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       HEALTHWISE         
                   
                    Vol. 4 Issue 1                        September  2012
          

 

 

 

ONLINE RESOURCES FOR PARENTS:

 

 


greatschools.org

 

Inspire and guide parents to become effective champions of their children's education at home and in their communities

 

Sign Up for Tips like:

  • Healthy Snacking - insect inspired creations (Ants on a log, Apple Ladybugs!)
  • Capture Summer Memories Scrapbook
  • Surprising Secrets to School Success (Using TV for Critical Thinking)
  • Getting ready to start kindergarten
  • 11 tips for adjusting to a new school
  • Getting ready for middle school
  • Tips for your high schooler

 

 

 

 

Montclair School Nurses

http://www.montclair.k12.nj.us/WebPage.aspx?Id=29

  • Health Information
  • Medical Forms
  • Names of all school nurses and contact information
  • Useful articles, hints and links

 

 

 

 

High School Student Assistant Counselors

http://www.montclair.k12.nj.us/WebPage.aspx?Id=831

  • Names and contact information for HS Student Assistant Counselors, their roles
  • Information and links on stress and depression, bullying,
  • Intervention and Referral

 

 

 

 

Mental Health Association of Essex County 

Kristin Cole's blog on teen issues

http://safetynetproject.edublogs.org 

  • Communicating with your child
  • Tips on dating and sex
  • Protective factors

 

 

 

 

Tips for Packing Lunch for School

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/2012/08/make-healthy-school-lunches-your-kids-will-love/index.htm

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you tweet, take a look at:

https://twitter.com/CRKidSafety

 

Consumer Reports provides information and fosters collaboration to improve child health and safety

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fitter Kids, Better Grades?

http://children.webmd.com/news/20120803/fitter-kids-better-grades

 

Research finds link between cardiovascular fitness

and academic test scores among middle school kids

   

  

  

Walk to School

 

 

 

 

  This newsletter is made possible by a grant from the Governor's Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse. 

GCADA  
MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR:
Joanne Headshot

                                                       

Dear Parents,

 

Welcome back to school!  

 

We hope that you have had a wonderful summer and that you are ready for an exciting fall.

 

This issue will highlight several interesting websites that Karen and I have been reviewing. They are full of simple tips that will help get the year off to a great start. Check out especially www.greatschools.org.  We've been following it for several months and think it is excellent.

 

One way to start off the year with energy is to walk to school on International Walk to School Day on October 3rd. Watch out for information and coordination from your schools and PTA Health and Wellness Liaisons in the coming weeks.

 

We are also excited about the NJ Department of Transportation's Safe Routes to School Grant which goes a step beyond Walk to School Day to encourage children to walk and bike to school all year long.  Alex Kent, Health and Wellness Community Liaison is the SRTS Coordinator.  Read her article on how you can get involved at your school and watch for updates in press.

 

 

                                                              Best wishes, 

 

                                                              Joanne Aidala, Director 

 

                                                              montclairhealthandwellness.org

"Safe Routes to School"  What is it?

On the way to school in the morning, would you like to enjoy a walk or bike ride with your child? The benefits of walking and biking include exercise for the children (and parents!), traffic and pollution reduction, and community building.The Township, in conjunction with the school district, recently won a prestigious Safe Routes to School grant from the NJ Department of Transportation that can make your mornings pleasant and healthy.The grant also includes infrastructure improvements and police enforcement.

 

A professional workshop will be held at each school to educate parents and students about how to safely walk and bike, and to brainstorm ideas to keep us moving! Please join us.

  

The Workshop Agenda:

 

*    Observation of students arriving at school, along with assessment of         the neighborhood traffic and pedestrian patterns.

*    Meeting with stakeholders: parents, staff, crossing guard, custodian,        Township Engineer, Town Council Member, small group of students

*    Data collection on number of students busing, walking, biking, being        driven

*    Route and neighborhood mapping

*    Action Plan                      

 

The Schedule of Workshops:               Safe Routes                                

 

Elementary Schools                           

Bradford - September 19, 8:15 AM

Bullock - September 20, 8:30 AM

Edgemont - September 25, 7:45 AM

Hillside - April 4, 7 PM, observe drop-off  9 AM

Nishuane - March 19, 8:50 AM

Northeast - October 23, 8:00 AM       Watchung -Spring date TBD

 

Middle Schools

 

Glenfield - October 2, 7:30 AM

Mt. Hebron - March 12, 7:15 AM

Renaissance - March 14, 8:00 AM

  

Would You Like to Be Involved and Get Fit in the Process?  

 

Each school will have a SRTS PTA Chair who will help organize the Safe Routes to School workshop. They will help with publicity and encouraging parents, staff, students, community members to attend.  After the workshop, there will be an action plan, and the SRTS Chair will work on implementing it. They would be responsible for the Bike/Walk to School Days, and other Bike/Walk activities. They will work with the Health and Wellness Liaisons.

 

For more information, please visit saferoutesinfo.org

Or contact Alex Kent:  akent@montclairnjusa.org   917-841-1516

Safe Routes to School Coordinator, Montclair Township

Community Liaison, Montclair Health and Wellness Partnership

Upcoming Events

September 24

Food Day Planning Meeting  10:000 am, Montclair Public Library

 

October 3 

www.iwalktoschool.org

International Walk To School Day

October 18 

Montclair Public Schools Health and Wellness Partnership

Community Meeting - all welcome

9:30 - 11:00 am

Central Office, 22 Valley Road

 

October 24

Food Day

foodday.org/about-food-day

  

November 13 or 15 - TBD 

Marijuana and the Middle School Student:It Starts Here.District event for adults. Parents need to learn about this drug and know that for many students, use starts in Middle School. Focuses on the middle school child but parents of any age child are invited to attend.

7:00 -9:00 pm, Glenfield School