The Iowa Association of Middle Level Educators

Green Initiatives in School Wellness Webinar -- Please Register

2009-11-24T23:28:00.000-08:00

Green Initiatives in School Wellness Webinar
Date: Tuesday, December 15th
Time: 2 PM – 3:30 PM CST

Please distribute this widely to your State School Nutrition Associations, School Board Associations, Action for Healthy Kids, Parent Teacher Organizations, and other organizations that target teachers, school nurses, educators, administrators, and other local wellness policy partners.

Participation is free, but registration is required by Friday, December 11th. This will qualify for 1 CEU from the School Nutrition Association, which can count towards certification renewal.

Action for Healthy Kids: Connections November 2009

2009-11-05T23:06:00.000-08:00

New Web Site Highlights Mission, Impact, Service

Action for Healthy Kids’ Web site has a new look, more interactivity and gives users a fresh perspective on programs and resources to make schools and children healthier. You can find the latest resources and practical information, and also share your enthusiasm about Action for Healthy Kids on your online social networks like Facebook and Twitter. Learn more »

Sharing Best Practices: Team Success Stories

Now, you can find stories and inspiration from successfully implemented programs and best practices on the new ActionforHealthyKids.org. Since 2002, Action for Healthy Kids teams have successfully implemented dozens of programs to help make schools healthier and we’ve just made it easier to find out about them. Schools and volunteers also are invited to submit their own success stories through the site. Learn more »

Take Action for Healthy Kids Today

There are more ways than ever to get involved and take action for healthy kids and schools. You can get involved with the Action for Healthy Kids team in your state or organize special events such as a ‘family fitness night’ with Action for Healthy Kids’ resources. It’s easy to tell friends about Action for Healthy Kids and even advocate for better children’s health. Online donations can also be made through the Web site. Learn more »

2009 School Wellness Conference Update

2009-08-20T10:42:00.000-07:00

The California School Boards Association, the California Department of Education and the California Department of Public Health will bring together a diverse group of school community leaders who play a role in creating sustainable healthy school environments. The conference will address critical health issues and their link to academic achievement, such as nutrition, physical education and activity, mental health, oral health, diabetes, indoor air quality, asthma and more.

Learn more about these events at http://swc.csba.org/

Learn how student wellness is linked to learning and student success
To see a fun and informative video about the upcoming School Wellness Conference that you can share with your colleagues, click here. You can also view this information on YouTube here.

2009 Keynote speakers

Dr. John Ratey, October 6
Dr. John Ratey is an associate clinical professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. For more than a decade he taught residents and Harvard medical students as the assistant director of resident training at Massachusetts Mental Health Center. Dr. Ratey was the recipient of the 2006 Excellence in Advocacy award from the non-profit group PE4Life, for his work in promoting the adoption of regular, aerobic-based physical education. Most recently, Dr. Ratey authored SPARK: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain. His groundbreaking research explores the connection between exercise and the brain’s performance.

Pedro Noguera, October 7
Pedro Noguera, offers a preview of his perspectives in an audio interview posted here.

Pedro Noguera is an urban sociologist professor in the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development at New York University who focuses on the ways in which schools are influenced by social and economic conditions. At the School Wellness Conference, Noguera will address the need for schools and communities to adopt strategies that empower children and their families, as well as the importance of everyone in the community to collaborate.

Pre-Conference
Join us for the pre-conference, Finding common ground: Collaborating to prevent childhood obesity, on Monday, October 5, 2009. The pre-conference session will be complimentary to those who register for the conference. Seating is limited! Learn more about the pre-conference here.

Reduced rate!
The new School Wellness Conference room rate is $110 single/double, $130 triple, $150 quad plus applicable taxes. Call Marriott reservations at (800) 228-9290. Reference the School Wellness Conference and receive the conference rate of $139 single/double plus applicable taxes. Make hotel reservations early! The cut-off date for hotel reservations is September 13, 2009. Learn more here.

Local Wellness Policy Policies: Findings from the First Two Years

2009-08-13T17:48:00.000-07:00

Local Wellness Policy Policies: Findings from the First Two Years
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
3:00-4:30pm ET/ 2:00-3:30pm CT/ 1:00-2:30pm MT/ 12:00-1:30pm PT

Join Action for Healthy Kids on Wednesday September 2 for a 90-minute webinar about national evaluation findings from a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) report on the strengths and weaknesses of local wellness policies.

This landmark study by RWJF’s research program Bridging the Gap, presents data on the most comprehensive review of school district wellness policies conducted to date. Policies were evaluated based on nutrition education, school meals, competitive food and beverage guidelines, physical activity and education, food and beverage marketing in schools, and evaluation strategies for the first two school years of the wellness policy requirement.

Lead author Jamie F. Chriqui, PhD, MHS from the Institute for Health Research and Policy at the University of Illinois Chicago will discuss implications of the report’s findings on the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act. Click here to read Dr. Chriqui’s bio.

Following the presentation, Sarah Titzer of Action for Healthy Kids will facilitate a conversation for AFHK volunteers to take action at the state and local levels to help school districts with wellness policy implementation. We hope you will join us for this conversation on September 2.

Click here to register for the webinar by the Monday, August 31 deadline. A complete copy or executive summary of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation report can be downloaded using the link below:

Local Wellness Policies: Assessing School District Strategies for Improving Children’s Health (School Years 2006-07 and 2007-08)

This message was sent from Action for Healthy Kids to mary.decker@dmps.k12.ia.us. It was sent from: Action for Healthy Kids, 4711 Golf Rd Suite 625, Skokie, IL 60076.

Two School Wellness Initiatives

2009-08-13T06:34:00.000-07:00

Dear Iowa Partners: Action for Healthy Kids,

Below are two school wellness initiatives for you to take a look at.

The first is the 2009 Healthy Iowa/Iowa Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Nutrition Awards. For a description of the awards visit http://www.wellnessiowa.org/healthyiowaawards2009.php. The applications are due August 31st, 2009. There are awards at the community, school, college/university and the individual level.
The second is a Farm-to-School initiative, called “Wrap Your Own-Iowa Grown.” This initiative is a great opportunity for schools, students, teachers, parents and the communities to get involved and promote Iowa producers and healthy eating habits. A portion of the initiative is for middle and high school students to produce a 30 second to 2 minute video or rap that informs, inspires, and encourages student awareness and promotion of locally-grown Iowa produce/products. For more information visit the following website: http://www.iowaagriculture.gov/AgDiversification/wrapYourOwn.asp

This message was sent from Iowa Action for Healthy Kids to mary.decker@dmps.k12.ia.us. It was sent from: Action for Healthy Kids, 4711 Golf Rd Suite 625, Skokie, IL 60076.

School Breakfast Grant Grantees Announced

2009-08-09T15:13:00.000-07:00

August 5, 2009 – Research has repeatedly shown that students who start the day with breakfast perform better at school. However, millions of American children – one of every six – are unable to get proper nourishment at home – a rising number due to recent economic hardships.

Increasing the number of children eating breakfast at school to start their day right is the goal of $55,000 in grants, plus technical assistance, that Action for Healthy Kids is providing to 41 schools in 17 states this coming school year. Funded by Kellogg’s Corporate Citizenship Fund, the charitable arm of Kellogg Company, the grants will fund alternative breakfast programs, increase parents’ and students’ awareness, and/or enhance the school breakfast experience through educational enrichment activities. Action for Healthy Kids received more than 215 applications for the mini grants, which range between $500 and $2,000, and may increase the number of students participating in school breakfast programs this year by as many as 20,000 children.

“The concept is simple: children who are better nourished are healthier and learn better. School breakfast programs help ensure that kids get healthy foods like fruits and vegetables, fiber, whole grains, and low- and non-fat dairy to jumpstart their day,” said Rob Bisceglie, executive director of Action for Healthy Kids. “Unfortunately, thousands of children who could be getting breakfast at school aren’t taking advantage of this health-promoting program.”

To be eligible for funding, schools had to have at least 50% of their student population eligible for free and reduced price meals. Nationally, 18.4 million children receive free- or reduced-price lunch through the National School Lunch Program on an average day. However, less than half take advantage of breakfast at school. Last school year, a family of four that made $28,665 a year or less qualified for free school breakfast. The federal government is raising the salary cap for the 2009-10 school year.

In addition to boosting brainpower, breakfast has been shown to curb behavior problems, reduce absenteeism, and help children focus.

View the complete list of school receiving grants and information on their programs online.

This message was sent from Action for Healthy Kids to mary.decker@dmps.k12.ia.us. It was sent from: Action for Healthy Kids, 4711 Golf Rd Suite 625, Skokie, IL 60076.

Going the Distance and Shortening It: from Farm to Cafeteria

2009-01-22T19:08:00.000-08:00

MARCH 19-21, 2009 in Portland Oregon

Register now for the 4th National Farm to Cafeteria Conference in Portland, Oregon from March 19-21st. Don't miss this opportunity to learn from and network with hundreds of people from across the country who are working to get local food onto every table. Visit www.farmtocafeteriaconference.com for more information.

Join us for field trips to local farms, school lunchrooms and processing facilities; short courses covering topics such as grant writing and research and evaluation; an open space session; 32 workshops on issues such as federal and state policy, experiential education, sustainability and economic development and sessions geared towards youth, producers, and food service providers. All food will be organic or sustainably produced and locally sourced whenever possible.

Youth and limited resource farmer scholarships will be available. Please contact your Regional Lead Agency for more information.

Register Now!

Real Food Is YouTube Video Contest…

2009-01-22T19:07:00.001-08:00

Win $1,000 to tell it like it is.

What is real food? And do they serve it in your school cafeteria? Tell us your story. Sing it, write it, mime it, or shout it. We want to know what you think Real Food Is…

Open to K-12 and college students, this video contest runs until February 8, 2009. To enter, create a short video that completes the phrase "Real Food is..." and you can win $1,000 for your school food project and an all expense paid trip for the winner and chaperone to the 4th National Farm to Cafeteria Conference in Portland, Oregon. Go here for more details on contest rules and recommendations: http://farmtocafeteriaconference.com/real-food-is-video-contest/

http://www.youtube.com/farmtoschool

2008-10-30T13:14:00.000-07:00

Hello Action for Healthy Kids members,

Action for Healthy Kids is proud to present the following ReCharge!Energizing After-school webinar opportunities. These 60-minute orientations will teach participants how the ReCharge! program can educate students about the importance of a healthy diet…WHILE having fun and being physically active. Participants will receive a certificate of completion to apply toward professional development requirements and other certifications.

What: ReCharge! Energizing After-School Webinars

When: Select ONE date:
Tuesday, December 9, 2008 – 12pm ET/9am PT
OR
Thursday, December 11, 2008 – 3pm ET/12pm PT

Cost: Webinar Only - $40.00
Kit Only - $225.00 (value of $265 – save $40 through end of 2008)
Both - $250 (saves $55)

All proceeds help sustain the ReCharge! program and create healthier schools across the country.

How: Click here to register for a kit, the webinar, or both! We will contact interested participants during the week of November 10, 2008 to confirm your registration and information.

Not familiar with ReCharge? Click here to find out more.

To register for the webinars or order a kit, click here.

For questions, contact ReCharge@ActionForHealthyKids.org.

Thank you,

Action for Healthy Kids

Coordinated School Health Program nomination request

2008-10-30T13:13:00.000-07:00

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Division of Adolescent and School Health (DASH) is looking for strong district-level coordinated school health programs (CSHP). DASH wants to understand the essential characteristics necessary for CSHP program success. To that end, DASH will be conducting site visits with selected CSHPs to learn more about them. DASH may also offer technical assistance to evaluate these programs based on these site visits.

Action for Healthy Kids needs YOU to identify school districts with strong coordinated school health programs. A coordinated school health program brings together school administrators, teachers, other staff, students, families, and community members to assess health needs; set priorities; and plan, implement, and evaluate school health program activities. A CSHP integrates efforts across eight interrelated components: health education, health services, nutrition services, health promotion for school staff, physical education, mental health and social services, healthy and safe school environments, and family and community involvement.

Submit nominations to Seraphine Pitt Barnes, Ph.D. The submission deadline is Friday, October 31, 2008. The nomination should include the school district, where it is located (city, state), an individual’s contact information at the district, and a description of the district’s coordinated school health program. The description of the program should include program goals and objectives; method of coordinating multiple initiatives; whether or not the district has a school health coordinator, a school health council, and a dedicated budget; and, finally, whether the school district is monitoring the implementation of the program.

Click here to view the nomination form. If you would like additional information on this project, please contact Seraphine Pitt Barnes, Ph.D. by e-mail or phone 770-488-6115. The fax number is 770-488-6156.

Thanks for your help on this important project!

Action for Healthy Kids

NHLBI We Can! in Action eNewsletter - Fall 2008

2008-10-28T13:11:00.000-07:00

Hello Action for Healthy Kids members,

To view the Fall 2008 eNewsletter from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute We Can! Program Click Here.

IAMLE Poster Collin Kelso

2008-10-17T10:01:00.000-07:00

IAMLE Poster Savana Robinson

2008-10-17T10:00:00.000-07:00

IAMLE Poster Thanh Lai

2008-10-17T09:52:00.000-07:00

IAMLE Poster Cindy Breskic

2008-10-14T17:54:00.000-07:00

IAMLE Poster Grant Johnson

2008-10-13T18:14:00.000-07:00

IAMLE Poster Jacob Scott

2008-10-13T17:48:00.000-07:00

Super-Power Summit - October 22nd, 2008

2008-10-04T11:48:00.000-07:00

Midwest Dairy Council, Iowa Partners: Action for Healthy Kids and the Iowa Department of Education’s Team Nutrition Program are sponsoring a statewide Super-Power Summit to inspire Iowa middle school students to activate their super-powers through choosing more nutritious foods, committing to 60 minutes of physical activity every day, and encouraging their friends to do the same. American track and field star Lolo Jones will be the closing key note speaker!

Middle schools from across the state are invited to attend in teams with 2-6 students and up to 2 adult advisors. These teams will also have the chance to apply for a mini-grant worth up to $1,500 designed to activate nutrition and physical activity programs in their school to unleash their classmates’ super-powers. The summit will be held Wednesday, October 22nd, 2008, at the Polk County Convention Complex in Des Moines , Iowa .

We have extended our registration deadline to October 8th! Please spread the word to middle school youth in your community. This is a great opportunity for young people to get inspired and for schools to get funding for their school wellness programs.

For more information about the summit, including the agenda, click here or visit www.superpowersummit.org.

Spread the Word: National Child Health Day is Monday, October 6

2008-10-04T11:42:00.000-07:00

Dear Colleagues,

National Child Health Day is Monday, October 6, 2008 . Please help us spread the word by sending this message out through listservs and to your friends and colleagues:

Child Health Day is celebrating its 80th anniversary, the perfect time to let your community know how to help kids Eat Healthy & Be Active for a Healthy Future!

Visit the Child Health Day website today to find out how you can impact a child’s health and wellness!

New Blog

2008-09-19T17:37:00.000-07:00

This Blog will be used by the Iowa Association of Middle Level Educators to share ideas and keep members up-to-date of what is going on in our association.