All schools participating in the National School Breakfast/Lunch Program must establish a local school wellness policy that includes specific goals for nutrition promotion and education, physical activity, and other school-based activities. In addition, standards and nutrition guidelines for all foods and beverages available on the school campus during the school day must remain consistent with federal regulations designed to promote student health and reduce childhood obesity. School districts must meet and provide a triennial assessment report that describes the extent to which it is complying with the wellness policy. Below is a summary of the 2026 meeting.
Nutrition Education
The Schuylerville Central School District consistently meets or exceeds state and federal expectations in all three buildings. The written wellness policy complies with all mandates where applicable. Some examples of ongoing nutrition education include:
Elementary School
- Rainbow Foods Week: Five days dedicated to introducing students to unique fruits and vegetables representing all colors of the rainbow, while providing education on their nutritional value.
- 5th students participate in the Too Good for Drugs campaign at the end of each school year.
- 4-H teaches the Eat a Rainbow curriculum in 4th and 5th grade health classes.
Middle School
- Health classes cover MyPlate, healthy snack choices, different types of sugar, risk factors for developing diabetes, reading food labels, food allergies, and anaphylaxis.
- The Director of Food Service occasionally provides guest lectures on making healthy lunch choices and the importance of choosing less processed foods.
High School
- 10th grade students receive nutrition education as part of their health curriculum.
- Samples of scratch-made and locally grown foods are frequently offered during lunch.
Families and the community are involved in nutrition education through information sent home with students, cafeteria farm to school events, and the backpack program. Nutrition education events are communicated year-round through the district’s Facebook page and news articles. Future goals include prioritizing mental health, which the district is already doing through monthly Digital Wellness Bytes, and further connecting the cafeteria to the classroom.
Physical Activity
The Schuylerville Central School District consistently meets or exceeds state and federal expectations for students in all three buildings. The written wellness policy complies with all mandates where applicable, and provides weekly physical fitness for all grade levels. Students are provided ample opportunities for physical fitness through a variety of organized athletics and clubs, as well as recess at the elementary school and post-lunch activity time at the middle school. The district encourages all students to recognize and embrace the importance and benefit of life-long physical activity and fitness.
Staff wellness initiatives are limited at this point but include:
- In the high school, the Foreign Language Club runs “Cinco de Milo” in May where students and staff are asked to move at least 5 miles each week and submit their results.
- Digital Wellness Bytes are shared monthly with students and staff.
- The Wellness Committee recognizes the importance of staff wellness as an example for student wellness and set a goal of planning additional activities for staff during professional development days.
Future goals for physical education include promoting bike/walk to school days and scheduling staff wellness events.
Standards for USDA Child Nutrition Programs and School Meals
The Schuylerville Central School District participates in the National School Lunch and Breakfast Program and was found to be in compliance with all metrics of assessment. The local wellness policy addresses foods served in schools and ensures free drinking water is available throughout the day. All students are assured access to one free breakfast and lunch daily through the Community Eligibility Provision.
Although the district wellness policy does not specifically address local foods purchasing, the food service department prioritizes sourcing foods from New York State and the Capital Region. Since 2020, the Schuylerville Central School District has qualified for the New York State 30% Initiative, a competitive program where schools must purchase 30% of all foods served at lunch from within the state of New York. The district cafeterias celebrate New York Thursdays, Harvest of the Month, and National Farm to School Month as methods to tie education, nutrition, and agriculture together.
Nutrition Standards for Competitive and Other Foods and Beverages
The local school wellness policy meets or exceeds all requirements of the USDA’s competitive food rules (“Smart Snacks”). The Wellness Committee confirmed that all guidelines for fundraisers, food sold in the cafeteria, and in school stores meet USDA and NY State requirements. Additionally, families are able to set purchasing limits on their children’ s cafeteria accounts if they desire further restrictions. That information is shared at the beginning of the school year. Foods as part of a celebration not being sold to students are excluded from the nutrition standards, as are foods sold outside the school day such as concessions at sporting events.
Wellness Promotion and Marketing
The Schuylerville Central School District was found in compliance with all areas related to marketing food to students. Healthy meal choices are promoted both in and out of the cafeteria. A number of farm to school activities take place, including taste-testing local products and identifying local options on the monthly menus, in addition to numerous local foods served each week as part of students’ free breakfast and lunch meals.
Implementation, Evaluation, and Communication
The 2026 district wellness committee is composed of building principals, the Director of Food Service, the Assistant Superintendent for Business, the Communications Director, health and PE teachers, parents, counselors, and a school nurse. The wellness policy and triennial assessments are made available to the public via the district website. The wellness policy will be reviewed annually at the school board reorganization meeting and enforced by the Food Services Manager. At the conclusion of this assessment, the wellness committee does not propose making any changes to the existing local wellness policy.