DCSD Healthy Schools

October 2019

Thank you to everyone who could join us on September 12th for our annual Healthy Schools Workshop. The positive attitude, willingness to take new classes and the massive consumption of potatoes really made the event a hit! We had over 30 classes and many Community Partners- thank you to each and every one of these amazing people for carving out time, putting forth the energy, and sharing their expertise with the group. We hope everyone left with something new and a rekindled excitement for the year ahead that surrounds this ever so important work.

Smart Source

Whitney Israel is the contact for Smart Source in Douglas County. We need as many schools to participate!! Please send Whitney an email to WHITNEY.ISRAEL@cuanschutz.edu

with the name of the survey coordinator for the school and email address. The rest is

automated by their system to send survey links, directions, and reminders. 

Any school that participates in Smart Source receives $100 stipend that can be allocated however the

survey coordinator wishes. This can go as a stipend or towards supplies.

Professional Development Opps

Trauma Responsive Schools Coaching Session (2276-1, 2276-2, 2276-3, 2276-4)

This session is one of four quarterly opportunities for district staff to deepen their knowledge of trauma-responsive interventions and learn how best to apply concepts and strategies at the universal, targeted, and intensive levels. A more relaxed setting will be provided in order for participants to engage in conversations with colleagues and share current successes, concerns, and needs in their building around the application of trauma-responsive practices. Discussions will be facilitated by district trauma specialists who will also provide updates on current research and strategies in the field of trauma-responsive education.

Reach out to Kaylene R. Case ~ with any questions ~ kcase@dcsdk12.org ~ Voicemail: 720-982-6887

• Advancing Your SHI Score: School Wellness Environment, Wednesday, Oct. 2 at 12pm CT
• Advancing Your SHI Score: School Nutrition, Wednesday, Oct. 9 at 12pm CT
• Advancing Your SHI Score: Physical Activity, Wednesday, Oct. 16 at 12pm CT
• Advancing Your SHI Score: Staff Involvement, Wednesday, Oct. 23 at 12pm CT
• Advancing Your SHI Score: Family Engagement, Wednesday, Oct. 30 at 12pm CT
• Getting to Know the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) Model, Thursday, Nov. 14 at 2pm CT
• The Power of Parents, Wednesday, Nov. 20 at 2pm CT

Kim Bevill Course Schedule for local classes

Seminar on How to Talk to Young People about Vaping, JUULS, and other Electronic Nicotine Devices. Start the Conversation, October 29th, 2019

Physical Activity

Walk to School Day is October 2!

It's almost time to lace up your sneakers and join thousands of schools across the country to celebrate International Walk to School Day next Wednesday! If your school or community has a thriving Safe Routes to School program, Walk to School Day is a great energizing event, letting you connect your efforts with those of other students around the state, country, and world. If you don’t have many existing efforts to encourage students to walk to school, Walk to School Day is a fun and easy way to explore interest, build enthusiasm, and get started. 

Outdoor Play Is Essential For Kids' Health, Even If Parents Worry: Study

Great article on getting students to move outside!!

Are you interested in our weekly BOKS Bursts? If not,  Sign Up

Burst 1: Hurdle BOKS Give Me 10 Individual, in place 10 minutes, Grades K-8 Directions: Do each activity 10X 1.   Jump Rope (pretending you have a jump rope in your hand) 2.   Elbow to knee (opposite elbow to opposite knee) 3.   Mummy kicks (arms out straight crossing over each time, legs kick out      straight) 4.   Side lunges – touch your feet (5X each side) 5.   Star Jacks (squat, jump up high and spread arms and legs out wide like a           star) 6.   Squat (hold squat while punching arms out in front) 7.   Tire Jumps (jump like you are going through tires) 8.   Repeat

Burst 2: Like a Boxer Individual, little space required 10 minutes, Grades 2-6 Directions: Round #1 – Perform action 10 times and always come back to a neutral stance. Straight Punches, right side – punch the air with your right fist without                rotating shoulder Straight Punches, left side – punch the air with you left fist without rotating shoulder Uppercut, right side – start with your right arm in an “L” shape and move in      the upwards direction Uppercut, left side – start with your left arm in an “L” shape and move in the      upwards direction Round #2 – Perform each action 10 times and always come back to a neutral stance. Hook, right side – start with your right arm in an “L” shape at eye level and      swing across your face Hook, left side – start with your left arm in an “L” shape at eye level and           swing across your face Jab with right side – turn slightly to the left and punch with your right fist Jab with left side – turn slightly to the right and punch with your left fist Round #3 – Do 1 minute of each activity Push-ups – as many as possible in 1 minute Jump Rope – as many times as possible in 1 minute

Burst 3: Movement Burst Individual, in place 3-5 minutes, Grades K - 3 Directions: Perform each activity for 20-30 seconds Move around the room: ·      As BIG as you can ·      As small as you can ·      As SLOW as you can ·      As QUIETLY as you can ·      As HIGH as you can ·      As LOW as you can  Challenge: repeat Bursts with a partner and take turns being the leader who your partner follows.

Burst 4: Plank Burst Individual, in place 5-10 minutes, Grades K - 8 Directions: ·     Begin in straight arm plank position. ·     Lift Left arm and right leg up to balance and hold balance for 10 seconds. ·     Begin in straight arm plank position. ·     Straight arm plank and lift right arm and right leg off the ground for 10 seconds. ·     Begin in regular plank position (forearms on ground). ·     Lift left arm and right leg up to balance and hold balance for 10 seconds. ·     Begin in regular plank position (forearms on ground). ·     Lift right arm and right leg off the ground for 10 seconds. Challenge: repeat but have another person place 1 or 2 books on your back while you perform each skill (requires lots of balance).

Yoga and Mindfulness Burst: Balancing on the Ground Partner, requires little space 5 minutes, Grades K-8  Directions: Stretch spine, back and belly muscles, elevate mood, and open the heart: 1.   Lie down on your stomach, chin out with legs stretched out behind      you. 2.   Place your hands under the shoulders, very close to your chest. Keep your five-fingers together, with hands-palms flat on the floor. Glue it down. 3.   Join the legs and heels together, tightening them - one piece like a cobra tail. 4.   Inhale deeply and look up towards the ceiling, lifting your upper body up using 100% of your back strength. 5.   Come up halfway only, until only your belly button is touching the floor, the rest of your upper body is in the air. Keep your feet flat on the floor (laces side down). 6.   Hold it there, freeze, and remember to breathe; hold for 15-30 seconds. 7.   Gently come down and relax. 8.   Repeat 5-10 times.  

The Fuel Up to Play 60 Student Zone app is packed with fun activities and all the latest news from the FUTP 60 team! DOWNLOAD THE APP!

Get Students in the Zone! The Fuel Up to Play 60 Student Zone app is now available in the App and Google Play stores! This app is completely free, and it’s jam-packed with fun activities for students focused on leadership, healthy eating and physical activity! Students don’t have to have an account with Fuel Up to Play 60 to download the app or participate in the activities — so it’s a great way to get new people involved.

Mindfulness

Head Space is now free for educators!!

Staff Wellness Happenings

Pink Out: October 11th

Time to rock those pink knickerbockers and raise awareness for Breast Cancer. DCSD staff will be going pink on October 11th. If you would like to make a donation in the fight against cancer, please visit Cancer League of Colorado or your favorite organization.

Walktober: October 1 - 31st

Challenge yourself through individual step/activity goals or compete as a team. Registration will open on September 15th at 11pm, so start getting your team together today.  The first 5 teams to register will win a fun wellness prize! Also, the high school, middle school and elementary schools (one awarded in each feeder area) with the most participants will win a grand fruit basket for your staff AND of course bragging rights! Bookmark this Walktober registration link.

Mini Volleyball League & Tournament: October 29th & November 5th

Gather your staff and create a volleyball team to join the Battle on the Courts! This will be an epic two-day mini-tournament held at Southridge Rec. Center in Highlands Ranch after school hours.  Register your team using THIS LINK. Limit 10 teams - All recreation level play.   

Sustainability

2019-2020 SUSTAINABILITY MINI-GRANT PROGRAM

The DCSD Office of Sustainability is happy 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: March 1, 2020 - 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. It is recommended that you request grant funds as soon as you can, even if you will not need delivery of items until later in the 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 materials requested.

To apply, fill this Google Form: Sustainability Mini-Grant Application

Nutrition

We have an amazing resource in our district, her name is Tara Gonzalez. She is a member of our District Health Advisory Committee and serves as a Nutrition Area Manager in DCSD. She has generously has offered to visit classrooms to teach about nutrition. Just email her at tgonzales@dcsdk12.org.

Do you have any parents eager to get more involved in healthy meals at schools? Here is an opportunity!!  Please share the information and flyer below with any parent who would like to attend this free workshop.  

SCHOOL FOOD: Get Educated, Energized, and Engaged

Parents for Healthy Kids Fall Workshop

Every child deserves daily access to healthy, fresh food. Join Action for Healthy Kids,  Colorado PTA, and the Chef Ann Foundation to find out how school food departments work and how parents can provide support and meaningful collaboration to create healthier school meals that kids want to eat. 

Open to all interested parents and caregivers. Interpretation into Spanish will be provided. 

Tuesday, October 22, 2019, 9:30 - 2:30 at mindSpark Learning, Lakewood, CO

Learn more and register: http://bit.ly/SchoolFood-CO-workshop.

This is from one of my all-time favorite authors, Angela Liddon, Oh, How She Glows!

Green Warrior Protein Smoothie

Vegan, gluten-free, grain-free, no bake/raw, nut-free, refined sugar-free, soy-free

Talk about a supercharged meal in a glass! I use hemp hearts as the major protein source for this drink. In addition to being a complete protein source, hemp hearts also contain the ideal balance of omega 3-6-9 fatty acids and are high in fiber. They work wonderfully to make this smoothie super creamy, all without needing any banana. This smoothie also highlights one of my biggest cravings - the juicy red grapefruit - which is balanced with a sweet apple and buttery mango. If you prefer a sweeter smoothie, feel free to swap the grapefruit juice for coconut water or orange juice, or add a touch of liquid sweetener.

Yield
3 cups (750 mL)

Prep time
10 Minutes

Cook time
0 Minutes

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup (125 mL) fresh red grapefruit juice*
• 1 cup (25 g) destemmed dinosaur/lacinato kale or baby spinach**
• 1 large sweet apple (200 g), cored and roughly chopped
• 1 cup (130 g) chopped cucumber
• 1 medium/large stalk celery (85 g), chopped (about 3/4 cup)
• 3 tablespoons (30 g) hemp hearts, or to taste
• 1/3 cup (55 g) frozen mango
• 2 tablespoons (4 g) packed fresh mint leaves
• 1 1/2 teaspoons virgin coconut oil (optional)
• 4 ice cubes, or as needed

Directions:

1. Juice a red grapefruit and add 1/2 cup grapefruit juice to the blender.
2. Now add the kale (or spinach), apple, cucumber, celery, hemp, mango, mint, coconut oil (if using), and ice. Blend on high until super smooth. (If using a Vitamix, use the tamper stick to push it down until it blends). You can add a bit of water if necessary to get it blending.
3. Pour into a glass and enjoy immediately! This makes enough for a large glass with some leftover so you can also divide it into two servings and save one for later.

Nutrition Information

Tips:

• * Feel free to sub the grapefruit juice with orange juice or coconut water if a sweeter smoothie is desired.
• ** I use dinosaur/lacinato kale because it has a milder flavor than regular curly kale. Feel free to use baby spinach too.
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Thank you to everyone who has invited us to your school, sent in your 19/20 SHIP, or who have reached out to meet. Hopefully, we will have the majority of our SHIPS built before the break, if not, we can take care of business afterward. Enjoy October, the beauty of fall, and some time off.

Inspiring with Kindness, Laurie & Kimmy

PS- Please comment on our blog by fall break to get your name in our raffle!!