April/May 2017

April/May 2017 

We had another successful Healthy Schools year and it is all because of you!  Thank you to everyone who dedicated part of their professional life towards bringing health and wellness to school communities throughout DCSD, you are amazing!  As the year closes out everyone is given the gift of time- time off from work! This is a fabulous time to mindfully dedicate thought and energy into creating balance that can be brought into the 2017/18 school year. As you plan projects, go on vacations, contemplate preparations for the following year, make the time to plan how to find life/work balance.  Please join us on May 8th, from 4:30-5:30, and enjoy our end of the year Healthy Schools Celebration at the Castle Pines Library where we will provide a tool that will help establish balance between work and life. RSVP link 

Free Training Next Friday 4/28

We will cover your sub cost!  Register today or by 4/24!

Are you an elementary school staff member looking to bring nutrition education to life in your school? This interactive training will provide participants with the opportunity to dig into the nutrition-related concepts and skills of the Colorado Health Education Standards and learn ways to integrate and reinforce nutrition education across the school environment. Participants will be able to leave this training with ideas and resources to implement nutrition education in their classroom and greater school environment. 

* April 28th, 9:00 - 3:00pm
* 2755 Janitell Rd, Co Springs

* Registration Link

* Please reach out to Laurie LaComb to arrange a substitute

Important Dates!

May 8th, 4:30-5:30                    EOY 2016/17 Celebration

June 6th-9th                                *Explore, Learn Collaborate (ELC) 

September 14, 8:00-3:00          Fall 2017 Healthy Schools Workshop

June 2018                                      Healthy Schools Leader Retreat 

* Professional Development is offering PGI credit to staff members who use time at ELC to make plans for the 2017/18 school year, including SHIP development. Kimmy will be available on June 6th and 7th all day to help with SHIPS as well as provide guidance with MindUp, Nutrition, PA, and more! She will also be teaching Mindfulness 101 and Teaching with the Brain in Mind on Friday the 9th.  You must register for the event to get PGI credit. ELC Link

Funding Opportunities

 Funding Opportunity This Spring!

The new Playbook is coming in April with all new and fundable Plays for schools to implement! Up to $4,000 is available! For more information on this funding opportunity and to get ready to apply, click here.  Complete and submit the online application by Wednesday, November 2, 2016

Live Well has a plethora of funding opportunities that you may want to look into. If you need any help with the process, please reach out to Laurie @ lllacomb@dcsdk12.org. 

Live Well Colorado Funding Opps.

Here are a few: 

*Whole Kids Foundation’s “Kids Love Veggies” video contest

*$1000 Saucony Run for Good Foundation

*up to $10,000 KidsGardening Youth Garden Grants

Free Stuff!

Free Back-to-School poster!

Schools with educators logging in now through June 1, 2017 will be eligible to receive a Back to School Poster this fall.  Doesn't your school need a cool new poster?  Just log into Fuel Up to Play! Log in Now!

Join the Air Quality Program from now until May and get a set of free flags!!  For more information on the program, go to www.airnow.gov/flag. (More info below in sustainability).

We're giving it away! Free classroom or recess equipment pack just for submitting your lesson ideas to Active Academics® Beginning April 10 through May 5, 2017 - any lesson idea that is submitted will be entered into a drawing for an awesome equipment pack from S&S Worldwide. Submitting your lesson idea is easy! Simply register for a FREE Active Academics® membership (or login if you're already a member) and click on the Lesson Idea Submission Link!    Active Academics Link

School Celebrations

Thank you Sue Ferguson for all your years' work with the Healthy Schools Department!  Recently Sue was honored by the American Heart Association for her consistent dedication to Jump Rope for Heart.  Congrats, Sue!  You will be missed as you enter the world of retirement!

2017 Colorado Healthy Schools Champs- 

Congrats Bear Canyon, Fox Creek & Cherry Valley!

Physical Activity Ideas

Active Academics® is a resource built "by teachers and for teachers". Our activity idea database provides lesson ideas for all school settings, grades PreK - 8. We are continually looking for new ideas to share with our 4000+ users. If you have a great idea and would like to see it published, click the chalkboard above to submit it!  Active Academics link  Here is a great game from this website:

Tunnel Tag

Suggested Grade Level(s): 2, 3, 4

Content Area(s): Recess / Lunch Activity

Purpose of Activity (objectives, etc.):

The purpose of this activity is to get all kids involved and more importantly up and moving.

Materials/Equipment (Needed): Large open area with a wall or fence

Description:

This variation of tag is played in an area with a wall or fence along one side. Those who are caught must stand with one arm outstretched, touching the wall. Someone who has not yet been caught can release them by running under the 'tunnel' formed by the outstretched arms. The game ends when everyone has been caught.

Source:  Active Academics®

Thank you Megan Balfe for this inspiring video. It reminds us that we are doing all the right things by promoting movement in our schools!

Mindfulness

Here are some great mindfulness books shared by Brittany Kinder (thank you Brittany from SVE!)

What Does It Mean to be Present? by Rana Diorio

Peaceful Piggy Yoga by Kerry Lee MacLean

Quiet Place by Douglas Wood

Take 10 Minutes of Mindfulness - Video

Sustainability

EPA Region 8 is encouraging schools and organizations to join the Air Quality Flag Program this May in recognition of Asthma Awareness Month.  They have purchased sets of flags to give to partners who join between now and the end of May.  Let us know when you sign up and we will work to get your flags to you.

For more information on the program, go to AirNow. 

Healthy Recipes

Thank you to Fox Creek superstars Brian Gill and Cindy Townsend for sharing the salad jar with us!  Here is the video to get you started.

Featured Recipe

Detox Watercress Citrus Avocado Salad with Turmeric Dressing

Watercress Salad with orange, avocado and turmeric lime dressing - a vibrant, peppery salad that is both energizing and gently cleansing utilizing fresh turmeric in the dressing.

Author: Sylvia Fountain - Feasting at Home Blog

Cuisine: Vegan

Serves: 2

Ingredients:

• 1 orange - zested, peeled and sliced ( or sub mandarins, blood oranges or tangelos)
• 2 ounces baby watercress
• 1 ripe avocado - peeled and cut into wedges
• a few very thin slices of red onion- optional
• Dressing: (YUMMY!)
• 2 tablesooons olive oil
• 2 tablespoons meyer lemon or lime juice
• 1 tablespoon orange zest
• 2 teaspoons honey
• 1 teaspoon grated turmeric root ( or sub ½ teaspoon ground turmeric)
• ⅛ teaspoon salt
• Cracked pepper to taste

With Gratitude

We hope to see many of you at our celebration on May 8th.  If not, have a fabulous summer break- take care of yourself in the best way possible.  Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all that you have done this year - your impact is huge! 

With gratitude,

Laurie LaComb and Kimmy Romine

lllacomb@dcsdk12.org

kcromine@dcsdk12.org

Please leave your comments and get your name in for the final raffle of the 2016/17 school year.