DCSD Healthy Schools: Healthy Schools Champion

Showing posts with label Healthy Schools Champion. Show all posts

Thursday, November 30, 2017

December 2017

This time of year is crazy- lots of lists and details. In order to not get buried in it all and enjoy the amazing things happening around us, we need to pause. Taking a purposeful pause each and every day means intentionally pausing throughout the day to center ourselves. It's not difficult and allows us to reconnect with our breath and the present moment. As a way to remember, maybe set a reminder on our phones every 2 hours or use expected moments during the day (such as a red light, copy machine visit, or a meal) to try a purposeful pause. Once the moment arises, take 3-5 minutes to focus on breath, check in with the body or utilize senses to be present in the moment. More information on Purposeful Pauses with Janice Marturano

Colorado Healthy Schools Champions Applications are open!! Due 1/19/18

The Colorado Education Initiative recognizes schools that have "excelled at creating health and wellness programs that support student learning" through the Healthy School Champions Recognition program. 40 Colorado schools will be chosen to receive an award valued at $500 to $7500. Your school must complete the Colorado Smart Source survey by Jan 19, 2018 to be eligible. Champion awards are due February 22, 2018. Reach out to Laurie LaComb at lllacomb@dcsdk12.org for any support.

Schools must submit Smart Source by December 15, 2017 to be entered in the $1000 raffle. This deadline is only two weeks away so, if possible, please know we are here to help you in any way! Link to Smart Source

Brain Boosting Strategy

A study at Stanford University had students think about their thinking, by reviewing their study plans before an exam. The students who actually reviewed their study resources before actually used them performed better and had less stress. This study outlines five steps to make this happen in your classroom.

1. Think about and list your options before you study.

2. Make a plan.

3. Set & get those goals.

4. Know that you can.

5. Through infinity.

Read the article for more details

What does Medicaid do in DCSD?

This amazing federal program is responsible for supporting the majority of the Healthy Schools work in DCSD. Here is a little information about Medicaid...

Our DCSD Healthy Schools Program is supported by the Medicaid Reimbursement Program. Special Education service providers throughout the District document their services for our IEP students which enables the District to receive partial reimbursement for the costs involved in providing those services.

Staff also receives Random Moment Time Studies from the State via email. The email contains a link to the survey which consists of five questions. The survey should be answered promptly after the assigned "moment" occurs, keeping in mind the health-related aspect of your moment to obtain maximum credit for the response. These surveys take less than five minutes to answer. For more information on the Random Moment Time Study, please visit our Google Site: medicaidreimbursement.dcsdk12.org On the Site you will find examples to assist in answering your Random Moment Time Study quickly and efficiently. The Site also contains useful information on all aspects of the Medicaid Reimbursement Program.

The funds reimbursed to the District are used to promote health, wellness and prevention programs for all DCSD students. Please support the Medicaid Reimbursement program to allow us to continue providing these much-needed programs.

Training Opportunities

1/23/18- Teaching With The Brain in Mind Part 2—Mindfulness, Meaning, and Mistakes

Get back onto the road of learning while considering the brain and how it operates, thinks, and processes information. Jump right in and join us as we experience teaching strategies that include neuroplasticity, learning to learn, mindfulness, using mistakes to make meaning, and brain differences (age, stage, gender). Participants attending this workshop will get a deeper understanding of how the learning brain functions and collect a variety of strategies to implement into planning, content, and the classroom.

Please go to Inspired Ed to register now!

Kim Bevill Workshops

Upcoming 2018

Winter-Spring Schedule!

Jan 20....Effects of Laughter on the Brain...And What it Means for Mental Illness Now a 2 credit offering!

Feb 10...Music and the Brain Hybrid (1-Day Live +Online Recording)

March 3 & 4...Essentials for Learning - a "MUST TAKE" course!

March 10 & 11...Synchronicity! (a "Life Changer"!)

- Join us for a "Movement Course" Weekend....

April 7 & 8...Complex Moves and the Brain - NEW 2-Credits!

...plus Learning in Motion - 1 credit class (for 3 credit course)

April 21 & 22...Gender and the Brain

May 5...Hands-On Strategies Hybrid (1-Day Live, +Online Recording)

May 19 & 20...Happiness and Gratitude

If you need tuition assistance, utilize DCSD's Tuition Reimbursement Program (It is AWESOME!)

Free Mindfulness Video Trainings- a great resource for teachers and mindful practitioners.

Daily Good Deeds

Carrie Wisehart released her printable December Daily Good Deeds calendar this week. Print it out and practice kindness every day. A December Daily Good Deeds calendar would be a fun project for a class! Daily Good Deeds Calendar

Physical Activity

Please share with your recess supervisors. Positive recess leaders

Save the Date! Staff Wellness Event

Fit Fest - Saturday, February 3, 2018 -Rock Canyon High School. You won't want to miss this FREE wellness event. More details coming soon from staff wellness.

Nutrition

The ingredients for this veggie tray are pretty simple. Start by cutting your cauliflower into small bite-size pieces. Place them on your tray and then arrange into a snowman shape. You will also need additional veggies to surround your snowman. We chose carrot sticks for the top portion, because Olaf has a carrot for his nose and it was a cute match! We used pretzel sticks for his arms and hair. I broke apart one pretzel stick and used it for his fingers. For the face, you can even draw your own on a piece of paper if you are feeling artistic. You can also use olives for his buttons which would be super cute. Link to description.

We wish all a wonderful holiday break! Make sure to take a few purposeful pauses to soak up all the wondrous last moments of 2017.

With gratitude,
Laurie & Kimmy

Saturday, April 22, 2017

April/May 2017

We had another successful Healthy Schools year and it is all because of you! Thank you to everyone who dedicated part of their professional life towards bringing health and wellness to school communities throughout DCSD, you are amazing! As the year closes out everyone is given the gift of time- time off from work! This is a fabulous time to mindfully dedicate thought and energy into creating balance that can be brought into the 2017/18 school year. As you plan projects, go on vacations, contemplate preparations for the following year, make the time to plan how to find life/work balance. Please join us on May 8th, from 4:30-5:30, and enjoy our end of the year Healthy Schools Celebration at the Castle Pines Library where we will provide a tool that will help establish balance between work and life. RSVP link

Free Training Next Friday 4/28

We will cover your sub cost! Register today or by 4/24!

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 to implement nutrition education in their classroom and greater school environment.

* April 28th, 9:00 - 3:00pm
* 2755 Janitell Rd, Co Springs

* Registration Link

* Please reach out to Laurie LaComb to arrange a substitute

Important Dates!

May 8th, 4:30-5:30 EOY 2016/17 Celebration

June 6th-9th *Explore, Learn Collaborate (ELC)

September 14, 8:00-3:00 Fall 2017 Healthy Schools Workshop

June 2018 Healthy Schools Leader Retreat

* Professional Development is offering PGI credit to staff members who use time at ELC to make plans for the 2017/18 school year, including SHIP development. Kimmy will be available on June 6th and 7th all day to help with SHIPS as well as provide guidance with MindUp, Nutrition, PA, and more! She will also be teaching Mindfulness 101 and Teaching with the Brain in Mind on Friday the 9th. You must register for the event to get PGI credit. ELC Link

Funding Opportunities

Funding Opportunity This Spring!

The new Playbook is coming in April with all new and fundable Plays for schools to implement! Up to $4,000 is available! For more information on this funding opportunity and to get ready to apply, click here. Complete and submit the online application by Wednesday, November 2, 2016

Live Well has a plethora of funding opportunities that you may want to look into. If you need any help with the process, please reach out to Laurie @ lllacomb@dcsdk12.org.

Live Well Colorado Funding Opps.

Here are a few:

*Whole Kids Foundation’s “Kids Love Veggies” video contest

*$1000 Saucony Run for Good Foundation

*up to $10,000 KidsGardening Youth Garden Grants

Free Stuff!

Free Back-to-School poster!

Schools with educators logging in now through June 1, 2017 will be eligible to receive a Back to School Poster this fall. Doesn't your school need a cool new poster? Just log into Fuel Up to Play! Log in Now!

Join the Air Quality Program from now until May and get a set of free flags!! For more information on the program, go to www.airnow.gov/flag. (More info below in sustainability).

We're giving it away! Free classroom or recess equipment pack just for submitting your lesson ideas to Active Academics® Beginning April 10 through May 5, 2017 - any lesson idea that is submitted will be entered into a drawing for an awesome equipment pack from S&S Worldwide. Submitting your lesson idea is easy! Simply register for a FREE Active Academics® membership (or login if you're already a member) and click on the Lesson Idea Submission Link! Active Academics Link

School Celebrations

Thank you Sue Ferguson for all your years' work with the Healthy Schools Department! Recently Sue was honored by the American Heart Association for her consistent dedication to Jump Rope for Heart. Congrats, Sue! You will be missed as you enter the world of retirement!

2017 Colorado Healthy Schools Champs-

Congrats Bear Canyon, Fox Creek & Cherry Valley!

Physical Activity Ideas

Active Academics® is a resource built "by teachers and for teachers". Our activity idea database provides lesson ideas for all school settings, grades PreK - 8. We are continually looking for new ideas to share with our 4000+ users. If you have a great idea and would like to see it published, click the chalkboard above to submit it! Active Academics link Here is a great game from this website:

Tunnel Tag

Suggested Grade Level(s): 2, 3, 4

Content Area(s): Recess / Lunch Activity

Purpose of Activity (objectives, etc.):

The purpose of this activity is to get all kids involved and more importantly up and moving.

Materials/Equipment (Needed): Large open area with a wall or fence

Description:

This variation of tag is played in an area with a wall or fence along one side. Those who are caught must stand with one arm outstretched, touching the wall. Someone who has not yet been caught can release them by running under the 'tunnel' formed by the outstretched arms. The game ends when everyone has been caught.

Source: Active Academics®

Thank you Megan Balfe for this inspiring video. It reminds us that we are doing all the right things by promoting movement in our schools!

Mindfulness

Here are some great mindfulness books shared by Brittany Kinder (thank you Brittany from SVE!)

What Does It Mean to be Present? by Rana Diorio

Peaceful Piggy Yoga by Kerry Lee MacLean

Quiet Place by Douglas Wood

Take 10 Minutes of Mindfulness - Video

Sustainability

EPA Region 8 is encouraging schools and organizations to join the Air Quality Flag Program this May in recognition of Asthma Awareness Month. They have purchased sets of flags to give to partners who join between now and the end of May. Let us know when you sign up and we will work to get your flags to you.

For more information on the program, go to AirNow.

Healthy Recipes

Thank you to Fox Creek superstars Brian Gill and Cindy Townsend for sharing the salad jar with us! Here is the video to get you started.

Featured Recipe

Detox Watercress Citrus Avocado Salad with Turmeric Dressing

Watercress Salad with orange, avocado and turmeric lime dressing - a vibrant, peppery salad that is both energizing and gently cleansing utilizing fresh turmeric in the dressing.

Author: Sylvia Fountain - Feasting at Home Blog

Cuisine: Vegan

Serves: 2

Ingredients:

1 orange - zested, peeled and sliced ( or sub mandarins, blood oranges or tangelos)

2 ounces baby watercress

1 ripe avocado - peeled and cut into wedges

a few very thin slices of red onion- optional

Dressing: (YUMMY!)

2 tablesooons olive oil

2 tablespoons meyer lemon or lime juice

1 tablespoon orange zest

2 teaspoons honey

1 teaspoon grated turmeric root ( or sub ½ teaspoon ground turmeric)

⅛ teaspoon salt

Cracked pepper to taste

With Gratitude

We hope to see many of you at our celebration on May 8th. If not, have a fabulous summer break- take care of yourself in the best way possible. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all that you have done this year - your impact is huge!

With gratitude,

Laurie LaComb and Kimmy Romine

lllacomb@dcsdk12.org

kcromine@dcsdk12.org

Please leave your comments and get your name in for the final raffle of the 2016/17 school year.

Monday, February 27, 2017

March 2017

Healthy and happy students and staff perform better! We know this because we observe it, we live it, and there is a plethora of research to support it. At this point in the school year we start to feel a bit tired, burnt, and ready for the year to end (good thing spring break is only a few weeks away!). I want to encourage you to remind yourself of how awesome you and your work with healthy schools are, and to encourage everyone to sprint past the finish line. This time of year is a great time to offer new ideas to teachers, apply for grants, and to reach our to your community members to help you do what you do! Kimmy and I are here to support you any way that we can. Have a wonderful month of March.

Grant Opportunities (5 chances!)

Chance #1

It's on AGAIN!!

Local schools will receive up to $3,500 each to enhance academic or extra-curricular programs. It could be your school! For eligibility, click the "Nominate Your School" link. Students or teachers should write a short essay specifically detailing how your school would use $3,500 to enhance education and where the money would go (I.e., toward a new facility, new equipment, teen education program or disability program). Students, teachers and administration are encouraged to participate in Groove Auto's DRIVE for education® program. LINK

September Grant Awards (selected schools will be awarded in September)

Submissions open March 1
Submissions close August 1
All selected schools will be notified by August 15
Award ceremony will be held in September

Look at our DCSD February Grant award winners...

Roxborough Intermediate $3,500

Mesa Middle School $3,500

Chance #2 Funding Opportunity for a Fitness Center!

Colorado has been selected to kick off the National Foundation for Governors’ Fitness Councils (NFGFC) 2017 DON’T QUIT! Fitness campaign, which will award $100,000 fitness centers to three Colorado schools that demonstrate leadership in getting and keeping their students fit. The nomination process is open now and will go through the end of May. To learn more or to nominate your school, visit: www.natgovfit.org.

Chance #3 General Healthy Schools Initiatives

Schools need resources to implement health and wellness practices that help students eat better and be physically active. Thanks to our partners, Action for Healthy Kids has provided $6.6 million in grants to schools since 2009. Our School Grants for Healthy Kids can help your school health team achieve its goal to make every kid healthy and ready to learn. Action for Healthy Kids is now accepting grant applications for the 2017-2018 school year between February 6 - April 7, 2017. See below for details and sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date and find out how schools like yours are putting their grants to work.

Chance #4 DCEF

In an effort to make the Apple Awards more accessible and inclusive to DCSD employees, DCEF is pleased to announce the Apple Awards will be offering three (3) competitive grants for any DCSD employee, school, or department to apply.

Applicants can earn up to $5,000 if selected.

Grant monies will be awarded in the following categories:

Classroom Support Grant
School/Department Innovation Grant
Professional Development Grant

Applications for Apple Award Opportunities Grants are available by clicking here. Submissions must be received by March 31, 2017.

Chance #5 $$ for Students

Announcing the 23rd Annual Poetry Contest

Grab your pens and get ready to have some fun! Prizes will be awarded by grade/age divisions. 1st place: $60; 2nd Place $40; 3rd Place $20. Longmont Dairy Website

Write about:
“A Day in the Life of a Cow.” Think of all the fun, crazy, imaginative things a cow could do in 24 hours.Email your poem to: CustomerService@LongmontDairy.com before midnight, March 12, 2017.

School Success Stories

Roxborough incorporates wellness and engineering!

In engineering class, all students grades 3-6 learned what "wellness" means. With help from the districts Universal Prevention team, we defined wellness as physical, intellectual, and emotional wellbeing. Students took a survey to determine which area they struggle with most, then designed and built prototypes to solve wellness problems in each of the 3 categories.

We found that almost half of our students say they struggle with intellectual wellness(the ability to learn something new or focus on task completion). Students prototyped fidget pencils, processes to find friends to sit with at lunch, ideas for wellness apps, new brain breaks, and a mindfulness area in the engineering room to name a few. It was a powerful experience for all of us and a great teaching tool to inform students about wellness. They also received GROOVE funding and will be creating an outdoor/indoor tinker lab with the funds.

Cherry Valley has a healthy Valentine's Day celebration with these tasty beauties...

3 DCSD Schools win the title of Healthiest School in Colorado Champions! Way to go Bear Canyon, Cherry Valley & Fox Creek. Here's the article and photos will be posted next blog.

Can Virtual Reality “Teach” Empathy?

"But emerging evidence suggests that one of VR’s biggest strengths is its ability to tap student emotions, notably empathy and the can-do confidence known as self-efficacy." Article

Recess

Don't forget the necessity of recess.... http://www.educationworld.com/a_issues/issues/issues180.shtml

New Books in our Healthy Schools Library

Healthy Schools Library

Self Compassion for Teens, by Lee-Anne Gray

Breathe, Chill, by Litsa Roberts

The Judgmental Flower, by Julia Flower

Mindfulness for Teachers, by Patricia A. Jennings

Mindful Moments (cards), by Lynea & Jim Gillen

Looking for before and after school PA at your school?

Do you remember feeling like you could do anything!? When you climbed a tree for fun, ran down a hill as fast as you could, or picked up your best friend just to show your strength? We do. And we want our kids to feel that way too.

KidsFit Colorado enhances kids’ physical literacy and watches them become competent, confident, and motivated. We optimize kids’ physical education so they can tap into their athleticism like it’s some kind of superpower.

When a child is taught HOW to move, they WILL choose to play-(rather than grab the iPad or video game). When we give kids the knowledge of how to find success in a physical endeavor, kids step out of the gym knowing they can do whatever they set out to do. This mentality leads to perseverance and confidence, it carries on with kids throughout their lives. When we teach them fundamental physical movement it will lead to a lifetime of health and happiness.

Specialized Kids’ Fitness

www.KidsFitColorado.com

Contact Nancy Weissert at nancyweissert@gmail.com for more information

De-stress Before the Test

1. Do some breathing exercises with your students. link for adults and older kids, link for younger students

2. Exercise!

3. Help students prepare for the test- either content or testing skills

4. Bring some bubble wrap to pop or other finger fidgets (use before test of course)

5. Open up some mind space through guided thinking exercises.

Drink your Water!

In case you haven't been as good about drinking water, read this article and learn about 34 ways it will make your life a little bit better. It's also great to remind your students

Healthy Recipe

PEANUT BUTTER BANANA OVERNIGHT OATS

PREP TIME

5 mins

TOTAL TIME