Health & Safety News From GCC of PTAs

The holidays are a fun time-and they can be stressful. Give yourself a present this year and give yourself some time off. You'll be more productive--and happy-in the New Year if you do. Here's a recipe for success:

Enjoy some gourmet cooking that you may not normally have the time to do. Taste a new food; try a new recipe!

Get moving, too! Whether it's a brisk walk to look at the neighborhood Christmas lights, playing a new Wii sports game, or playing indoor volleyball with balls of torn-up wrapping paper, it does a body good to get some physical activity.

Finally, don't forget those extra "zzzzzz's" that will make you look younger and feel better as the New Year arrives!

In this edition of Health & Safety we continue our new series on Guilford County School gardens with a look at the great things happening at Bessemer Elementary, plus a letter from the White House to the happy gardeners at Jones Elementary.

Have a blessed holiday season and a safe, fun, and educational winter break. "See you" next year!

*Article submissions are welcome from any non-profit organization. The deadline is the 5th of each month.

In Health,

Nancy Kondracki, MS, RD, LDN

GCC of PTA's Health and Safety Chair

School Wellness Policy Update

The newly revised version of the Guilford County Schools' Student Wellness Policy (IHB and IHB-P) may now be accessed on the Board of Education website. Please be sure your PTA unit is knowledgeable about this policy and other health, safety, and wellness-related policies from GCS.

Your participation in a BRIEF survey about the School Student Wellness Policy will help us improve the health of our children. This survey will take about 3 minutes to complete online. Your feedback will be kept private and confidential. We will share the compiled results without identifying any particular school or individual. Survey data will be collected through December and then shared with Board of Education members and the PTA Council.

*This is your last chance to take the survey, so take it today, and encourage your friends and colleagues to do the same! Wellness Policy Survey

Help us provide our kids with a healthier environment in which to live and learn!

Keep Kids Moving and Motivated To Learn

By the time students graduate from high school they have spent thousands of hours in a classroom, most likely sitting. That's a lot of sitting.

Integrating movement and physical activity in the classroom and across the school day gives children's bodies and minds the exercise they need to fuel the brain with oxygen, creates enthusiasm and energy, and maximizes learning during academic lessons.

Although most educators will agree that daily physical activity is important, the current focus on standardized testing and the lack of time and infrastructure make implementing classroom-based movement difficult.

Another barrier is that students not sitting still and listening are thought to be off task, though research shows that being active in the classroom improves on-task behavior and can serve as a necessary break from complex or challenging learning activities.

We know that to learn at their best, students must be healthy, safe, engaged, supported, and challenged. Physical activity in the classroom helps activate the brain, increases positive behavior, reinforces academic concepts, and helps keep kids healthy.

PBS Teachers offers a look at the importance of movement and provides classroom-integrated lesson ideas for social studies, language arts, physical education, mathematics, and art curricula using the thematic approach and the shared integration model.

Source: The Whole Child Newsletter, November 2011

Physical Activity in Schools Resources

Youth Physical Activity Guidelines Toolkit

To support and promote the physical activity guidelines recommended by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has developed a toolkit that highlights strategies that schools, families, and communities can use to support youth physical activity.

NASPE-Talk is a social networking community for physical and movement education, recreation, dance, adapted physical activities, and adapted physical education professionals.

10 Things a PTA Can Do to Improve Physical Activity in Schools 10 Things

Get Physical with SPARK

SPARK is a research-based, public health organization dedicated to creating, implementing, and evaluating programs that promote lifelong wellness.

SPARK strives to improve the health of children, adolescents, and adults by disseminating evidence-based Physical Education, After School, Early Childhood, and Coordinated School Health programs to teachers and recreation leaders serving Pre-K through 12th grade students. SPARK

Get more information on the Healthier US School Challenge and view Fitnessgram Reports

Energizer resources: Middle School Energizers and more Energizers

School Gardening Makes a Difference!

Bessemer Garden In 2011, an innovative Media Specialist at Bessemer Elementary School, Page Motley-Mims, seized an opportunity. Guilford County Cooperative Extension employee, Sarah Crawford, had a grant from Syngenta Corporation to assist elementary schools in establishing school gardening programs. Page contacted her, formed a gardening team and a partnership was born.

Nine teachers from pre-K through 5th as well as some specialists wanted to participate. On a workday in February, twenty-one volunteers came out to assembly nine four feet by six feet raised beds at locations on the campus convenient to the various classrooms.

In mid-March, the students worked in teams to plant Lettuce, Carrot, Radish, Spinach, Sugar Snap Peas, Broccoli and Cabbage plants and Onion bulbs in their gardens. All these veggies like it cool! For the next two months, while the gardens GREW, students thinned, fertilized, learned how to separate the roots of a plant before planting, created compost bins out of a 12 gallon trash cans and finally HARVESTED!

Along the way, they learned to think critically, sharing ideas and asking probing question. This is Discovery Learning! They worked cooperatively, increasing social skills and crossing cultural barriers. They measured, drew, labeled and described their plants, wrote in journals and carried out science experiments, using the garden as an OUTDOOR CLASSROOM.

And, maybe best of all, they loved the plants they grew and wanted to taste them, making them more open to trying new vegetables and eating healthier foods. With childhood obesity being a major issue nationwide, school gardens are a great tool for promoting better nutrition.

Towards the end of May, after EOG testing, approximately 250 Bessemer Elementary Students harvested their cool season veggie gardens, and had a SALAD DAY CELEBRATION, enjoying the "fruit" of their labors.

All this amazing learning and more happens in a 4'x 6' garden bed! School Gardening impacts every area of a child's life-cognitive, social, emotional, and physical. They are fun and life enriching. They spark a joy for learning that spills over into every subject and every area of life.

Sarah Crawford, Youth Gardening Educator, NC Cooperative Extension, Guilford County Center

Bessemer Elem Garden

School Garden Announcements and Grants

Letter from First Lady Surprises Jones Elementary Students

Jen Schell shares this wonderful news clip with us; enjoy! The school received a handwritten card, photos, and worksheets on December 13th from Mrs. Obama.

For more information contact Jen at Jones Elementary.

2012 School Garden Workshop for Elementary and Middle School Teachers and Volunteers

Curriculum based lesson plans. Garden-based learning.

Attendance is required all three days for 1 CEU.

February 2, 9, 16th (snow date Feb. 23rd) 3:30 - 6:30 p.m.

Registrations due January 15th. Fee: $25 per registrant.

Where: The North Carolina Cooperative Extension, Guilford County Center, 3309 Burlington Road, Greensboro

For more information and a registration form contact Cynthia Nielsen by e-mail or (336) 375-5876.

The Association of Children's Museums (ACM) Announces the Greensboro Children's Museum as the "Let's MOVE! Museum & Garden" for the Month of December. Edible School Yard

Lowe's Toolbox for Education Grants: Deadline is February 17th.

Kids Gardening Grant from Mantis

For more than 30 years Mantis has made gardening easier with its famous tiller/cultivators, dual-chamber composter, and many other gardener-friendly tools. Each year, Mantis presents the Mantis Awards to charitable and educational garden projects that enhance the quality of life in their host communities. The National Gardening Association selects 25 outstanding applicants to receive Mantis tiller/cultivators.

Any nonprofit garden program may apply. Applications are due by March 1st, 2012. For details and forms visit Mantis at Kids Gardening.

Healthy Holiday Tips

Healthy Holiday Tips for Kids:

Have Fun Helping With Dinner

Grab an apron and become a celebrity chef at home, using these tips to help your parents whip up an amazing holiday meal.

Help Your Parents at the Airport

Taking an airplane ride can be so exciting! But getting through the long security line to get to your plane can be pretty stressful for your parents. Share these tips with them to help your family soar through airport security.

Help Your Family Go Green this Holiday

Are you trying to get your parents to be more green? Here are tons of tips you can share with them to cut down on waste and celebrate the holidays in a way that's good for the planet.

Keep Your Pets Safe during the Holidays

The chocolate chip cookies and pretty packages you enjoy can actually make dogs and cats sick! Find out what you can do to protect Max or Bella from getting into the goodies this holiday season.

Stay Healthy During the Holidays and Every Day

Practice good habits every day to stay healthy. Wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth-germs are spread that way. Don't forget to cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you sneeze or cough. Check out the Stay Healthy Guide for more ways to stay healthy this holiday season.

For all these tips and more visit 12 Days of Holiday Tips for Kids

Fun Family Activities for the Holiday: Holiday Activities

11 Ways to Instill Healthy Lifestyle Habits in Your Children: 11 Ways

Buy Safe Toys this Holiday Season: Safe Toys

Kick-start your weight loss in 2012 with Eat Smart Move More Weigh Less Online!

What is Eat Smart Move More Weigh Less Online?

A 15-week weight management program based in research and proven to work. Online, real-time, interactive, weekly sessions with personalized support and resources. Emphasis on small lifestyle changes for eating and physical activity behaviors-NOT a diet.

What's in it for you?

--Convenient classes offered at early morning, lunchtime, and evening time slots and accessible from home, work, or anywhere with Internet access.

--Personalized support from a masters-level instructor trained in weight management/behavior change. --Fun and motivating classes in an interactive, real-time format.

--Magazine in full-color that captures the salient points from each lesson, recipes, and more.

--Journal to help participants keep track of their weight, foods eaten, and physical activity.

Group discount of up to 33%-contact Kelly Nordby for more information.

Top Five Rules to Survive the Holiday Party

Are you ready for a fun filled holiday celebration or are you turning into a nervous wreck? Do you have anxiety about making your way through the endless spread of food with your holiday goals intact?

Have no fear-you can make it through holiday celebrations without throwing caution (and your goals) out the window! With this holiday party survival guide you can make your way through the buffet line without adding inches to your waistline-all it takes are a few tips and a plan. Let's get started!

Rule #1: Survey the scene. How many times have you stepped up to the buffet and filled your plate only to get to the end of the table and have no room left for something you really wanted to try? Before joining the line and especially before placing any food onto your plate, take a peek at what food is offered. Make a mental note of the one or two dishes you really want to try. Once you have a mental map of what your plate will look like, then start to fill your plate.

Rule #2: Downsize and supersize. Start by grabbing a smaller, appetizer-sized, plate. You'll fit fewer rich foods on your plate and keep your calories in check. Supersize the veggies on your plate. Vegetables-and also fruit-are lower in calories and will fill you up, not out.

Rule #3: Don't drown! In gravy, sauces and high-calorie dressing, that is. Heavy sauces can drown out even the healthiest vegetables. Choose smaller portions (maybe even just a bite to taste) of creamy and cheesy casseroles. The same rule applies for creamy salad dressing: use just a little or better yet, choose a lower-calorie vinaigrette.

Rule #4: Keep hands occupied. Hold your glass of water with one hand and your plate with another. With your hands full because you are balancing food and a drink, it will take you longer to eat and will cut down on mindless snacking.

Rule #5: Stay on the far side of the room away from the food. Once you've made your plate, find a place to stand or sit as far as you can manage away from the food. There's something to that old phrase "out of sight, out of mind." Catch up with friends and family away from the serving line where food isn't within arm's reach. Wait at least 20 minutes before deciding whether or not to go back for another small bite.

Source: Eat Smart, Move More, Weigh Less

Currently Enrolling. To learn more about class offerings, dates and pricing, please visit Eat Smart, Move More, Weigh Less.

Just Ask! Q&A Series for Parents and Educators

The North Carolina PTA is working to help local PTAs focus on making sure children have a healthy environment for learning. Marianne Weant is available to answer your questions, provide resources, and help get you on the right track.

This month, we launch a Q&A Series. Educators and parents are encouraged to submit future questions.

Question: How can I get involved to improve healthy learning opportunities for my child?

Answer: You can find out what your school does well in regards to health and help develop an action plan with steps to improve other areas. A good first step is a School Health Assessment which should be completed by a team of parents and school staff.

Once you've completed an assessment, it can be beneficial to sign up for a program that can provide resources to your school to continue evaluating and improving school health. Marianne can be contacted to help you sign up for a school health program, fund school improvements, and share your success stories with other PTA units. Contact Marianne today!

Stop smoking before it starts: What parents can do to help

Although smoking among adolescents declined substantially over the last four decades, there is concern that reductions have stalled. In 2010, more than one in 10 of high school seniors were regular, daily smokers.

Each day, approximately 3,800 U.S. adolescents between the ages of 12 and 17 smoke a cigarette for the first time. Each year, 1,000 teens become daily smokers.

When it comes to preventing teens from smoking, parents can take several steps.

First and foremost, parents can choose not to smoke themselves.

It is also important for them to speak up before their children begin smoking or if tobacco use of any kind is suspected. Youth who do not use tobacco during or before their teenage years are much more likely to stay smoke-free for the rest of their lives.

For more information on how parents can have meaningful conversations with their teens about tobacco use visit The Office of Adolescent Health.

For more information on current and historic tobacco prevention policies across the states, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's State Tobacco Activities Tracking and Evaluation (STATE) System.

Teen Prescription Drug Use Free Toolkit: Toolkit

Tobacco Reality Unfiltered: Reality Unfiltered

QuitlineNC: QuitLine

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Nancy L. Kondracki, MS, RD, LDN

Health & Safety eNewsletter Editor

GCC of PTAs