16

• Continued multi-disciplinary approach with counselors, psychologists, nurses, PE/Health, staff, administrators, YMCA and other groups

• Continue to keep abreast of any changes in state and federal laws that may impact wellness policy

Questions?