DCSD Healthy Schools

March 2019

As we progress through the last nine weeks of school it may benefit all to carve extra time for physical activity breaks, energizing brain breaks, healthy snack challenges,  mindfulness activities, calming moments, and extra recesses outside. We know these healthy activities not only help our students have better access to their learning, but it also help us take some mental breaks that we need throughout the day!

Save the Date!

Our Healthy Schools & Staff Wellness Healthy Champs celebration will be held on Monday, April 22nd, from 4:30-5:30 at the Lone Tree Library! Our agenda includes a slide show, a raffle, a quick and easy wellness activity plus yummy food and goodies for everyone (new t-shirt!). Please make sure to complete the Google Form that will be sent to you on March 25th.

Training Opportunities

DCSD is hosting its next RP/RJ Workshop is April 2, 2019, 8:30am - 4:00pm at the Highlands Ranch Mansion.  Sign up now: Course Link: https://pd.dcsdk12.org/course/view.php?id=12290.   

The spring RP/RJ Workshop is intended to provide restorative approaches for supporting our youth and their broad continuum of mental health needs. There will be specific sessions for each tier of support in Trauma-Informed Care and substance use prevention.  In addition, there will be sessions for those new to Restorative Practices and those who want more practice with circles and mediation. This workshop will also have a session on how to use Restorative Practices in building staff culture.  Back by popular demand, Anjali Nandi will be our keynote speaker! Subs will be paid for.  Use RP Workshop for your reason in Aesop.

Grant Opportunities

Sustainability Mini-Grant Program The DCSD Office of Sustainability is excited to offer mini-grant opportunities to increase sustainability initiatives at your school. The mini-grants will be awarded in the form of supplies requested, up to $400 per request. Schools may submit more than one grant request.

Deadline: Rolling deadline - we will review and fund accepted grant requests as they come in. If funds run out, grant requests will be rolled to the following school year.

Criteria: Project goals should increase or enhance sustainability for our schools/students. Mini-grants that will directly affect student learning and are integrated into the curriculum will receive priority.

Grant amounts: Requests may be for any dollar amount up to $400 used to purchase materials for your sustainability project. Schools will receive the materials requested.

Follow-up: Funded grant request recipients will be required to submit a post-project follow-up summary. The Office of Sustainability will use this to determine student impact on learning as a result of this grant. This is an important step as the data collected will be used to request higher grant requests in the future.

https://www.smore.com/qj79k-sustain-dcsd?ref=email

The application for our National Healthy Schools Award opens on February 11th. Earning the National Healthy Schools Award indicates that your school is a leader in school health and has made the effort to ensure that the environments that surround kids provide and promote good health.  Schools may apply online between February 2019 and May 1, 2019. Application opens: February 15, 2019 Final due date: May 1, 2019 Award notifications: Fall 2019 America’s Healthiest Schools Nationwide Announcement: September 2019 Visit our new Award Help Page to learn more about the perks of being an award winner, the process for applying on our new website, your eligibility status, and more. The application opens on February 11th, so read up now to be sure you're prepared to apply! Success in the Middle We are very excited to announce that the DCSD Prevention & School Culture Department will again be hosting a Success In the Middle Conference on April 19, 2019.  This conference is exclusively for students in 5th or 6th grade that will be transitioning to one of the nine neighborhood middle schools. This event is FREE for students and includes free lunch as well as a free transportation option through DCSD!  Registration is open until April 5th, 2019 and will be capped at 250 attendees. The event is designed to offer students information and strategies that will help them have a successful transition from elementary to middle school.  We will be focusing on helping students meet new peers, work on managing change, fear and challenges, build resiliency and take care of themselves (self-advocacy, study habits, time management). Success In the Middle Conference 2019 Flyer (JPG). Please go HERE for registration information as well as additional class opportunities.

Mindfulness Thank you Susan Husome for sharing this resource... Zen Pig Video and  Zen Pig website Tips for helping teens dealing with stress by Carrie Wisehart Stop and breathe.  Just like I mentioned earlier, helping students just stop all the thoughts and breathe is a great start. Push away from the desk, put down the book or laptop or iPad and close your eyes. Count to ten. Consider the gravity. Students are convinced that every quiz, every assignment, every test could be the one that determines their worth for the rest of their lives (I am not exaggerating this). I am not sure what the source is - teachers, parents, other students - but I often ask them how much this will matter tomorrow, in a week, a month, or a year. Consider the gravity and then treat this moment as such. Take time every day to do something you love. I teach seniors. They are applying for college, working a job, doing school, balancing sports and music and academics. Encourage them to BLOCK OUT time every day to do something they love. Or just sit and do nothing. They need to debrief just as much as we do. Look outward. When I am the most stressed, I do something for someone else. Students, just because of their development, get caught in their own "selves" quite a bit. If we help them to get perspective and consider someone else's plight, it helps them worry less about their own. Help your kids do kind things for others so they can, in turn, be kind to themselves. LET THEM BE KIDS LIKE THEY ACTUALLY ARE. I disagree with the idea that the minute these kids turn 18, they are adults. Because they are not. There is not enough of a change from the day before their birthday to the day after their birthday. They need to sled, play, laugh, hang out, and BE KIDS. Every day. There is a lot of pressure in high school to "prepare them for college". And we need to. Prepare them. But when do they just GET TO BE IN HIGH SCHOOL? Free Training from the Author of Change your Brain Hello, Welcome to Amen University! Thank you so much for purchasing our online course, Brain Thrive by 25. You are now part of a community of thousands of students, just like you, who are learning to become dedicated to brain health. When your brain works right, you work right; that’s why we are here to lay this foundation with you. Since the brain is still malleable until 25, the sooner you learn these powerful skills to care, nourish, protect, and optimize your brain, the faster you will lay the building blocks to a future high performing brain. So welcome to the beginning of your thriving brain...and future! Brain Thrive by 25 includes: • Videos lesson and Bonus Teen Panel Video • Downloadable Resources: Guided Notes, Brain In The News Activity, Lab   Exercise, Supplemental handouts • Discussion board so you can collaborate with other Brain Thrive students   across the globe 1.   ACCESS - To access course, go to: www.amenuniversity.com 2.   SIGN IN - Enter your Username and Password.        a.   Your username is the email address you used at time of purchase.        b.   Your password is the same password you created at time of purchase. 3.   COURSES - Click on the course title. 4.   LESSONS - You are now on your course homepage- each lesson is       accessible through the icons on your homepage as well as the left navigation bar. We are looking for a handful of educators and administrators to collaborate with, focusing on incorporating Stop, Breathe & Think into your school's weekly agenda and at home. It will be minimal effort on your part, with a big, lasting impact.  If this idea sparks an interest in you, please send an email to Ariana@stopbreathethink.com with the subject line "Teen School Brainstorm".  We will follow-up with you personally, initiating a quick phone call to begin our brainstorm together.  We are excited to collaborate on this exciting venture with you,  Ariana and the team at Stop, Breathe & Think  Physical Activity Recently we have been playing this game with the classrooms we visit- super fun!  Stop, Walk, Wiggle, Sit game BOKS is a great resource for physical activity before, during, after school!  We signed up for their weekly BOKS Burst activities, which are fun games you can play with students inside or outside. Try this one out... Burst 2: Fast and Low Individual, in place  10 minutes, grades K-8      30 count jumping jacks      30 count plank hold      30 count fast jump rope      30 count low squat      30 count fast running with high knees      30 count plank hold      30 count wide fast feet (like you are running through tires)      30 count low squat      Rest for 60 seconds      Repeat    For the past few years, Healthy Schools has been the lucky recipient from the HRCA Mother's Day 5K run.  It's a fabulous event! Bring your family and friends and join in the fun at the HRCA Mother’s Day 5K! Soak in the amazing views of the front range, Highlands Ranch Windmill and Highlands Ranch Mansion by running, walking, or strolling. Sign-up dad and the kids too and make it a morning of activity the entire family can enjoy. Don’t miss the post race party filled with fun activities and inflatables for the kids and an all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast! First-time 5K run/walkers, elite runners, and moms/dads with strollers are all invited to enjoy the fun on Saturday, May 11! Mountain Vista High School - 10585 Mountain Vista Ridge, Highlands Ranch, CO 80126.  5/11/2019 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM School Celebrations Yoga at Soaring Hawk! Camp Kindness at Pioneer Elementary  Nutrition Looking for a great classroom resource Elementary nutrition lessons, check out these Nutrition cards This is an interesting article on ways to check-in on purchasing habits... Importance of Hydration in Physical Education By Karoline Gore  The nation's children and teenagers aren't drinking enough water, according to research in the American Journal of Public Health. Researchers found a worrying trend among the country's boys, with males 76% more likely to be poorly hydrated than girls. For youngsters participating in regular sporting and physical activity, hydration is especially important as it keeps their brains and bodies functioning correctly. Therefore, as a teacher who is dedicated to children’s health and fitness, it's best to include fun hydration sessions alongside your nutrition and fitness education. Hydration, nutrition, and fitness Kids need to understand that hydration, nutrition, and fitness go hand in hand. Eating well is crucial for kids who thrive for good physical performance, for staying healthy and for fighting off disease. But children exercise, they sweat up to 1.4 liters in an hour. Therefore, this fluid loss needs to be replaced with good... article continues here. Recipe for Kale Chips (just try them!) Directions WATCH Watch how to make this recipe. Preheat the oven to 275 degrees F. Remove the ribs from the kale and cut into 1.5-inch pieces. Lay on a baking sheet and toss with the olive oil and salt. Bake until crisp, turning the leaves halfway through, about 20 minutes. Serve as finger food. Put on a salad. Enjoy! That's all for now.  An email will be sent with all directions on how to close up your SHIP and receive your stipend in early April. Please drop a comment on our blog for our Blog Reader Prize. Enjoy your spring break recharging your batteries. With gratitude,  Laurie & Kimmy