The School Wellness Advisory Committee presentation for the Franklin (MA) School Committee meeting on May 26, 2015.

1. School Wellness Advisory
Committee (SWAC)
Annual Report to the Franklin
School Committee
May 26, 2015

2. What is SWAC?
• A standing committee appointed by the
Superintendent and has a requirement of
representation from various groups
– School nurses, PE/Health staff, Teachers,
Counselors, Administrators
– Parents/Community Members
– Students
– SC Representation
– Community Youth Serving Agencies

3. SWAC Membership 2014-15
Nancy Whitehouse, Nurse Leader
Chris Schmidt, FHS Assistant Principal
Paul Mahoney, Whitson’s Food Service Director
Kristen Cerce, Director of PE/Health; Michael Masto FHS PE/Health
Caroline Cafasso, Justin Bates; FHS Students
Corine Minkle, Oak Street Principal
Brian Wildeman, RMS Assistant Principal
Kyla Harrington, FHS Guidance Counselor
Frank Fitzgerald, RMS School Psychologist
Greg Lee, JFK School Psychologist
Pamela McIntyre, & Betsy Barry Community Member
Marykate Bergen, YMCA
Roberta Trahan, Franklin School Committee
Miriam Goodman, School Business Administrator
Sally Winslow, Assistant Superintendent of Schools

4. Role/Requirements
• Bring Local Wellness Policy (LWP) into compliance
with federal & state requirements
• Meet at least four times per year
• Develop and implement annual improvement plan
and SMART goals focusing on nutrition, physical
activity and obesity based upon review of student
health data and information about school
programs and practices
• Annual report to Superintendent and School
Committee regarding progress on the annual plan

5. It takes a village…
• LWP and SMART Goals Tied to DIP and SIP
• Engaged other individuals and groups in the
work (e.g. psychologists, counselors, nurses,
Health/PE teachers, related service
providers)—multi-disciplinary approach
• Food Service, Health/PE, YMCA collaborated
to write grants to support nutrition, physical
activity and social-emotional well-being

6. SMART Goals 2014-15
Three Student-focused Goals:
• Mental Health—ID causes of stress and
anxiety in school and develop coping
strategies
• Physical Activity—goals at elementary,
middle and HS level around increasing
opportunities for physical activities for
students
• Nutrition—Increase awareness of healthy
eating habits and meal and snack choices

7. Mental Health Goal: Progress &
Activities
• Psychologists, counselors, nurses, and
administrators district-wide in working on this
goal
• Developmental guidance model initiative—
curricular/instructional approach to providing
all children with instruction in social-
emotional learning standards which are critical
to academic achievement and college and
career readiness
• Development of social-emotional learning
curriculum—year two

8. Elementary Level
• Zones of Regulation, Social Thinking
Curriculum, relaxation techniques
• Self-regulation and coping strategies to stay in
class and reduce visits to nurse and counselors
• Common vocabulary and strategies for
students and teachers
• Students have demonstrated gains in following
transitions, self-advocacy and self-control
• Slight decreases in nurses visits for somatic
symptoms (headaches, stomach, etc.)

9. Middle School Level
• Worked with 8th graders on HS preparation
and college readiness, career exploration
and social emotional learning
• All 8th graders completed a high school
course plan
• Whole class instruction, advisory period &
teacher consultation
• Teacher training & common language for
students and staff

10. High School Level
• Guidance Counselors have developed and
delivered 4 seminar classes to each grade, 9-
12
• Adjustment Counselors each doing a section
of “Therapeutic Academic Support” as well
as some parent information & training
• Decrease in stress related to college
application process and financial aid
(student survey data)
• Decrease in nurse visits and unscheduled
visits to the counseling office

11. Physical Activity Goal Progress and
Activities
• BOKS programs at Oak, DT, JFK & Keller
(new)
• Fit and Lit Exercise & Reading Program
piloted in grade 3 at Oak—next year will be
whole school in June!
• Recess mile running club offered at Oak
with 20-30 students participating, 2x/week,
spring/fall
• Walk to school day—Oak, Keller, Parmenter,
DT

12. Physical Activity Goal continued…
• RMS—Fall Spartan Race, Turkey Trot,
Intramurals & Next Level Conditioning
Program for Athletes
• ASMS—Intramurals, Frisbee Club
• HMMS—Intramurals, Monday Sports
Academy
• FHS—Ski Club increased from 150-200
students
• Ultimate Frisbee Club more than doubled to
74 students

13. Nutrition Goal Progress and
Activities
• FHS won Bronze Level Healthy US Schools
Challenge Award (Recognition & $500)
• Visiting Executive Chef at FHS
• RMS received $3,725 Fuel Up to Play Grant
for implementation of Breakfast Program
– Average of 30 students/day in May

14. Nutrition Goal continued…
• Collaboration with YMCA
– Implementation of Nutrition Detectives
Curriculum for all students in grade three
– Mass in Motion funding ($10,000) to promote
breakfast and develop school gardens at ECDC,
Oak, Jefferson, Parmenter, HMMS, RMS and FHS

15. Next Steps…
• Review data from School Climate Survey sent
out again this year to parents through K-12
Insight
• Continue to review data regarding health,
nutrition and social emotional for development
of SMART goals for 2015-16
• Continued multi-disciplinary approach with
counselors, psychologists, nurses, PE/Health,
staff, administrators, YMCA and other groups
• Continue to keep abreast of any changes in
state and federal laws that may impact
wellness policy

16. Questions?