Wellness Committee Meeting | September 25, 2019 | Minutes

In attendance: Melinda DeFeo, Gina deBettencourt, Sue Costello, Nicole Barlett, Diane Conover, Sarah Vail, Michelle Pikor, Shelley Einbinder

• A request was made that everyone read the current wellness policy, make changes, and bring your ideas to the next meeting in November.
• In our current policy, wellness procedures are also included. The procedures begin towards the bottom of page 1. The School committee previously approved the initial policy. However, this committee is committed to making updates to the procedures.
  
  The wellness policy is a state mandated request. It was mentioned that we need to have public postings of our meetings. It was noted that these are always posted on our wellness link that can be found on the main school website. You can also access it from the nurses web page. Anyone can attend the meetings.
• We may have to change our March and May meeting dates due to COP meeting overlaps. Dates will be forthcoming and reposted.
• Our kitchen will be audited this year. This included financial audits and food program evaluation by the USDA and the state.
• A goal for this year was suggested that we work on bridging our parent communication. We have had active parent participation in the past and hope to continue this. Our PTA is another great communication resource to get information out to parents.
• A reminder was made about the MedStar report being posted on the superintendents website. We need to encourage everyone (staff and parents) to read this.
• A culture and climate survey was done last spring. Once these results are released Dr. Einbinder will share with staff and parents.
• A discussion took place about promoting a healthy growth mindset for all of the children. We need to brainstorm more ways to support this important way of thinking. The recommendations from the committee included focusing on sleep hygiene, lessening anxiety, focusing on quality family time with a healthy balance between school rigor and extra curricular activities. A suggestion was made to look at how much homework is necessary to reinforce what is being taught during during the school day. Our principal will take a look at this and gather ideas from staff. We will look to add a new heading on “family focus” in our wellness policy. The committee acknowledges that one of the biggest stakeholders in our youth education is our families. We need to work together to ensure a healthy mindset. There were suggestions to use meditation apps (use of visualization), homework incentives, etc. We need to come up with a mission statement that truly supports our beliefs. Our “actions” must support our mission statement and align with our school improvement plan.

Next Meeting will take place November 20, 2019 from 3:00 – 4:00 PM.

Edgartown School Wellness Meeting | March 19, 2019

Participants
Michelle Pikor
Sue Costello
Gina Debettencourt
Anne Fligor
Stephanie Immelt
Annie Sylvia (Parent)
Ninon Garvin (Parent)

Minutes
Nicole presented an overview of the history of wellness committee and wellness policy (which is required by the state). Gina presented about our lunch program. There is $7000.00 in overdue lunch bills at this time. Cost of our school lunch is $3.00/lunch. Gina uses local resources such as Morning Glory Farm and the Farm Institute (for some meats). In addition, she also has a local supplier that she orders from.

Melinda grows and harvests vegetables in our garden inclusive of tomatoes, spinach, garlic, potatoes, onions and kale.  We are looking for increased parent participation in helping with the garden as we haven’t had any interest. During the health fair, we try to encourage parents to go out and see the garden and greenhouse. It is part of this yearly highlighted event on health and wellness. Each class has a garden bed and are planting and gleaning the food. We have been doing this for almost ten years. Melinda spends many hours doing various lessons in the garden, to tie in with the K-8 curriculums. We are very lucky to have her.

Gina comes in daily in the summer to prepare gleaned vegetables for fall and to use throughout the school year. There is fresh fruit available for our students all day, every day.  Gina is also looking into organic milk. It is expensive but will get prices. Most of the kids drink water.

Water testing has been historically done at the school. Currently we are not on a regular basis for testing within the building but Anne is going to work on trying reinstate that. Some of the water here has filters and have been donated by Vineyard Conservation.

Ninon shared that she and Annie are attending the meetings to learn more about what we are doing and how they can help. Some parents are not aware of the farm to school program (eating local foods). Anne shared that Edgartown was one of the first programs and at the time, we got a lot of press. Now it is just part of our school wellness culture. Maybe that is why parents are not aware. We are really happy to have parents on board with us.

Annie shared that she is concerned about the chocolate milk being offered as it has 22 grams of sugar. Gina gave the history of how she stopped serving the chocolate milk but the kids got together and did a full presentation advocating for the return of the chocolate milk. We compromised with the students and offer it approximately once a month. Gina uses healthy foods and balances the choices. We have approximately 225-250 kids buying lunch here every day. On occasion, Gina has to change the printed menu if the ordered foods for the week do not arrive in time or if local food is unexpectedly delivered. Then she incorporates the local fresh food for lunch.

Michelle shared that we (wellness committee) have spent a lot of time working on alternative choices for in-school celebrations. We have also had parent evenings offered (cooking classes) through island nutritionists and unfortunately the turn out has been very low. Annie suggested maybe it would help to film these and put on our website. Most attended event was the “Fed Up” movie a few years back.

We shared that we have a “running list” of all of the health and wellness activities in our school. Open morning gym at 7:30 AM for the middle school and monthly runs are just a few to mention. There is a lot happening and also new curriculums Being taught in the fall, island wide.

Nicole shared that Jen DeLorenzo is working with Michelle Pikor to do monthly wellness Wednesdays with the students. Mindfulness, aerial yoga and body mapping are just a few activities to name. Yoga is also happening in the classrooms.

Annie and/or Ninon shared that the open gym event during the winter (on a Sunday) was a great activity for the kids. This was an 8th grade fundraiser. It would be great to continue next year. Also mentioned, was that some schools (Montessori here on MV) are now doing a mandatory family participation through their PTA. Each family selects an event they can help with so it is shared evenly amongst families and connects the school community. Our next meeting is set for May 15th from 3:00 – 4:00. We can meet in the nurse’s office.

Respectfully submitted,
Sue Costello

Wellness Meeting 9-19-18

Michelle Pikor emailed staff dates for monthly runs. Check out the main web page and get ready to have some themed fun.  

Nicole Barlett: Nicole reached out to Betty Burton from Serving Hands to get updated flyers and info on times and dates for food options. Spoke to Town Nurse Lila Fisher about possibility of having Flu clinic at the Edgartown School for staff. Awaiting to hear back from Lila.  

Sue Costello: MEDSTAR Report- Recommending all Island Health Coordinator. MEDSTAR recommends the health coordinator be hired first before health teachers. The health coordinator position would be phased out once school health programs are in alignment. Sue let the representatives know professionally she felt we should have both Life Skills and the Michigan Model. MEDSTAR also recommended hiring mental health coordinator and full service health clinic.   

Gina deBettencourt: Acknowledges work Melinda is doing and would like the Wellness Committee to support going to administration to see about increasing the farm & garden coordinator position. 

Melinda DeFeo: Currently the town funds Melinda 15 hours per week and private donations pay Melinda 7 hours per week totaling 22 hours. Greenhouse is here. Melinda and her husband are putting it up. This weekend will need help Saturday September 22nd 9-3PM for staining. Melinda is noticing more kids seem to come in from recess and ready to sit for lunch (eating more) and finishing before time allotted.Sarah Vail went to MED STAR Talk for parents. Attendance was low. Sarah shared she just passed her MTEL for Health Teaching. Congratulations Sarah!!  

Jen Delorenzo: Yoga update: Jen is in most K-8 classes on a weekly basis.  

Wellness committee acknowledges the generous donation Mr. Day gave to the PTA. We are recommending a significant amount to go toward funding Melinda for her time spent in the garden. In addition we would like the town to add her to the pay roll as a full time employee since she is here doing curriculum with the K-8 students. Michelle and Gina plan to bring this up to administration in hopes to add this to the budget.   

Wellness Meeting | 11-15-17

Agenda  

Melinda and I will update the group on the snack grant 

Sue and I will update the group on our meeting last Thursday with the wellness consultants
Sue will update the group on FCD prevention works meeting
Technology and getting info out to parents – Nicole 
Breakfast Program update – Gina 

Participants:  
Nicole Barlett
Sue Costello
Melinda Defeo
Sarah Vail
Gina de Bettencourt
Jen Delorenzo  

See attached Garden grant document. Melinda and Nicole reviewed where we are in this process. After committee input and comments Nicole submitted document to the new grant coordinator Jennie Shinn at the superintendents office. Deadline for submission to Apples4ed is November 30th. 

Sue and Nicole shared info from last Thursday’s meeting with the wellness consultants from Georgetown. Three psychologists have been hired to consult with all Island schools regarding health and wellness. Sue had composed a document for them which included all the wellness services and offerings we have here at the Edgartown school. She had also requested input from staff prior to this meeting to make sure the list was accurate. The consultants will return in the new year to meet with parents and other health related community members. They will then compose a suggested plan for how to move forward in this area. 

Sue also updated the group that the MVYPS have hired FCD prevention works. This is a company out of Newton Ma that provides health and wellness classes to private and public schools worldwide. They will be back next spring to work with junior high grades.   

Gina gave update on our schools new breakfast program. Currently we have 43 % who receive either free or reduced lunch and or breakfast. Gina explained she must go by state regulations on what is served for grains, protein, dairy etc.. It opened up conversation for the group around nutrition and lag in state standards to include new philosophies around carbohydrates and grains not needing to be as large of a portion. Grains are highly processed and add burden and challenge to our bodies immune system as well as endocrine issues. 

The committee will continue dialog and put out recommendations for nourishing our students through whole foods. 

Wellness Meeting | 5/17/17

Attendees – Liz Ward, Gina deBettencourt, Nicole Barlett, Sara Vail, Michelle Pikor and Sue Costello

Nicole shared NSAID’S (Motrin, Advil) balance fats in the body to decrease pain.Balancing fats through good nutrition has an anti-inflamatory affect on the bodywhen these fats are in balance. Teaching the kids about proper nutrition isparamount. 

Nicole also reported that the “time for lunch” group recently met with Matt D’Andrea to address concerns around school lunch times and making sure that kids have adequate amount of seated lunch time. Please note that the national average recommendation is 25 minutes of seated lunch time. Our group feels that Edgartown is leading the island schools with our current 20 minute lunch period. We recognize that time management plays an integral part in making this successful. The wellness committee has decided to propose that all students have recess first and then go to lunch which aligns with the national recommendations. How can we creatively look at the schedule to make this happen. Nicole and Michelle have reached out to Anne Fligor to be part of the scheduling committee. Every student should be outside daily!! 

Michelle shared that community runs were discussed and planned for this school year but due to scheduling conflicts fell through. Michelle and Channon will revisit this with administration to plug these dates into morning advisories ahead of time for the 2017-2018 school year. Proposed times would be once a month from 8:30-8:45 on Fridays. 

Sue let the group know about the new Hokuela website which will be an educational sharingtool between Edgartown students and students in a few schools in Hawaii. Topic….how wetake care of our island earth (environmental health). 

Jessica Estrella approached the group about having laminated hand washing signs for the bathrooms. Task completed!!  

Gina reported that the kitchen inspection went very well! Congratulations to Gina and her staff. 

The group talked about how grades 5-8 already has an additional 45 minutes in the morning for movement (open gym with Michelle). What about creating something for the younger students? One suggestion was doing an early morning recess. We can all brainstorm ideas. 

Respectfully Submitted, Sue and Nicole

Wellness Meeting | Agenda and Minutes 1-25-2017

Agenda:

*School Lunch: Time For Lunch
*Monthly Run Walks: Michelle and Channon
*SBIRT New State Mandate:   

Participants:

Channon Capra
Michelle Pikor
Melinda R. Defeo
Sue Costello
Elizabeth Ward
Brooke Ward
Nicole Barlett
John Stevens   

*Agata Rodregues & Lillie Cabral (students) requested to speak at Wellness meeting regarding possibility of having outdoor gymnastic equipment and/or having it incorporated into the school somehow. Mr. Stevens suggested the girls bring this to the wellness committee for further discussion. 

Our committee suggested a few resources outside of school such as Rise Dance Studio, Spindrift Dance Studio, acro class’s and the gymnastic center in West Tisbury that have trained individuals and correct equipment to teach such activities. Girls will speak to their parents and explore these options. There is a safety component and concern doing this in the school setting without the proper equipment and trained professionals.  

* Nicole asked group for input about lunch time. One of the Island Grown Schools committee members has reached out to look at school lunch times. Our schools currently allows for 20 minutes but realized other schools may have less time. Our school also tries to have recess first when scheduling allows. Nicole brought this to the committee to share and get our thoughts as a smaller sub committee will be formed by IGS.   

*Michelle and Channon discussed how to implement monthly runs. Proposed dates are as follows: 

February 17th Healthy Heart Run
March 17th St Patrick’s Day Run
April 14th (Name to be decided)
May 12th May Madness Run 

Lizzy will advertise runs on bulletin boards. 
Michelle & Channon will email teachers dates. Run is voluntary and will take place during a Friday AM meeting time slot starting at 8:35 – 8:50  

*SBIRT is a new Massachusetts State mandate which will be implemented in conjunction with other 7th grade health screenings that the school nurse performs. Letters have gone home to parents to inform them of this new screening. A brief discussion will take place with the 7th graders Friday February 10th during life skills class. Any questions please ask Nicole.

Agenda 9-28-2016

Welcome back Wellness Committee 2016-17 school year 

This Years Active Members: 

Nicole Barlett: School Nurse 
Sue Costello: Health and Enrichment Teacher
Michelle Pikor: Physical Education 
Channon Capra: Physical Education
Gina Debettencourt: Head Cook 
Sarah Vail: Family & Consumer Science 
Elizabeth Ward: Parent Representative  

1. Bike to School Day October 5th, Rain date October 6th 
2. Next years Health Fair Looking for new Ideas and input from wellness group.   
3. Disseminating parent information about health and wellness  

Minutes:  

Sue Costello discussed plans and date for Bike to School day. In the past this has been a successful event. The group engaged in further discussion on benefits of exercise and how this affects mood and over all health/well being. Flyers have been posted throughout the school and an email blast was sent to parents.  After school offering for walking club did not get good response however, will plan to offer again during this school year. 

Regarding Future Ideas for Health Fair which is a part of our schools open house:  

Disseminating Parent and student information about health and wellness: First the committee is seeking a student representative who will commit to attending the committee meetings held every other month. Parent Rep Elizabeth Ward has offered to take over preparing bulletin boards in the nurses office, across from nurses office, and upstairs outside the family and consumer science room. The boards will display a health theme for example the nurse’s office will have information regarding a variety of health tips in which students can work toward  for optimal learning. We are thrilled Elizabeth has joined this committee. Please see attached picture 

Sarah Vail: expressed interest in sending out occasional email blasts to parents with links on topics committee is interested in sharing. The goal here to to help parents understand the importance of overall health and how this can link to the child’s ability to learn.   

Sue Costello: Continue positive messaging on lobby screen as well as in cafeteria in the napkin holders which are on each table. Nicole will email Gail Gardner to see if she would like to incorporate having students retrieve healthly messages and pictures from computer class.  

Channon Capra: explained benefits of physical activity and time on learning. Would like to explore ways to incorporate more school runs like the jingle bell run throughout the school year. One thought was to have a monthly run to build a sense of community that shows we value health and fitness.  Sue also mentioned the possibility of linking these wellness events as part of potential fundraising opportunity for our Island community.  

Melinda shared importance of messaging around food. For example, less about calories and more about how the food makes the person feel. Did the food give you energy or did the food make you feel sluggish. Melinda enjoys showing the nourish video series with Sue during health. 

Agenda for Wednesday, January 27th Meeting:

3-4pm in the nurse’s office

1. Kids Fed up tape is in. how do we see this being shown? Through health class, after school with healthy snack in cafeteria etc… Not even sure we want to show this. Melinda has seen the DVD and can report on her thoughts
2. Ideas and feedback needed from the group on offering a health club as an afterschool program which runs 6 weeks. Thoughts on who might be interested in doing this? what would the club do, focus on etc… Can we ask PTA to help with this to see if a parent has interest etc….
3. Nicole to update on health idea after collaboration with Alicia Knight 3rd grade teacher who also wrote grant for Classroom Yoga and co-chairs the Educational Committee.
4. Open discussion: Other thoughts or ideas for our committee

Agenda for the 9/23/2015 Meeting:

1. Sue Mercier will share a few words about IWYC and how we can collaborate our efforts. (THIS IS TENATIVE AWAITING TO HEAR BACK FROM SUE)
2. Wellness policy (plan to set date to review with committee and add or update procedures if needed)
3. Fed Up movie night (do we want to plan to host a parent/kids night ? Does anyone Melinda:) want to f/u on seeing if there is a kids version yet?
4. (where are we at and where are we going) I will share something Pati Nelson shared with me. I know you will all appreciate it:)
5. Suggestions from committee members

Minutes from 9-23-15 meeting:

Participants:

• Nicole Barlett
• Anne Fligor
• John Stevens
• Gina Debettencourt
• Nancy Nash
• Sue Costello
• Rebecca Briggs
• Sue Sanford via phone conference
• Michelle Pikor

All members where asked to read wellness policy and bring highlighted comments or areas of question etc… to next meeting set for Monday November 23rd 3-4pm.

Next Wellness meeting meets Nov 23rd which is a Monday.

Nicole will send out reminder email to staff re upcoming Halloween and wellness policy. Also Sue Sanford will speak to PTA re choosing non food items for PTA Halloween party.

Melinda will find out if or when Fed Up for kids is coming out. Committee would like to offer a parent/kids night to show this film in January or March.

Anne suggested a long term goal for committee could be implementing gardens (even a small one) at students homes.

Sue Mercier from IWYC could not attend this meeting but was invited and has accepted to attend the Nov 23rd meeting.

Nicole has asked Darren to share minutes so all can view. Not sure where this is going but will let you all know after Darren and I meet.

Nancy Nash suggested promoting go to foods to display on screen in Lobby for October’s National health and wellness week ( Nicole will check in with Darren about doing this). Last year the committee had blurbs about sugar and effects of for example see pic below. I think we all loved Nancy’s idea to come at this from a positive instead of a negative:

The group as a whole feels that health and wellness especially around nutrition and exercise has permeated throughout our school. A few examples of this are as follows: Michelle offers before school exercise to upper grade students, Gina has gone above and beyond state nutrition law for competitive foods and beverages sold in the cafeteria, Nancy has made sure her class room is nut free. She implemented this as a risk reduction strategy which follows the DOE, NASN, Ma DPH, & FAAN. Sue Costello leads our back to school health fair and implements nutrition lessons during health class’s. This is a brief description of what is happening not to mention the tons of work Melinda has done building our school garden from a baby to what it has become is truly noteworthy to say the least. I could go on and on. Thank you lastly to our admin who have supported us through this process.