April 2016
Recently I had the pleasure of attending Colorado Education Initiative's Healthy Schools Summit. I don't know about you, but I always hope to leave these events with one "ah ha" and I did! The guest speaker that day was Dom Testa, a local radio talk show host and an author of many books. His main point throughout the presentation was this, "You will never know how much you will influence another person's life". This couldn't be more true of an educators' service to their students, community, and professional peers. As you work so hard wearing the multitude of hats and continue to promote healthy learning and working environments, know that one day your students will have their own "ah ha" as they realize they are moving forward in life because of you!
This month's blog has a lot of information, which I tried to write in a concise manner so it's easy for you to read. Enjoy and thanks for reading my blog and any feedback is welcomed and encouraged!
Mark Your Calendars
Wrap it up! It's that time of year to start considering data collection, success stories, and celebrations! Please take a few moments to make sure these aspects of your SHIPs are in the works. Look for an email on April 5th with pertinent information.
Mark the Calendar: Every Kid Healthy Week, April 25-29
It’s time to celebrate your school’s health and wellness accomplishments! Join thousands of schools around the country who are hosting events like healthy foods taste tests, physical activity classes, family fitness nights and much more. Last year, more than 700,000 people from schools, families and community organizations came together to mark Every Kid Healthy Week. Already hosting an event? Register your event with us so we can put you on the map. Want to hold an event? Find resources here and check out our Game On Activity of the Month for event ideas. Join the movement to make every kid health and ready to learn and be sure to tag your school's photos in social media with #EveryKidHealthy. Special thanks to CSX Transportation, a national sponsor of Every Kid Healthy Week.
April 11th - May 6th. Fire Up Your Feet with Kaiser Permanente- Use this link to find out more about possible $$ and to register: Fire Up Your Feet!
Fall 2016- plan for it now! As your school leadership teams are planning for the fall, please share with them the healthy opportunities for staff development at your site. Here a few to name a few...
- Physical Activity in the Classroom- Why? What? How? (1 hour)
- Teaching with the Brain in Mind- the neuroscience behind brain functioning. (1-3 hours)
- Kaiser Permanente Laughaceuticals- taking the stress out of the workplace (1 hour)
- Kaiser Permanente Theater programs for kids- Healthy Eating, Social and Emotional Health, Youth Engagement, confronting conflict (middle school). Contact Kaiser Arts Integrated Resources (AIR) webpage at AIR
PA ideas
BOKS https://www.bokskids.org/ is a free online resource for all DCSD staff members for movement and nutrition ideas for classrooms, PE, and BASE. All accounts are free and can be set up through our area coordinator. Please contact... Shawna A. Romero
Denver Area Coordinator
BOKS, Build Our Kids’ Success | An initiative of the Reebok Foundation
Phone: 303-720-0560
Email: Shawna.romero@bokskids.org
Description
From Steve Lopez @ MRMS: Have each student get a partner. The partners should go back to back and interlock their arms at the elbows. Have them sit on the ground, then work together to stand back up. The students love this activity! 
Mingle, Mingle, Group! In this game students mill about the classroom saying, “mingle, mingle, mingle” in soft voices until the teacher says, “Groups of 5,” at which point the students must quickly group themselves into groups with the correct number of people. Students who are left over must do three jumping jacks before the next round starts. The teacher can call out any number for the group size. You can also add rules such as: as soon as a group is complete, all members must sit down in a line.
Nutrition
If you want some free nutrition posters use this order form...
Websites
Their mission is to spread a "healthy attitude" around the world. Subscribe to their newsletter and receive awesome workouts, recipes, and wellness tips.
Spring Snack Recipe
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons unsweetened cocoa
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 2 tablespoons Crunchy Peanut Butter
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/2 cup quick-cooking rolled oats
Directions
- • Stir together sugar, cocoa and milk in 4-cup glass measure in a small pan and bring to a boil.
- • Stir in peanut butter and vanilla until blended. Stir in oats until combined.
- • Drop by spoonfuls onto a waxed paper-lined plate to make 6 cookies.
- • Cool in freezer 10 minutes before serving.
Healthy Schools Work in Action!
Rock Ridge Elementary is implementing Project Unity in conjunction with Special Olympics. This amazing physically active program promotes all students of all abilities to have the power to positively impact their school community by promoting social inclusion. Inclusive sports provide youth with and without intellectual disabilities the opportunity to train and play together as teammates. This program forms friendships, fosters respect for one another, and offers leadership skill building opportunities on and off the court. Please contact me if you want more information and I will connect you with you with people who can help you get this program going at your school.Project Unify
Free Trainings with RMC Health
Destination 201: Data Driven Decisions and Success Stories
- Identify the data that indicates the SMART objective has been achieved
- Identify action steps for how you will collect the data
- Identify 2-3 ways to use the data you have collected
- Identify the importance of sharing success
- Describe the six characteristics of an effective story
- Draft a story using the Success Story Template
Date: Wednesday, April 27, 2016, 9:00am - 3:00pm
Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Date: Saturday, April 30, 2016, 9:00am - 3:00pm
Location: Kremmling, CO
Practice Makes Perfect! Developing Health Mastery Using the Health Skill Models
We’ve all heard the idiom “two birds, one stone.” Wouldn’t it be great to address both 21st Century skills and Health Education skills using consistent skill models in nearly all subject areas in all grade levels? This training will introduce newly developed skill models for goal setting, decision-making, and accessing information that align with Colorado’s Comprehensive Health Education Standards and support 21st Century Skills and Postsecondary Readiness Competencies. The skill models are essential for students in PK through high school and are an integral part of creating a positive climate and culture in your school. Participants will leave with tools and strategies to effectively teach and integrate these skills in all content areas and use in student support services. Participants will have an opportunity to explore how these skills models can be used in a school wide effort to build student mastery of these skills. This training is appropriate for all teachers and staff members.
Click HERE for more information about the training.
Training Dates and Registration:
- May 6 in Wheat Ridge/Denver
- May 10 in Colorado Springs
- June 3 in Grand Junction - TENTATIVE
Implementing Healthy Celebrations, Rewards, and Fundraisers
This training will provide attendees with fun and practical solutions to many of the obstacles currently faced by schools when trying to impact students’ health outside of the cafeteria. The training will help school level staff understand the basic components of creating a shift in the school food culture that aligns with current efforts and has lasting effects. Implementation guides and stellar resources are just a few of the tools that will be provided to help attendees take the first steps, or giant leaps, in providing healthier student opportunities and environments.
Training Dates and Registration:
Bringing Nutrition Education to Life in Elementary Schools
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 on how to bring nutrition education to life in their classroom and greater school environment.
Date: Friday, May 13, 2016
Location: Sheraton Hotel-Denver West
Times: 8:30am Breakfast, 9-3pm
Click HERE for training information and to register.
Full-day trainings will be offered for district and school health team leaders and members. Lunch will be provided. Full substitute pay or a $100 stipend (as appropriate) and a certification of completion will be provided to those that attend the full day of training. If you have any questions, please contact Lara Peck at larap@rmc.org, (303) 867-9127 or Coreen Maas, coreenm@rmc.org, (303) 867-9116
Thank you! Creating healthy schools can be challenging at times and I appreciate all that you do! Reach out if you need any support for your work.
Laurie LaComb
lllacomb@dcsdk12.org
Thanks for the information. Always great to hear/learn about opportunities out there to enhance our work!
ReplyDeleteI like the spring snack recipe. I would make it "healthier" by either replacing the sugar with agave or honey. Thanks for all the resources!
ReplyDeleteEmily
Thank you for the ice breaker page. I am always looking for new ideas in the classroom. I bookmarked that page and I am planning on using the page in the future. Thank you.
ReplyDelete