August 2016

August 2016

Welcome back to the 2016-17 school year! I hope that everyone took some serious time throughout June and July to unplug, relax, and rejuvenate.  Current research is proving that there are benefits of taking a vacation from our hectic lives. Kristen Race, founder of Mindful Life wrote, "Studies are finding that vacations are like sleep. We actually need to take them to rest and recover from the stress of our daily workload and the drudgery of our to do lists."  Now you are ready- ready for your students, ready for their families, and ready for the amazing successes that lie ahead. During this time of transition from vacation to work life, please allow yourself time to process it all. Take time to enjoy getting to know your new students and colleagues. When the waves come in, know they will go out, and enjoy the ride! Don't forget to breathe.

Thursday, September 22 will be the day of our Healthy Schools Fall Workshop. Due to the generosity of the Highlands Ranch Mansion our day will be spent at the mansion focusing on collaborating with peers, review of community partnerships, time to write SHIPS, break out sessions, and yummy, healthy food! Please keep an eye out for registration information and please invite an interested colleague!

Walk to School Day- October 5th, 2016 link

Every Kid Healthy Week April 24-28th, 2017- more info to follow!

Bike to School Day- May 10, 2017 link

Bike Safety

This is a great time of year to promote Walk or Wheel on Wednesdays (WOW). Bike safety is always a great topic to start the year a safe and healthy mindset.  Maybe this video can make it easier for you to share the information with your students and their families.

Research

Mindfulness is an effective tool to teach your students and use yourself on a daily basis. It focuses one's awareness on the present moment, lowers stress, and increases focus. If you have a few moments, this is an excellent article (link) on the research behind a mindfulness practice for teachers. If you are looking for resources for your classroom the Healthy Schools department has gathered some amazing resources that are available for checkout. Please contact lllacomb@dcsdk12.org for a list of books.

American Heart Association

Many of you have seen Morgan in your school, whether it’s during one of her high-energy, heart healthy-assemblies, or just popping around to help with Jump Rope or Hoops for Heart. Morgan is our district’s American Heart Association representative and works with our schools

who participate in these beneficial programs that enhance our current curriculum through lesson plans that reach outside of PE to our core subject areas. The AHA provides participating schools with:

-PE/recess equipment

-continuing education hours for teachers

-the opportunity to earn gift certificates for US Games

A partnership with the AHA does not require that your school raises a certain amount of money, as the goal of the AHA is to get healthy information in every student’s hands (prevention starts at age 5, not 50). It is completely free, and fundraising efforts are simply an option for families. Middle and High School teachers, ask Morgan about their newest program for your age group, “’The Great Re-Play!” I strongly encourage you to share 10-15 minutes of your time with Morgan to hear about these

programs and what they can bring to your students and campus. Morgan June | (623) 340-1364 | morgan.june@heart.org

Tech Tips

  This Google extension pops up reminders on your computer 

   screen to move throughout the day. You can decide how often it 

   pops up and it's free! Install it for you or for your entire    

   class! Move it link 

Healthy School Lunch Idea for Teachers

5 Minute Chopped Chickpea Salad

Vegetarian, Gluten free   Found on: http://lindawagner.net/blog/2015/03/5-minute-chopped-chickpea-salad/index.html

Produce

• 1 cup Cherry tomatoes
• 2 16 ounce cans Chickpeas
• 1 Cucumber, medium
• 1 Green bell pepper
• 2 Lemons, about 4 tbs, juice of
• 1 cup Parsley, fine
• 1/2 White onion

Baking & Spices

• 1 tsp Black pepper
• 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning
• 1/2 tsp Paprika blend, smoked
• 1 tsp Sea salt

Oils & Vinegars

• 2 tbsp Olive oil

Dairy

Add all your ingredients to a large mixing bowl and stir with a wooden spoon until all ingredients are combined. Taste and adjust flavors as needed.

Resources

South Metro Fire District link
offers Fire Safety Matters for 3rd & 4th grade and Brain Matters (a brain injury prevention class) for 5th grade to any school that lies within its jurisdiction.

Action For Healthy Kids link
Action for Healthy Kids is a coordinated healthy schools platform that you can take advantage of throughout the year. 

Be Brain Fit link
This blog provides a plethora of information surrounding optimal brain functioning.

Fuel Up to Play link
FUTP not only has an active in-school nutrition and exercise program but has amazing resources. Choose "Pick a Play" for amazing guides that can be implemented at your school! 

Physical Activity Ideas for the Classroom

The body affects the mind... and the mind affects the body.  Need some new and refreshing ideas for movement in the classroom? There is a website called Icebreakers that has a list of games (along with instructions) that can be used with students.  Great ideas for the first few weeks of school. link

Name Aerobics

The purpose of the game is to learn each other's names 

and move at the same time.

1. Have your group stand in a circle.

2. The first person says their first and last name along with a movement (i.e. spins in a circle, does a hula dance, kicks legs).

3. Everyone repeats their entire name, along with the movement immediately following. 

4. Go around the entire circle. 

Grant Opportunities

School yard grant opportunities are available through Whole Foods Kids Foundation.  Applications open September 1st and are due by October 31st.  Notification to all applicants will be February 15th. 

Extended learning garden grant link

Thank you for taking the time to read this month's blog. Take a moment to make a comment below.  Please know that I am here for any support needed with healthy schools initiatives at your school!

In good health, Laurie LaComb lllacomb@dcsdk12.org

October 2015

I don't know about you, but fall is my favorite time of year. I LOVE the bright colors, the sound of the leaves crunching under my feet and watching football!  With that, it inspired me to start including some yummy recipes on our blog! See below for our first recipe-Pumpkin Chili!

We still have 3 spots available for our Healthy Schools Move Ultramarathon Challenge... encouraging schools to move 100 miles this year. It's an easy SHIP to create to get funding to support movement in your schools. If interested, email me as soon as possible to secure your spot! 

Below you will find important, time sensitive info on:
* Grant/Funding Opportunities
* Pilot Opportunities
* Healthy Events
* PA/Nutrition Resources

Healthy Halloween Ideas: 

Host a Halloween-Themed Freeze Dance Invite students show off their spookiest dance moves to classic Halloween tunes and freeze in place each time you turn off the music. Ask anyone who doesn’t freeze or maintain their pose to do ten jumping jacks before rejoining the game. 

Make Green Goblin Smoothies Blend skim or low-fat milk with any combination of fruits and vegetables – try frozen pineapple chunks, banana, and spinach – to make this delicious and nutritious drink. The spinach is what gives the smoothie its ghoulish color. 

Walk or Run the Monster Mile Challenge the whole school to walk or run a mile while wearing their Halloween costumes (and sneakers!).

Mark Your Calendars!

Physical Education Tech Camp 11/6/2015 

Join us at Physical Education Tech Camp and learn about the latest fitness technology designed for PE from some of the states top PE teachers. Find out how this technology can help you objectively assess, monitor, and document student progress while enhancing your PE program.

Physical Education Tech Camp
Northeastern Junior College
100 College Avenue
Sterling, CO 80751
(Held in the Ballroom)
- Workshop is FREE
- Lunch provided
- Professional development certificate & substitute reimbursement available
* Substitute reimbursement available at: http://www.cde.state.co.us/sites/default/files/new%20sub%20request%20form-1-23-15%20enabled.pdf (copy and paste link into browser)

REGISTRATION: http://www.cde.state.co.us/HealthAndWellness/HS_PE.htm

2015 Denver Step Out: Walk to Stop Diabetes 11/7/2015

Downtown Aquarium | Event Details 
November 7, 2015

700 Water St, Denver, CO 80211
Get Directions

Need more info?
Your Event Coordinator: Lenore Christensen
Email: lchristensen@diabetes.org
Phone: 720-855-1102 x7010

Healthy Schools Highlight

BRE is Movin’ and Groovin’ In and Out of the Classroom!

In an effort to increase activity time at recess, BRE’s Health Team 4 has implemented Dance Party Fridays!  Students K-5 can be seen gathered around the blacktop and field dancing to their favorite songs during lunch recess.  BRE Health Team 4, consisting of seventeen fourth grade students, meets on Friday mornings where they learn dances and energizing workouts to improve fitness levels and to “spark the brain” in the classroom. Our goal is to not only teach these activities to get kids active at recess but to use them to “spark their brains” in the classroom. Students in third grade have developed several brain break workouts during Physical Education class which cross the midline of the body sparking both sides of the brain. Students have been very enthusiastic about Dance Party Workouts and we hope to continue this even when the snow flies for indoor recess. Health Team 4 is coached by Mrs. Gutierrez, Miss Montgomery and Mrs. Meibos

Stay in the Loop

Nutrition

Nov. 4th is National Healthy Eating Day! 

Try out this fun, fall recipe! 

Pumpkin Chili

INGREDIENTS

1 yellow onion
1 carrot
1 bell pepper
1 teaspoon olive oil
2 to 3 cloves garlic, minced
1 jalapeño, minced
2 teaspoons soy sauce or tamari
2 1/2 tablespoons mild chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 can (14.5 ounces) low-salt diced tomatoes*
1 1/2 cups pureed pumpkin**
2 cups vegetable broth or water
3 cups cooked beans***
1 tablespoon lime juice
Toppings: cilantro, chopped onion, jalapeños, avocado, tortilla strips

*Fire-roasted tomatoes are delicious if you can find them.
**You can buy canned pumpkin puree, or cut up a fresh pumpkin into chunks, steam it until it is tender, and puree it until you have 1 1/2 cups. It's best NOT to use pumpkin pie filling!
***You can use whatever beans you prefer in a chili, but if you need direction, half black bean and half pinto make a solid combo. You can use two 15-ounce cans.

DIRECTIONS

1. Chop up the onion, carrot, and bell pepper into pieces no bigger than a bean. In a big soup pot, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the onion, carrot, and bell pepper and sauté them until they begin to brown, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic, jalapeño, soy sauce, and spices and cook that all together for another 30 seconds. Add the tomatoes, pumpkin, broth, and beans and stir that up so everything is mixed. Get those flavors mingling. Turn down the heat, cover, and let that simmer together for about 15 minutes. Stir it around every now and then.
2. When it is done simmering, turn off the heat and stir in the lime juice. Serve right away with your favorite toppings.
3. Yields enough for 4-6 people

Online Resource

Choose Health: Food, Fun, and Fitness youth curriculum (Healthy Eating and Active Living for 8 - 12 Year Olds)

https://fnec.cornell.edu/Our_Initiatives/CHFFF.cfm

Physical Activity (PA)

10 Ways to Walk and Run to More Physical Activity

Today’s 10 minutes of physical activity is brought to you by the New Balance Foundation Billion Mile Race. They understand that active kids in Active Schools simply do better and are tallying up the distance students are walking or running to bring the country together in one big race to health. Sounds like a great way to #commit2ten!

Check it out here!  https://www.healthiergeneration.org/news__events/2015/09/14/1325/10_ways_to_walk_and_run_to_more_physical_activity?_cldee=bGxsYWNvbWJAZGNzZGsxMi5vcmc%3d&utm_source=ClickDimensions&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=HSP%20Newsletters

IDEAS FOR INCREASING PA

• Floor Dots/Poly Spots
• Fitdeck Cards
• Fitness Stations
• Music- DANCE!
• Fit Sticks
• QR Quodes

WEBSITES FOR INCREASING PA

• JAM (Just a Minute)
• FUNtervals
• GoNoodle
• Red Hawk Elementary
• Colorado Health and PE (Facebook)
• Let's Move
• Adventures to Fitness
• Take 10 (out of North Carolina- focused on moderate to vigorous PA)

OTHER RESOURCES FOR INCREASING PA

• Active Living Research - I LOVE this resource!!!
• Fab 5 (Focused Fitness)
• Fuel Up to Play 60 (FUTP60)
• NFL Play
• Fitness for Life
• Active & Healthy Schools Program
• Healthy Kids Club
• 101 Classroom Games

Community Partner Info

Every year, the Healthy School Champions Program recognizes Colorado schools for their success at creating a healthy school environment and implementing effective school health efforts. These award winning schools have excelled at creating health and wellness programs that support student learning.

The program is now in its sixth year and has awarded more than $163,000 in awards to Colorado schools. With the support of The Colorado Health Foundation, schools have received awards ranging from $300 to $7,500 per school. In 2015, Pagosa Springs Middle School was recognized with the first annual Governor’s Award for School Health and Wellness for successfully integrating best practices in health into the school day.

New Award
The partners in this effort are excited to announce the Promising School Award, a way to recognize those schools that are on their way to integrating health and wellness in their environments and cultures. These schools may be in a building or rebuilding year with their wellness teams, have one or more programs or efforts in place, but more importantly, have a clear vision for embedding health and wellness in their cultures in coming years. Schools that won awards in the 2014-15 school year are not eligible for the Promising Schools Award in 2015-16.

Applications must be submitted by January 18, 2016. Click here for more details:  http://www.coloradoedinitiative.org/colorado-healthy-school-champions-recognition-program/

Start by participating in SMART SOURCE and EARN an EXTRA $300 in FUNDING plus more incentives!!!

Use Colorado's New School Health Assessment Tool Through Dec. 31

Schools can now use one tool to assess their school health efforts and see how they compare to schools across the state.

Research shows that healthy students are better learners. That's why it's important to identify policies and programs that support healthy behaviors.

A new tool allows K-12 public schools to assess their health efforts to ensure students are healthy and ready to learn. Colorado Healthy Schools Smart Sourcestreamlines state and national data collection efforts. It serves as the Colorado tool for assessing school health policy and practice. Smart Source helps schools:

• Reflect on their efforts.
• Identify strengths and gaps.
• Identify best practices for student health and safety.

"Schools can now use one tool to assess their school health efforts and see how they compare to schools across the state," said CEI's Smart Source manager Andrea Pulskamp. Colorado schools and districts can sign up now to participate in Smart Source through December 31st. 

American Heart Association

We partner with the American Heart Association to get free resources to enhance the heart healthy message in our schools.  If you’re interested, you don’t have to do the traditional Jump Rope for Heart program- they will work with you to tailor the program to fit your school.  Reach out to Morgan to have a conversation about what that can look like!  Morgan June, morgan.june@heart.org, 623-340-1364.

PILOT OPPORTUNITY!

RMC Health is very excited about new resources that have been developed to support teaching 21^st Century and Health Education Skills. We have developed models for accessing information, goal setting, and decision-making, with teaching resources and student handouts for grades pk-2, 3-5, 6-8, and HS to guide teaching these important skills.

We are looking for Elementary and High School teachers or school staff to field-test these skill models and provide feedback on their ease of use, age appropriateness, and adaptability to various content areas and school settings. Classroom teachers, counselors, library media specialists, or administrators are encouraged to field-test at least two of the models.  We can provide a $200.00 Visa gift card for your help. We will also provide a self-paced webinar to introduce the skill models, technical assistance and an in-person meeting to provide an overview of the models and tot help with planning. To view the models go to http://www.my.rmc.org/content/health-education-skills-models. You can also view a webinar that provides some background on the skills models and the field-testing project at  http://rmchealth.adobeconnect.com/p379b1s3snn/. Piloting can take place between now and December 1.  Decem

If you are interested in helping or have questions please contact

Jamie Hurley at jamesh@rmc.org

Funding/Grant Opportunities

Archery Equipment Grants

APPLY BY NOVEMBER 16th

New Program Equipment Grants are available for schools wishing to add archery to their in-school PE Curriculum. Schools must have at least one NASP-certified Basic Archery Instructor and procure at least some matching funds. Last year we were able to fund most of the schools that had at least $700 in funds available to start their program. These grants are only for schools purchasing their first set of equipment. Schools wishing to purchase a second set are not eligible for this grant.

Equipment Maintenance Grants are available to schools that already own a set of NASP equipment. These grants match your maintenance funds $1-$1 up to $500. The funds can be used for any maintenance, additional equipment, or any archery-class-related expenses.