Nutrition & Wellness
WCPS is required by federal law to establish a local school wellness policy for all WCPS schools. These standards apply any time food or beverages are provided to students during the school day, including classroom celebrations, school events, and activities.
If you are purchasing food for student consumption you must complete a Food Purchase Request form. This form will track WCPS celebrations to ensure we are compliant with the Wellness Guidelines set forth by MSDE.
Q&A: Guidelines for Food & Beverages Provided During the School Day for Students
[click the + below to expand sections]
- Can I offer any type of food or beverage during the 4 celebrations?
- If I have an event before school, such as Moms and Muffins or Dads and Donuts, does the food need to meet specific requirements?
- Can a building principal decide to not allow food during celebrations and/or allow less than 4 celebrations with food per year?
- Can parents bake cupcakes or brownies and bring in for one of the celebrations?
- Does each classroom get to decide when their 4 celebrations occur? OR is this determined at the principal level?
- As a teacher, if I feel a child needs to have something to snack on, can I give him/her something to eat?
- Can parents send a snack in for their child to consume during class?
- Can teachers provide food as a reward?
- Can we provide our students with a reward ticket to redeem in the cafeteria at lunch?
- Am I required to purchase Smart Snacks from the cafeteria?
- Can we sell coffee to students?
- Can I include small samples of food as part of an educational activity in the classroom?
- Do fundraising events during the school day need to follow Smart Snack Standards?
Can I offer any type of food or beverage during the 4 celebrations?
If I have an event before school, such as Moms and Muffins or Dads and Donuts, does the food need to meet specific requirements?
Can a building principal decide to not allow food during celebrations and/or allow less than 4 celebrations with food per year?
Can parents bake cupcakes or brownies and bring in for one of the celebrations?
Does each classroom get to decide when their 4 celebrations occur? OR is this determined at the principal level?
As a teacher, if I feel a child needs to have something to snack on, can I give him/her something to eat?
Can parents send a snack in for their child to consume during class?
Can teachers provide food as a reward?
Can we provide our students with a reward ticket to redeem in the cafeteria at lunch?
Am I required to purchase Smart Snacks from the cafeteria?
Can we sell coffee to students?
Can I include small samples of food as part of an educational activity in the classroom?
Do fundraising events during the school day need to follow Smart Snack Standards?
RESOURCES
Triennial Assessment Results 2024
WCPS is required by federal law to establish a local school wellness policy for all WCPS schools. The wellness committee recognizes that schools play a critical role in promoting the health and wellness of our students and aimed to create a policy that supports such a role. Our committee is comprised of principals, teachers, food and nutrition services, health, athletics, school nurses, parents, community members, health professionals and students. The Wellness Committee evaluates and recommends updates to the Board of Education annually. If you have a comment or concern regarding the wellness policy and/or regulation, please contact us.