Friday, June 24, 2011

9 AM - 12:00 PM

Ikea Performing Arts Center

400 S. 2nd St.,  Renton WA 98057

 

The Puget Sound Joint Purchasing Cooperative is co-sponsoring this presentation with King County's Communities Putting Prevention to Work.

 

This free seminar will provide you with low cost, evidence-based ideas that will result in your students choosing healthier foods in your school cafeteria. 

 

Please see the attached flyer for more information. 

 

If you have any questions, please contact Kira Acker or Donna Oberg

 

Click here to sign up.

 

United States Department of Agriculture 

 

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack unveiled the new food icon that will replace MyPyramid. The plate-shaped symbol is part of a comprehensive nutrition communication initiative aimed at providing nutrition recommendations that are easy to understand.  

 

The plate is divided into four colored wedges representing the basic food groups. Half of the plate represents fruits and vegetables and the other two wedges represent protein and grains.  Accompanying the plate is a smaller symbol for dairy, supporting the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommendation to choose fat-free or low-fat milk and milk products... Click here to read more and to see the logo...

 

On Thursday, April 21, the Board of Health of Seattle-King County (BOH) adopted a set of guidelines for getting healthier food choices into vending machines. The guidelines are not binding on either the vending machine owners or those who contract with them, but are designed to set a path and give guidance and direction to both.

 

King County Councilmembers Julia Patterson and Joe McDermott will propose implementing legislation that will adopt these guidelines as policy guidance for the County, and I and Councilmembers Clark and Licata will introduce companion legislation adopting them in the City. Our hope is that other public, nonprofit, and private organizations will follow our lead, and that this will ultimately transform the vending machine industry. Click here to read more.

Washington State University  

Washington State University Extension is the lead institution on a new "Healthy Gardens, Healthy Youth" project funded by a $1 million grant from the USDA Food and Nutrition Service. The grant was announced by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. Aimed at addressing childhood obesity and improving nutrition, the pilot project spans four states, will serve an estimated 2,800 students at 70 elementary schools, and will engage low-income students in the physical activity involved in growing food, learning life skills, and teaching science and math. Click here to read more.

 

(USDA, May 25, 2011)

DALLAS, May 25, 2011 -- USDA Deputy Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services, Janey Thornton today recognized 154 Dallas schools for their efforts to expand nutrition and physical activity opportunities, the largest group of honorees from one district to date. USDA and its partners, the National Football League and the National Dairy Council, joined students, teachers, foodservice professionals, and community leaders for the HealthierUS School Challenge celebration. This is the largest number of awards ever presented to a single school district and the state of Texas leads the nation in the highest number of awards.

 

"HealthierUS Schools have taken an active role in combating childhood obesity by incorporating healthier menus and introducing more physical activities during the school day," said Thornton. "The strong foundation these schools have built supports a clear path for our nation's young people to win the future." Click here to read more.

A major study shows schools are providing more nutritious foods through National School Lunch Program, but many also offer high-fat items and empty calories.

 

A comprehensive study from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's Bridging the Gap program shows that the nation's public secondary schools are making an effort to offer students healthier options in the cafeteria. Through the National School Lunch Program, most schools provide fruits and vegetables, more are offering whole grains and fewer are serving french fries. However, pizza, high-fat milk, junk food and sugary drinks are still widely available through the federal program. Findings also show that schools have made little progress in helping students be active during and after the school day.

Click here to read more.

"Fries count as a vegetable! Isn't that weird?" shared Robert Hsu, high school senior and member of the Alliance for a Healthier Generation's Youth Advisory Board. Since joining the Board two years ago, Hsu has thrown himself into efforts to promote health in his school and community and spread the message of the Alliance's empowerME Movement. The empowerME Movement is the Alliance's initiative to engage kids across the country to take charge of their health, get educated and get activated. The journey has taken him into unchartered territories- from discussing USDA policies with the food service director to speaking with First Lady Michelle Obama about youth engagement. Hsu shares his experiences on the empowerME Facebook page and blogs at http://healthyfuture4all.blogspot.com to inspire other teens across the country to take action in their own communities. Click here to read more.

(Broken Arrow Ledger, April 26, 2011)
Before Rhoades Elementary school in Oklahoma started offering breakfast in the classroom, 150 students ate breakfast at school. Now, four weeks later, 250 are eating school breakfast. About 65 percent of the school's 450 students qualify for free or reduced-price school meals. Breakfast in the classroom allows late students the opportunity to eat; if students don't finish the meal in their first class, they can take it to their second. Instruction time doesn't suffer; once the bell rings, students start working even if they haven't finished eating. Click here to read more.

Science Daily, May 5, 2011

When schools cut physical education programs so students can spend more time in the classroom, they may be missing a golden opportunity to promote learning, according to research presented on May 1, at the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) annual meeting in Denver. The study adds to growing evidence that exercise is good not only for the body but also the mind. It also shows that physical education and academic instruction need not be mutually exclusive.  Researchers Kathryn L. King, MD, and Carly J. Scahill, DO, pediatric residents at the Medical University of South Carolina Children's Hospital, led by William S. Randazzo, MD, FAAP, and James T. McElligott, MD, sought to determine how implementing a daily physical activity program that incorporated classroom lessons would affect student achievement.  Click here to read more.

Grants:

 

The SPARK Grant-Finder Tool is your best resource for locating national and state-specific grants for your Physical Education, After school, Early childhood or Coordinated School Health program. Grants can be used for curriculum, teacher training, or equipment. Click here to access the tool.

 

Community Impact Grants from Home Depot

Grants, up to $5,000, are available to registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, public schools or tax-exempt public service agencies in the U.S. that are using the power of volunteers to improve the physical health of their community.  Grants are given in the form of The Home Depot gift cards for the purchase of tools, materials, or services. Community Impact Grants Program. Amount: $5,000. Deadline: October 31, 2011

 

Nominate middle school programs for a chance to win $10,000

The Afterschool Alliance and MetLife Foundation need your help identifying exemplary afterschool programs serving middle school youth to win a $10,000 MetLife Foundation Afterschool Innovator Award and be featured in our series of Issue Briefs. The awards program aims to identify potentially lesser-known (no comma) yet highly-effective (no comma) programs and the individuals running them. Additional details as well as the online nomination form are available online at http://www.afterschoolalliance.org/metLife.cfm.

 

$2.1 Million Dollars in Let's Play Grants. 

KaBOOM! is proud to offer $2.1 million dollars over three years in Let's Play grants exclusively to Playful City USA communities. This is the year for your city to become a Playful City USA. Make play a priority and request the application today. Click here for more information.

 

The Office Depot Foundation

The Office Depot Foundation focuses on making a difference in children's lives by supporting activities that serve, teach and inspire children, youth and families. The Foundation strives to enhance communities by supporting civic organizations and activities that address community needs. Applications are retrieved on a monthly basis and are reviewed by a committee. Allow at least 12 weeks after you submit your completed application before you receive a response. Grant amounts will be a minimum of $50 and a maximum of $3,000. Click here for more information.

 

Saucony Run For Good Grants

Deadlines for Applications:  June 13, 2011, December 13, 2011

The Saucony Run For Good Foundation, established to help end childhood obesity by providing financial support to nonprofits across the United States that support children's running and fitness programs, is accepting applications for its grant program. The grants are open to nonprofit organizations that initiate and support running and fitness programs for kids. Eligible applicants are programs whose participants are 18 years of age or less, have 501(c)(3) status, and can demonstrate their program positively impacts the lives of participants through their increased participation in running. The foundation has two grant cycles per year, with up to seven awards granted each cycle. Click here to read more.

 

 

Resources:

 

Miss any of the CPPW Schools workshops?

Workshop #1: Understanding and Applying National Standards for Nutrition and Physical Education

Workshop #2: Engaging Youth in Health and Wellness Projects

Workshop #3: Effective Engagement of Stakeholders for Health & Wellness Team/Advisory Committee

Workshop #4: Creating Sustainable Physical Activity & Nutrition Programs in Schools

Click here to access all of the course materials.

 

USDA has released their implementation plan for the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act.  Click here to find USDA's implementation chart which lists the program requirements, deadlines, and a timeline for the implementation of the act. 

 

 "Child Nutrition Reauthorization: Putting the Act into Action"

FRAC is hosting a series of webinars that examine the provisions of the Child Nutrition Reauthorization Act and steps to make the provisions of the Act a success. Click here to see and hear the previous Webinars in our series.

 

Online Video Workshop Series: Successful Students Through Healthy Food and Fitness Policies 

Learn how you can have an even greater impact on the health, wellness, and success of all students. This dynamic series of videos will inform and educate you about opportunities for improving physical activity and increasing the consumption of healthier beverages in schools. The videos were produced in partnership with California Project LEAN, the California School Boards Association, California Active Communities, and The California Endowment. 

 

A panels of experts discuss the following important topics in a series of video workshops:

·       Moderate to Vigorous Physical Activity in Physical Education: James Sallis, Professor of Psychology at San Diego State University; Kenneth Dyar, Coordinator of Physical Education at Delano Union School District; and Jane Russo, Superintendent of Santa Ana Unified District.

·       Physical Activity During the School Day: Shelly Masur, School Board Member, Redwood City School District; and Matt Diskin, Physical Education Specialist and Special Education Teacher in Shasta County's Gateway Unified School District.  

·       Safe Routes to School: Lisa Cirill, Acting Chief of California Active Communities; Ted Link-Oberstar, a Safe Routes to School Parent Advocate; and Melissa Minas, Program Manager for the Chula Vista Elementary School District.  

·       Joint Use of School Facilities: Robert Ogilvie, Director of the Planning for Healthy Places program at Public Health Law and Policy; Patti Cummings, Director of Facilities at Paramount Unified School District; and Vince Torres, Recreation Director for the City of Paramount

Click here to access these videos.

 

Working on Joint Use policies? Visit this comprehensive site for more information on joint use policies and examples of schools and communities successfully sharing facilities to benefit the community. Joint Use Policies