HAPPY FALL!!! 

I hope you are all enjoying this beautiful fall weather as the leaves change color and fall before our eyes. It's hard to believe the snow will be falling soon!

We are ironing out the final Roles & Responsibilities of the Coordinated School Health Co Leaders. We will send it out to you by Thursday of this week! We will also have it listed on the Role of the Coordinated School Health Co Leader. 

As a reminder, we will not have a fall meeting this year. We do still plan to have a big meeting in the spring though! Instead, I am meeting with individual school teams to see how I can best support you this year. Thank you to those schools that have invited me to a Coordinated School Health Team meeting. It's so exciting to hear about all of the great work you're doing to increase physical activity, improve nutrition and the overall health and wellness of the students and staff at your school.

If you haven't scheduled a meeting with me yet, please email or call me by November 1st to schedule a time and date!  

Please Register for the Healthy Schools Move Program! 

Again, we are partnering with Kids Running America (KRA) in a DCSD Healthy Schools Move initiative, where staff, students and family members are encouraged to complete an ULTRAMARATHON and accumulate at least 100 miles of movement throughout the school year! There will be incentives and competitions (within schools and between schools or feeders) to reward participants for logging their miles.We worked very hard to be able to offer this program at NO COST to participants! 

To register, go to DCSD Healthy Schools Move. Registration is pretty simple but I have included directions on a google doc in case you need it. I've also included a google doc that details how to log miles. Your team will be your school name, so just use the drop down menu to find your school name and click on it. 

(We will hopefully be sending home a one page blurb in Thursday folders or via email to families as well as including information in THINK.)

Registration Instructions: 
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Fv52ajrzy7OwTDU7IHW07TQFwDjKyNaIz4tb5j0q0l4/edit?usp=sharing

Logging Miles and Lifestyle Instructions:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/169x6RcwXPssVtISro7D85hTlxEi2PW618aKQlXOJDoc/edit?usp=sharing

Want FREE Fitness Classes for Students and/or Staff at your building? 

Contact Laurie LaComb for more information. lllacomb@dcsdk12.org

Healthy Schools Highlight...

Getting Active with the Mountain Ridge Middle School Rams

Mountain Ridge Middle School saw changes in the physical education program that, in turn, created a lack of physical activity during the school day. The Mountain Ridge school health team and administration enlisted the help of student leaders to develop, support, and lead the RAM classes.

RAM is a student-led leadership program that began with an advisory focus. The school health team understood that including students in the design and implementation of the program would help with the sustainability over time. And, with funding from the Healthy Schools Colorado Grant, physical activity was incorporated into the RAM classes.

The result? One hundred percent of the students engaged to increase their activity on a monthly basis.

Take a few minutes to watch what happens when students are empowered, excited, and involved. Go Rams!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNskkoZifc4#t=13

Community Partner Updates/Events

GoNoodle:

Go Noodle is a one-stop shop for brain breaks. GoNoodle uses technology and a familiar game-like experience to engage students through a variety of activities. There is no prep required. All that is needed is an Internet connection, computer, projector and white board. Brain breaks can be used anytime of the day - in the morning to get your students' heart rates up and their brains ready to learn, during transition times, after lunch and recess to increase energy and focus, or whenever your students need to get their wiggles out. Students who play GoNoodle stay more focused, engaged and motivated throughout the day. Research shows that short bursts of classroom physical activity improve student activity. Douglas County School District teachers have access to GoNoodle Plus thanks to the generosity of Children's Hospital Colorado. GoNoodle Plus offers core aligned brain breaks that get students active while maintaining fluency in core subjects. For more information about how to activate your sponsored account and/or to schedule a free 10-20 minute staff training at your school, please contact Kristina Clark at 719-205-6454 or by email at kristina.clark@gonoodle.com. Kristina is also available for school events such as Health Jams and Field Days. 

HealthTeacher:

As schools across the country are adjusting to the instructional shifts brought about by the Common Core, Healthteacher.com is leading the way to integrate these students into health education lessons. Aligning health lessons to the Common Core provides teachers with an easy and meaningful way to integrate health topics into their existing curriculum. HealthTeacher is a K-12 curriculum and has over 300 online lessons available covering a wide variety of topics. Children's Hospital Colorado is providing free access to Douglas County School District. For more information about how to activate your sponsored account and/or to schedule a free staff training at your school, please contact Kristina Clark at 719-205-6454 or by email at kristina.clark@healthteacher.com. 

Mega Math Marathon:

Run a virtual 26.2 mile marathon over time and practice dedication, goal setting, and math fluency in one big stride! In each session, your class gets a little closer to the finish line -- and by answering grade-appropriate math fluency questions (based on Common Core standards), you’ll sprint towards your best time. http://youtu.be/tOXahqDFX18

The Road to Mastery: Assessment Strategies in Health Education 

This interactive training will explore types of assessments that can be used during introduction, reinforcement, and mastery of health skills found in Colorado’s Comprehensive Health Education Standards. Using an assessment process guide and toolkit, participants will develop student assessment strategies to use in their classroom. Participants also examine different types of rubrics and practice using rubrics to assess student performance and growth.

This is the fourth health education standards trainings offered by RMC Health’s Health Education Training Cadre.  If you are interested in the other trainings, take a moment to check this page,Colorado Comprehensive Health Education Standards Trainings, or you can simply contact us!

We will support your attendance by providing $75 per participant to support district substitute pay.

Credit (0.5 hour) from Adams State College is available for a fee.

Breakfast and lunch will be provided.

RMC Health, the Colorado Department of Education, and the Colorado Legacy Foundation have partnered to develop the standards trainings.

http://www.rmc.org/whats-going-onstandardshealth-education-standards-training-4/

September Newsletter

Happy Fall! 

REGISTER for the DCSD Healthy Schools Move Program! 

Again, we are partnering with Kids Running America (KRA) in a DCSD Healthy Schools Move initiative, where staff, students and family members are encouraged to complete an ULTRAMARATHON and accumulate at least 100 miles of movement throughout the school year! There will be incentives and competitions (within schools and between schools or feeders) to reward participants for logging their miles.We worked very hard to be able to offer this program at NO COST to participants! 

To register, go to DCSD Healthy Schools Move. Registration is pretty simple but I have included directions on a google doc in case you need it. I've also included a google doc that details how to log miles. Your team will be your school name, so just use the drop down menu to find your school name and click on it. 

(We will hopefully be sending home a one page blurb in Thursday folders or via email to families as well as including information in THINK.)

Registration Instructions: 
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Fv52ajrzy7OwTDU7IHW07TQFwDjKyNaIz4tb5j0q0l4/edit?usp=sharing

Logging Miles and Lifestyle Instructions:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/169x6RcwXPssVtISro7D85hTlxEi2PW618aKQlXOJDoc/edit?usp=sharing

We are hoping to have information to share via Thursday folders and/or THINK and emails to families, but

PLEASE SHARE THIS WITH YOUR STAFF AND STUDENTS AND ENCOURAGE FAMILIES TO SIGN UP! 

The more students, staff and families we can get to register, the better sponsorships we will receive and the more funding we can get to support your health and wellness initiatives (SHIPs) at your schools! 

** We will also be working with the Personalized Learning Leaders (PLLs) in the district, in which the work of the Coordinated School Health teams can be integrated directly into their roles and responsibilities and includes a nice stipend. 

Fall Training/Meetings

We have had a few questions regarding a fall training meeting. Laurie and I are still determining if we'll be able to have a full-day training event this fall (we REALLY want to!), and should hopefully have that information to you within a week or so. If we are unable to have a full day training, we will provide an alternative training either within feeder areas or on an individual basis. It just depends on how we can utilize some of the Kaiser grant funds, which we are still working out with our T.A. Provider. We will keep you posted!!! 

Mini Grant Winners

We wanted to take a minute to highlight the mini grant winners from last spring and share some of the amazing ways they used their additional funds. What great uses of funds to support health and learning! 

1. Ben Franklin Academy- Middle School Health Curriculum
2. Buffalo Ridge Elementary- Fit Bit Zips (pedometer challenges for both students and staff)
3. Cherry Valley Elementary- Tower Garden
4. Coyote Creek Elementary- Exercise Balls to replace classroom chairs
5. Heritage Elementary- Learning Labrynth (for unstructured play or outdoor classroom use)
6. Pioneer Elementary- School Garden (tools and supplies)
7. Saddle Ranch Elementary- Tower Garden
8. Sagewood Middle School- Brain Break materials (Staff can check out during week to use in their classrooms)

Healthy Schools Highlight... 

Cherry Valley Elementary was highlighted in THINK this past week (August 28th). Check it out!

Goodbye Sundaes, Hello Smoothies!
** Healthy News and Events to share and highlight at your school? Be sure to send us your pics and a little blurb about it and we will submit it for you! (:

DCSD Updates & Info

DCSD Tobacco Grant

In Colorado, 5,300 youth become regular smokers each year. (37 percent of high schoolers and 14 percent of middle schoolers have tried smoking.)

Yet, the average number of tobacco violations in DCSD schools is 8 violations. How is it possible that Douglas has so little number of violations when the youth tobacco users percent is so high?
Many of us are unaware of the emerging tobacco products.

Which of these products is used to smoke nicotine?

Not sure? I'm available to share the emerging products in teachers' lounges, Professional Development days, staff meetings and/or any other event that fits with your schools needs. (Are your community parents aware? Parents night would be a great time to help build awareness.)


Please contact Cynthia Redfern to set up a meeting, event, or time to be in your school.

Cynthia Redfern
District Tobacco Grant Coordinator 
Cynthia.Redfern@dcsdk12.org 
303-387-0072 

Community Health Parnter Updates & Info

Register for the 18th Annual National Walk to School Day on Wednesday, October 8th, 2014. 
http://www.saferoutesinfo.org/about-us/newsroom/walk-school-day-2014-registration-now-open

Walk to School day is fast approaching. Have you planned your events to encourage students to walk to school on October 8^th (or another day that works better for your school)? Please register your school atwww.walkbiketoschool.org.   This year, through a partnership with Colorado Action for Healthy Kids and LiveWell Colorado, we will be randomly awarding three (3) $250 mini-grants to be used for SRTS-related promotion and materials to schools that have registered and reported their Walk to School Day/Month participation throughwww.walkbiketoschool.org.  Information will be arriving to your school or organization soon or refer to the attached documents for information on ordering materials to promote your event.

Thank you to all of the DCSD schools who supported the American Heart Association last year!

Over 22,000 DCSD students and 36 schools participated in Jump Rope for Heart or Hoops for Heart last year. Thank you for continuing the tradition that started 35 years ago! Schools who participated in these programs last year earned a total of $13,600 in certificates for new PE equipment to ensure our students are receiving quality physical education throughout the school year.

If you are interested in learning more about this fun and impactful program, please contact:

Elizabeth Tomlin at elizabeth.tomlin@heart.org or Beth Arnold atbethany.arnold@heart.org.

                                                         Your participation will help to save lives and make our district a                                                                    healthier place!

Check out the FUEL UP TO PLAY Fall Campaign...

For the Love of Play, emphasizing getting 60 minutes of physical activity per day and asking kids/family to show us how they play ..It starts Sept. 9 and runs through Oct. 17 and there are prizes.  See the Online version of the promo flyer:

http://westerndairyassociation.org/download/love-of-play-campaign-flyer/

Enjoy Social Media? 

"Like" RMC Health on Facebook and receive important updates related to Health and Wellness including training opportunities, articles/research, and events! 

August Healthy Schools News

Welcome Back! 

We hope you had a wonderful summer break and took time to relax and rejuvenate with friends and family. We've been busy preparing for a great year ahead and can't wait to get started! 

YAY Healthy Schools Blog! 
We created this blog in order to share information more efficiently as well as make resources and other information readily available to you and your team members. 

Included you will find:

* Calendar (We will post health and wellness related events in the district and community as well as important dates and deadlines. Please let us know of anything that you'd like to share or that we're missing!)
* Submit Your Event: Do you have a school or community event you want to share? Just email me with the outlined details and we will put it on our calendar! Be sure to add the Healthy Schools Calendar to your calendars so the events will show up automatically!
* Roles and Responsibilities of the Coordinated School Health Team (We are still working on this section)
* Partner Updates (Will be included at bottom of blog posts)
* Resources (links to research, sample SHIPs, etc. This is still being developed.)

Being that it's the start of the school year, there's so much to share, so please bear with us on this long(er) post. I promise not to be so long winded on future monthly updates! (:

First off, using the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child model, we created a mission and vision for the DCSD Healthy Schools program and a three-year strategic plan to implement our health and wellness efforts. We had the opportunity to present to Cabinet this summer and with Student Wellness is a high priority, we will be able to move forward and continue our work!  This is huge progress for our mission in making the health of DCSD students and staff a priority in this district.

Vision:

Douglas County School District will be recognized as the Healthiest School District in Colorado by 2017

Mission:

DCSD Healthy Schools leads district-wide and school-based wellness efforts, offers professional development opportunities, and coordinates the efforts of health and wellness initiatives that support the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child Initiative for all staff and students in Douglas County School District.

Healthy Schools Move

Without the HSSS grant money, we've had to improvise and seek funding from other sources. To do this, we are partnering with Kids Running America (KRA) in a 

DCSD Healthy Schools Move initiative, where staff, students and family members are encouraged to accumulate at least 100 miles of movement throughout the school year. There will be incentives and competitions to reward participants for logging their miles. Don't like to run? No problem! We will have conversion charts for participants to use to convert biking, swimming, tennis, etc. or you can just add those activities to the Movement Tracker to monitor your exercise! that to the movement With the KRA platform, there are opportunities for sponsors and partners to pay for sponsorships. 

I never would have guessed sales would be part of our job description, but we're so passionate about this work and cannot wait to share it! 

We've worked very hard to be able to offer this program at NO COST to participants! The revenue generated from these sponsorships will go directly back to schools to support health and wellness initiatives (a.k.a. your SHIP(s) since we do not have the $500 per school that we have had in past years.  PARTICIPATION IN KEY!!!

We will also be working with the Personalized Learning Leaders (PLL) in the district, in which the work of the Coordinated School Health teams can be integrated directly into their roles and responsibilities and includes a stipend. 

We will send more information on the launch of the DCSD Healthy Schools Move initiative, which we hope to be early September, so look for that in the next week or two. Contact Andrea Willis for more information or questions. 

Thriving Schools Grant
We are so excited to announce that DCSD was awarded the Thriving Schools Grant through Kaiser Permanente! This grant will specifically target 9 schools that will create student led health teams under the direction of a "Health Coach" (a staff member at the school) and includes a stipend. These teams will create and implement unique physical activity initiatives in each school. We are in need of one more High School to participate, so if you are interested, please contact Laurie LaComb. With this grant we will also be offering some exciting opportunities in the area for professional development, so keep your eyes open for healthy classes listed in the district course catalog.

Upcoming Events/Training Opportunities

DCSD Staff Wellness

Interested in forming a kickball team? 

* All participants must be DCSD employees and there is only room for 24 teams.

* The first 24 teams to submit all the required forms will be able to play.

* See below for more information on where, when and how! 

Kickball Information and Rules

Kickball Team Sign ups

Kickball Waiver Sheet

Interested in THE GREAT BODY SHOP Training???

School System: Douglas County School District   
Contact: Andrea Willis

Workshop Title: Basic Teacher Orientation: THE GREAT BODY SHOP

Objective(s): Participants will ...

·      identify the scope and sequence of THE GREAT BODY SHOP

·      locate essential components of THE GREAT BODY SHOP Teacher's Guide

·      explain the program mechanics of the curriculum

·      participate in lessons and activities from THE GREAT BODY SHOP

·      analyze activities used to meet the curriculum's performance objectives

·      identify cross curricular reinforcement activities, the Common Core alignment, and best practice instructional strategies

·      explain process and procedures related to available web tools

Trainer: Pat Stewart

Course Description: The Basic Teacher Orientation is a training experience designed to train teachers how to implement THE GREAT BODY SHOP.  After an overview of the curriculum, participants will experience demonstration lessons, active participation through curricular activities, and explore effective ways to implement the curriculum. The Children's Health Market wants to ensure that participants receive a workshop that meets their needs, is of the highest quality, and is relevant to specific educational challenges.  The training is designed to be interactive, practical and motivational.

For additional information, contact:

Barbara Burditt

Director of Training

The Children’s Health Market

800-782-7077 x1003

(Webinar)

Building a Foundation for Quality Physical Education: It Begins on Day 1 

Attendees will learn:

• Ideas for introducing, teaching, and assessing social skills 
• Strategies for implementing student-centered guidelines, expectations, and routines
• Sample cooperation and trust activities for the first few weeks of school

When: Wednesday, August 20th at 3pm Pacific (4pm Mountain, 5pm Central, 6pm Eastern)
Who: Grades PreK-12 teachers and administrators, PE specialists, after school and early childhood teachers and staff 
Duration: 45 Minutes
Cost: Free

Click Here to register for this webinar.

“Public Health in the Rockies Conference”

September 17-19Fort Collins Marriott, Fort Collins, Colorado

“American School Health Association Conference”
October 9-11
Hilton Portland & Executive Tower, Portland, Oregon

If there's anything else you'd like us to include, please let us know using the "Submit Your Event" tab or contact us directly.