• Committee members introduced themselves and their roles.
• Tai explained that the purpose of the Wellness Advisory Committee (WAC) is to support the implementation of the school's Wellness Policy.
• The committee will review school meals, nutrition education, physical activity, and other wellness initiatives.
• Members will evaluate current practices, recommend improvements, and help communicate wellness information to families and the school community.

• Tai reviewed the state and federal requirements governing the Wellness Advisory Committee.
• 105 CMR 215: The committee must meet at least four times per school year, document attendance, maintain publicly available meeting minutes, and prepare an annual report.
• 7 CFR 210.31: Parents, staff, and community members must have opportunities to participate in the Wellness Policy process.
• The school must assess its Wellness Policy at least once every three years and make the results publicly available.
• Families must be informed annually about the Wellness Policy and its implementation.

• Tai distributed and reviewed the current HVMCPS Wellness Policy.
• The committee reviewed membership requirements, policy assessments, nutrition education, drinking water access, physical education, recess, and wellness practices.
• Students have access to free drinking water throughout the school day.
• Dan reviewed the physical activity requirements, including weekly physical education, daily recess of at least 20 minutes, and incorporating movement breaks into classroom instruction.
• The policy states that recess should not be withheld as a form of punishment.
• Lauren shared that nutrition education is included in the eighth-grade Health and Wellness curriculum.
• Update committee membership language, as the school no longer has a Director of Finance and Administration.
• Clarify current responsibilities for overseeing the Wellness Policy.
• Locate and review Appendix A referenced in the policy.
• Ensure committee meeting minutes and related information are publicly accessible.
• Review and clarify guidelines for food served during celebrations, rewards, fundraisers, and after-school activities.
• Consider food allergies, dietary restrictions, and other health considerations when developing guidelines.
• Review physical activity and recess practices to ensure they align with the Wellness Policy.

• Tai reviewed the committee's membership and responsibilities for the 2026–2027 school year.
• Tai Polanco: Food Service Director and committee lead, responsible for coordinating the Wellness Policy and triennial assessment.
• June: Business Administrator, responsible for recording meeting minutes and posting them to BoardOnTrack.
• Dan: Physical Education Teacher.
• Lauren: Health and Wellness Teacher.
• Mindy: School Nurse and committee member; absent from today's meeting.
• Carolina: Parent representative.
• Ginger: will continue to provide administrative oversight.

Upcoming Meeting Dates:

• Friday, January 8, 2027
• Friday, March 5, 2027
• Friday, May 21, 2027

Posting Plan:

• June will post committee meeting minutes to BoardOnTrack following each meeting.
• The committee will work toward making Wellness Policy information and meeting records publicly accessible.
• Triennial assessment results will be posted once completed.
• Tai shared an example of how Haverhill Public Schools publishes its wellness committee information for reference.

Focus Areas for Upcoming Meetings:

1. Food, Celebrations and After-School Activities
   • Review guidelines for food provided during classroom celebrations, school events, fundraisers, PTO activities, and after-school programs.
   • Discuss outside food donations and purchases, including pizza, snacks, and other refreshments.
   • Establish clearer expectations regarding food allergies, dietary restrictions, and nutritional considerations.
   • Distinguish school sponsored food activities from meals families provide for their own children.
2. Physical Activity and Recess
   • Review Section 4 of the Wellness Policy regarding physical activity and fitness education.
   • Examine how students in grades 1–6 receive movement breaks throughout the school day.
   • Review recess schedules and opportunities for physical activity across grade levels.
   • Discuss concerns that middle school students may not consistently receive the full 20 minutes of recess outlined in the policy.
   • Consider how lunch schedules, cleanup, and transitions affect students' opportunities for recess and physical activity.

Action Items:

• Tai will update outdated committee membership language in the Wellness Policy.
• Tai will locate and review Appendix A.
• June will post meeting minutes to BoardOnTrack.
• Committee members will review food and celebration guidelines for discussion at the next meeting.
• Committee members will review Section 4 of the Wellness Policy, focusing on movement breaks and recess.
• Tai will coordinate the January 2028 triennial assessment using the Massachusetts State Assessment Tool.