New London and Salemburg
844-880-5206 or 800-573-9966
info@nc-tcachallenge.org

Local Wellness Policy

Tarheel ChalleNGe Academy Wellness Policy

The wellness committee recognizes the importance for cadets to
maintain their physical health and receive proper nutrition in order to take advantage
of educational opportunities. The committee also recognizes that cadet wellness
and proper nutrition are related to a cadet’s physical well-being, growth,
development, and readiness to learn. The wellness committee is committed to
providing a school environment that promotes cadet wellness, proper nutrition,
nutrition education, and regular physical activity as part of the total
learning experience.

WELLNESS LEADERSHIP

As part of the commitment, the committee directs the
director and the state director to oversee development, implementation, and
ongoing evaluation of the policy. To be in compliance with the expanded local
school wellness policy requirements consistent with the requirements set forth
in section 204 of the Healthy, Hunger- Free Kids Act of 2010 as prescribed in 7
CFR 210, below – The director or state director may designate an employee of
Tarheel ChalleNGe Academy to carry out this responsibility (“lead wellness
official.”).

The director or the designated official will provide a copy
of this policy to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction each time
it is revised by the committee upon request.

WELLNESS COMMITTEE

The committee will maintain a health advisory personnel to
help plan, review, update, implement and monitor this policy as well as address
other health and nutrition issues. The committee also takes into account the cadet’s
health issues and works with the lead wellness official as an advisory
committee to have oversight of the policy as well as promote the cadets and employees’
health and wellness with state and federal requirements.   The
committee may take policy recommendations to the policy meetings concerning cadets’
wellness and policy recommendations. The lead wellness official shall periodically
review and suggest revisions to this policy.

The committee will be composed of the director, the deputy
director, lead wellness official, the school food authority administrator, the physical
fitness instructor, the school nurse, cadet from each team, community members, and
counselors. The committee will provide information that will contribute to a
safe environment: Physical education, health education, staff wellness, health
services, mental and emotional health, nutrition services, and family/community
involvement.

In addition, the committee will assist the lead wellness
official in creating annual report that includes the minutes of the meetings,
as well as, the minutes of physical activity and the minutes of physical
education that the cadets are receiving in the period of time that they are on
grounds.

NUTRITION
PROMOTION AND EDUCATION

The committee believes in promoting cadets’ health and
nutrition that enhances readiness as part of the total learning
experience. The goals of nutrition education and promotion are (1)
to provide appropriate instruction for the acquisition of behaviors that
contribute to a healthy lifestyle for cadets and (2) to teach, encourage and
support healthy eating by cadets.  Tarheel ChalleNGe Academy cadets must complete a basic
life skills course which includes leadership/followership, service to
community, job skills, educational excellence, responsible citizenship, life
coping skills, health, Reproductive Health and Safety Education and nutrition,
and physical fitness, these are the eight (8) core components the cadets must
pass.

Promoting nutrition education should go beyond the boundaries
of the school environment by engaging and involving families and
communities.  Tarheel ChalleNGe Academy
staff may coordinate with agencies and community organizations to provide
opportunities for appropriate cadets’ projects related to nutrition.  Tarheel ChalleNGe Academy staff is to disseminate
and promote consistent nutrition messages throughout Tarheel ChalleNGe Academy.

The committee establishes the following additional specific
evidence-based goals and strategies for nutrition promotion and education. The lead
wellness official will report the progress of meeting these goals to the
committee:

  •  School menus will be provided to staff and
    posted in the dining facility.
  •  Cadets will have opportunities at the policy
    meeting to give feedback on foods served, as well as discuss with their teams
    to provide feedback. Cadets are served foods that are low in saturated fats and
    trans fats, sodium and added sugar.
  • Academy staff
    members will strive to provide a pleasant eating experience by maintaining and
    holding to the following practices, (a) cadet input on the meals served. (b) adequate
    time to eat their meal. (c) adult supervision to ensure that no instances occur
    and if they do they can disengage them properly.

NUTRITION STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES
FOR ALL FOOD AND BEVERAGES AVAILABLE AT THE ACADEMY

Tarheel ChalleNGe Academy is
committed to ensuring that all foods and beverages available to cadets on the
school campus and during the school day support healthy eating. The foods and
beverages sold and served outside of the school meal programs (e.g.,
“competitive” foods and beverages) will meet the USDA Smart Snacks in School
nutrition standards, at a minimum. Smart Snacks aim to improve cadets’ health
and well-being, increase consumption of healthful foods during the school day
and create an environment that reinforces the development of healthy eating
habits. All foods available during the school day that are offered to cadets,
help promote cadets’ health, reduce childhood obesity, provide a variety of
nutritional meals and promote lifelong healthy eating habits. 

Foods provided through the National School Lunch, School
Breakfast programs must comply with federal and state nutrition standards. The dining
facility manager will ensure that the Tarheel ChalleNGe Academy guidelines for
reimbursable meals are not less restrictive than the regulations and guidelines
issued for the schools established under the Healthy Hunger-free Kids Act of
2010.

The foods and beverages sold and served outside of the
school meal programs (e.g., “competitive” foods and beverages) will meet the
USDA Smart Snacks in School nutrition standards, at a minimum. Smart Snacks aim
to improve cadets’ health and well-being, increase consumption of healthful
foods during the school day and create an environment that reinforces the
development of healthy eating habits

PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND PHYSICAL
ACTIVITY

  1. Goals for Physical Education

The goal of the physical education program is to promote a lifelong
physical activity and provide the knowledge to ensure cadets remain physically
fit.  Physical education also provides cadets
with the knowledge that will address obesity, cardiovascular disease, and Type
II diabetes.

  • The Physical Education

Physical education is taught to our cadets by our basic life skills instructor
as well as the cadre and staff. Cadets and staff have the opportunity to
participate and engage in the Physical Training (PT) six days a week, as well
as participate in the Walk-a- thon.

  • Physical Activity Goals and Recommendations

Cadre should strive to provide opportunities for the cadets to be active
and promote physical activity. The commandant shall ensure that all students
meet the requirements of 30 minutes of physical activity per day. The
commandant will periodically measure and report the progress to the committee
of meeting this goal.

OTHER ACADEMY BASED ACTIVITIES TO
PROMOTE WELLNESS

These activities are designed to promote
wellness:

  1. Academy provides a safe and clean meal
    environment
  2. Cadets are given adequate time to eat meals
  3. Drinking water will be available at all meal
    times and throughout the day.
  4. Foods will not be used in the Tarheel ChalleNGe
    Academy as awards or punishments.
  5. Academy staff will be encouraged to participate
    and promote the cadets’ wellness.
  6. Walk-a-thon and Physical Training (PT) are great
    opportunities for the staff to promote and be role models to the cadets to
    promote physical activity.

FOOD AND BEVERAGE MARKETING IN
SCHOOLS

It is the intent of the Tarheel ChalleNGe Academy to protect
and promote cadets’ health by permitting advertising and marketing for only
those foods and beverages that are permitted to be sold on the school campus,
consistent with the Tarheel ChalleNGe Academy Wellness Policy. Any foods and
beverages marketed or promoted to cadets on the Academy campus* during the
school day* will meet or exceed the USDA Smart Snacks in School nutrition
standards. Beverages will not be accessible to any cadets so that we comply
with the state and federal standards.

FOOD PROVIDED BUT NOT SOLD (e.g., class parties, celebrations, class
snacks)

Tarheel ChalleNGe Academy encourages foods offered on the
Academy campus meet or exceed the USDA Smart Snacks in School nutrition
standards including those provided at celebrations, parties, and classroom
snacks brought by staff or family members.

IMPLEMENTATION AND REVIEW OF POLICY

The lead wellness official, in conjunction with the
committee, shall oversee the implementation of this policy and monitor the
program to ensure compliance. The lead wellness official is responsible for and
should report to the committee regarding compliance
and implementation status. 

PUBLIC NOTIFICATION

Annual Notification of Policy (Reporting)

Tarheel ChalleNGe Academy will inform families and the
public annually of this policy, including its content, any updates, and implementation
status. The Local Wellness Policy is available on the academy’s website.

The lead wellness official shall prepare the annual written
reports to the director and the deputy director that describes the academy’s
implementation status towards achieving the goals and standards established in
this policy.

TRIENNIAL ASSESSMENT

Tarheel ChalleNGe Academy will evaluate compliance with the
Wellness Policy no less than once every three years. The assessment will
include the extent to which Tarheel ChalleNGe Academy is in compliance with the
policy and how the policy compares to a model policy, as established by the
U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The lead wellness official (appointed by the director) shall
report to the committee on the academy’s compliance with the laws and policies
related to the cadets’ wellness but not limited to the implementation of the
policy. At minimum, the deputy director/director or the lead wellness
official shall measure the report by:

  1. The Academy’s compliance with the wellness policy
  2. How the wellness
    policy compares to model wellness policies?
  3. How the wellness policy compares to model
    policy, and

the process in attaining the goals of the wellness policy?

RECORDKEEPING

The director/deputy director will retain records to document
compliance with the requirements of the wellness policy. Documentation will
include but will not be limited to:

  • A written copy of this policy and any updates;
  • Documentation demonstrating compliance with all required
    elements of this policy, including methods by which the wellness policy, annual
    progress reports, and triennial assessments are made available to the public;
  • Documentation of the minutes recorded from the
    committee meetings;
  • Documentation of annual policy progress reports,
    and
  • Documentation of the triennial assessment.

Legal References: Child Nutrition
Act of 2004, 42 U.S.C 1751; Healthy, Hunger –Free Kids Act of 2010, P.L.
111-296, National School Lunch Act, 42 U.S.C.1751

Revised on: March 13, 2019
Adopted on:  April 01, 2019