DCSD Healthy Schools: KRA

September 2016

September is such a beautiful time of year- we still get to enjoy the warm days, cool nights, and lots of sunshine. It is also a time of renewal. Now that classroom routines are settled take some time to find your own balance between work and play. What is one activity, class, social engagement, or quiet time that you would like to incorporate into your weekly routines? I challenge everyone to pick one personal goal for the fall. Just 1! Pick something that will bring happiness, reduce stress, and allow you to find your own balance. Share your success stories with others!

Healthy Schools has so much to share this month! We have some exciting professional development opportunities, new PA & mindfulness activities and resources, a healthy recipe, and more! Please take a moment to read this blog all the way to the end!

Training Opportunities (free)

September 22 Healthy Schools Fall Workshop

If you have not signed up yet, please do so this week as we only have a few
spots left.

October 21 Colorado SHAPE (formally know as COAHPERD)
Healthy Schools would like to send 10 interested DCSD staff members to this

year's conference. We will pay for your registration costs and a sub if
needed. Please contact Kimmy Romine at kimberly.romine@dcsdk12.org for
more information. SHAPE link

October 25 Integrating Physical Activity in Schools

Trainwell is presenting an all day workshop here in DCSD on PA in the
classroom, applicable for all grade levels. This workshop is designed for
classroom teachers, physical educators, specialists, and administrators that are
interested in integrating physical activity in the school setting.

Evidence-based research will be presented on the positive impact

of physical activity on academic performance, behavior, and overall health and

wellness. Participants will learn a step-by-step process to increase physical

activity opportunities. Resources and tools will also be shared. Lunch
will be paid for, 7 hours of participation, subs will be provided for
if needed. Registration forms will be sent to those who are interested. Please
contact Laurie LaComb at lllacomb@dcsdk12.org. Workshop will take place at
620 Wilcox, Castle Rock, CO 80124, from 8-3:30.

Fundraising Opportunities

Raise funds for your Healthy Schools Initiatives through DCSD's sustainability program!

Due September 14th sustainability info link

Community Outreach

Come join the Douglas County Youth Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition for a community discussion on local youth substance abuse.

~ Dinner will be provided. Childcare upon request.
~ September 12th, 6:15 p.m.- 8 p.m. Castle Rock
~ September 21st, 6:15 p.m.- 8 p.m. Lone Tree
~ September 22nd, 6:15 p.m.-8 p.m. Highlands Ranch
~ September 26th, 6:15 p.m.- 8 p.m. Parker

Contact Lindsay at lmoore@omni.org or 303-839-9422 x148 to sign up. Online registration https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/TownHallReg

Mindfulness Moment

Rainbow Walk: A Mindfulness Activity to Move the Body and Rest the Mind

Instructions: Take a walk, and look for something red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple. Keep going through the colors, in order, until the end of your walk. This is a great activity to use before lessons when teaching details, for example, in writing.

Provide a worksheet for students to note and/or sketch something they saw in each of the colors;
After the walk, discuss what different members of the group noticed--were different people focused on different things?

Idea came from Mindful Teachers Mindful Teachers link

Physical Activity

Lazy Eights Strategy:

Use these strategies to get students up and out of their seats. Ideal for breaks after intense or mentally challenging activities.

1. Extend one arm in front of you with your thumb pointing upwards.

2. Trace the shape of a figure eight in the air. The eight should be on its side and as you trace it out in large, slow movements focus your eyes on your thumb. Without moving your head trace three eights in successively larger movements.

3. Now do it with your other hand and then clasp them together and do it with both hands

Need more PA ideas?? Alliance for a Healthier Generation link

Tech Tips

Create a positive classroom culture

Help students grow by sharing regular, positive feedback in class and on their own portfolios. ClassDojo link

Webinars

AFHK's 2016-2017 Wellness Wednesday Webinar Series

Join us live from 2-2:30 MT on the second Wednesday of each month for practical tips on a variety of wellness initiatives. Register, view archived webinars link

September 14 - Walking and Running Initiatives in Schools
October 12 - Energize Employee Wellness in Your School
November 9 - Easy Nutrition Messages
December 14 - Nudge Kids to Eat Better at School: Smarter Lunchrooms
January 11 - Are You Ready to Take the SuperFit School Challenge?
February 8 - Celebrating National Nutrition Month and School Breakfast Week
March 8 - Engaging Volunteers Through Game On Activities
April 12 - Turn It Off! Promoting Screen-Free Activities at School
May 10 - Offering Healthy Snacks at School

KRA

Get your students moving! KRA has a well structured marathon program that can be implemented in all grade levels. Kids Running America link

Healthy Recipe

Asian-Style Cobb Salad

salad recipes link

INGREDIENTS:

5 cups chopped romaine lettuce
1 (11-ounce) can mandarin oranges in light syrup, drained
1/3 cup shredded chicken (Note: Vegetarians, try Beyond Meat or other chicken substitutes)
1/3 cup grated carrots
1 avocado, halved, seeded, peeled and diced
2 hard-boiled eggs, diced
1/4 cup sliced green onions

FOR THE SESAME VINAIGRETTE

1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
1 clove garlic, pressed
1 tablespoon sesame oil
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger
1 teaspoon soy sauce

DIRECTIONS:

To make the vinaigrette, whisk together rice wine vinegar, garlic, sesame oil, sugar, ginger and soy sauce in a small bowl; set aside.

To assemble the salad, place baby greens in a large bowl; top with arranged rows of mandarin oranges, chicken, carrots, avocado, eggs and green onions.

Serve immediately with sesame vinaigrette.

Thank you for taking the time to read this month's blog. Please leave a comment on content or provide suggestions on topics that you may be interested in learning more about. Have a wonderful September, good luck with finding your balance!

With gratitude,

Laurie LaComb

lllacomb@dcsdk12.org

Happy New Year!!!

Welcome Back! We hope you had a wonderful holiday break, enjoyed quality time with friends and family and are feeling rested and rejuvenated. We have a lot of great opportunities coming your way, so be sure to read all the way to the end.

Sign up NOW for the Healthy Schools Move Challenge!!!

http://ultra.kidsrunningamerica.org/

This program is FREE to your students, their families and all staff, so get on board and complete an Ultramarathon (100 miles) of movement! Prizes will be awarded! Kudos to Cresthill Middle School and Cherry Valley Elementary for getting their schools signed up. They will be receiving a Healthy Breakfast for the first 75 participants registered. Your school could be next! Call or email me and I'm to help get you started! 720-810-6314 or andrea.willis@dcsdk12.org.

COME to the Healthy Schools Leadership Retreat in Vail, Colorado on June 11th and 12th! We can take 25 lucky folks with us and cover your lodging, parking, mileage and per diem! If you are interested in attending this incredible leadership and training retreat, please send me an email with your name. We will be drawing names in the next couple weeks!

Great Body Shop: We have extra materials and resources FREE to a good home. First come, first serve!

GoNoodle: This is a perfect way to incorporate brain breaks into your classroom! The work is done for you and students LOVE it! Kristina Clark offers free trainings to staff. (See flyer in inter-district mail coming soon.)

JAM World Record Contest 2015

(Feb. 12th at 10am)

SIGN UP NOW!

As a district, we will be participating in this national competition and the state that rallies the most people to sign up and commit to taking a quick fitness break on February 12th wins this year's JAM title. It's easy, it's fun, it costs nothing, and you can do it from wherever you are. And, rally everyone around you to join you on the 12th. Look for more details on which JAM we'll be doing in THINK coming soon!

www.jamworldrecord.org

LET'S GO COLORADO!!!

Healthy School Highlight!

Check out Cherry Valley's flourishing Tower Garden paid for by the Healthy Schools mini grant last spring. Jan Francis and her students incorporate learning into the care of the garden and even sell the fresh produce to families at the school, which supports their Ag Program. Keep up the great work!

TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES

We are excited to offer you many different training opportunities this spring. Please take a look and see what might fit the needs of your staff and students. Email or call me with questions and to get more information on signing up or bringing these trainings to your school!

FREE Fitness Classes for Students and Staff

What better and easier way to bring health right to your school than having free fitness classes offered to your students and staff. All you need to do is pick a class, day and time and we'll find the instructor for you. Ready to get started? Email Laurie LaComb at Lauren.LaComb@dcsdk12.org.

Want to get a Fitness Certification?

We can pay up to $1,000 towards a fitness certification of your choice. Then, all we ask is that you bring these skills back and share your learning with the district by offering 20 hours of classes for staff or students. Contact Laurie LaComb for more information on this incredible opportunity! (Lauren.LaComb@dcsdk12.org)

Teaching with the Brain in Mind

DCSD is offering a 2 hour training for staff and administrators on Brain-Based learning. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of how the learning brain functions, experience neuro-considered strategies that can be implemented into their planning, classroom and content to enhance student learning. (andrea.willis@dcsdk12.org)

Healthy Family Habits

Families are increasingly busy with work, homework and activities. Learn some tools to help your family stay healthy while on the go! This 1-2 hour class explores nutrition, healthy cooking, stress relief and exercise to keep the family active and healthy. This is a great one for your staff!

Movement for Improvement Training

We will be offering two 1/2 day trainings with Master Trainers Gym and Caroline Street this spring in DCSD. They offer a unique Action Based Learning workshop as a team with experience in the gym and the classroom. Using the latest developments in brain research, they will engage the audience with the fascinating science of the brain and then put it to use. Participants will come away with a new passion for teaching and learning and will be equipped with the knowledge of how, when and why to implement movement into your classroom and gym the very next day. (More information on this to come!)

Fizika Active Learning Specialist Training

Fizika Active Learning is an evidence-based approach that helps educators achieve physical literacy through the learning process, to improve academic and health outcomes. This online graduate level course provides teachers and administrators with the science, methodologies, and leadership tools needed to apply the principles of using the body to help the mind learn effectively. (Graduate Credit Available)

Website: www.fizikagroup.com

Take a Kim Bevill Online Course

To bring meaningful change in education, Kim has insisted on training educators on the applicable neuroscience and the instructional strategies that work for anyone with a brain! Be ready to think outside the box in a highly interactive training. Participants consistently report feeling a new passion, purpose, and inspiration to new endeavors. They draw on groundbreaking research and hands-on experience to bring high performance results. These unique training opportunities help people move to the next level of efficiency, learning, health and wellness. (Graduate Credit Available)

Website: http://teacherrecertificationcourses.com/

FREE Kaiser Programs

Laughaceuticals: Laughter is the best medicine.

Feeling bogged down or stressed? Well this training is for you! Laughaceuticals works with your staff on the benefits of laughter and play and how to encourage using more humor and fun into your daily routine. (This training is about an hour and great for a staff meeting or PLC day.)

Educational Theatre Programs (ETP)
Through music, comedy and drama, our live theatre programs are offered to schools and communities free of charge. They cover important health topics, such as healthy eating, physical activity, diversity, peer pressure, conflict management, bullying prevention, domestic violence, dealing with grief and loss, depression, sexually transmitted diseases, literacy promotion, and drug, alcohol and tobacco abuse.

Other Community Partner Training Opportunities

January Events:

- Integrating Physical Activity Into the School Day

· January 22, 2015

· Pueblo

- Using Technology in PE

· January 26, 2015

· Durango

February Events:

- Highly Effective Teaching in K-12 Physical Education: Putting All the Pieces Together

· February 6, 2015

· Gunnison

- Teaching With The Brain In Mind- Brain Based Learning Part 2

· February 13, 2015