4th and 5th grade students help promote fruits and veggies!

This is our fourth year of monthly fruit and vegetable tastings at Norwich Elementary, which was coined “Take A Taste Thursday” by one of our more marketing-saavy parent volunteers… 

We Want YOU! to try Spinach and Kiwi

 We are incredibly fortunate to have our school district  food service provider, Aramark, provide us with free samples of a fruit and vegetable each month for sampling.  Each month we recruit parent volunteers to help hand out the foods from among those who signed up on the intial PTO volunteer form that they would be interested in helping with health and wellness projects.  We do have data from parent surveys that this project has helped influence the willingness to try new foods at home, and has actually changed the buying habits of our parents. 

It has been a joint effort between the Aramark Food Service and the wellness committee, in that we make sure each tasting includes letting the parents know it’s happening, giving the teachers fact sheets to go along with each fruit and vegetable the day of the tasting so they can talk about it in their classrooms, and now we are thrilled to have 

Kiwi Man "braves" trying spinach.....and likes it!

the assistance of the Norwich News Team, which are 4-5th graders, led by teachers Stephanie Miles, Patty Gast, and our technology teacher Bill Wheeler.   Each week they produce a weekly news show that keeps the students up on all the latest goings on at the school, and is aired each Friday.  This month, they have created a “commercial” about the upcoming tasting, which will be kiwi and spinach leaves, tossed with a light raspberry vingarette. 

This is, of course, fun and light entertainment for everyone.  The students producing the commercial are learning technical, dramatic and media skills.  The younger students see their older peers doing positive activities in a fun way, but on top of all the fun there is also some seriously good things happening here.    Did you know that data from a recent study from Yale’s Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity reported that the average preschooler sees 642 television ads per year just for unhealthy cereal?   If you want to read more, click here:  20091026execsummary.   Our kids are constantly bombarded in all environments by persuasive messages that encourage poor choices.    Have you seen the Reese’s Rap?  Talk about cool, catchy and persuasive!     You can You Tube it, we don’t even want to use up precious blog byte space to embed it here! 

 There is no way we can come close to the influence that large companies with million dollar marketing budgets have to influence youth and their choices, but every little step we can do in our own individual environments to help our children see the other side of the equation is a step in the right direction.  Kudos to the Norwich News Team and the teacher-advisors! 

Click on this link to view the video file:   http://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B058k-kFI10cZjY1ZmYyNTMtOWYwZS00ZGJjLTlkMTMtNWNmZTE1ZDlkZmU1&hl=en 

submitted by Mary Chace, parent and wellness committee chair at Norwich Elementary chace1220@sbcglobal.net

School Café Hosts Whole Grain Pizza Taste Test

 

Team Raymond in Marysville, Ohio

Gets on the Whole Grain Train!

School Café Hosts Whole Grain Pizza Taste Test

My favorite whole grain cereal

 

We start our Challenge 2 this week….Where in my World are Whole Grains? Our students have been challenged to bring in pictures of themselves with a whole grain item. We will add this to our bulletin board in the cafe!  We are also going to begin to offer our recess option for FAST Feet….our line dance/exercise option for recess.  We will punch our trackers for participation for both.  Several kids brought in photo of themselves with their favorite whole grain food.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Students gathered by grade level to review the core messages from the Whole Grain Challenge.  We also taste tested a whole grain pizza treat, featuring a whole grain English muffin crust.  Students voted on which they liked the best.  The results showed that a majority of our students liked the healthy snack option!

To see the poster created and posted around the school, click on the link below.

raymondgame-on-whole-grainsposter

Teri Heard, RN

Dairy Challenge Includes Family and Focus on Literacy!

1. A great example of a Game On! challenge that reached students, staff and families was implemented at Raymond Elementary in Marysville, Ohio.  Raymond Elementary is in Marysville Exempted Village School District, and has around 250 students in grades K-4.  Nurse Teri Heard lists three main components of the challenge:

1.  Milk tasting during Lunch – students were offered free samples of 3 flavors of milk and  voted on which flavor they like best.  The  results were posted around school, using “Think Your Drink” materials from American Dairy Association.   Number one choice: CHOCOLATE!

2.  Nurse Teri Heard visited all 10 classrooms, read the 2008 Ohio Farm Bureau’s Award for Children’s Literature book, “Clarabelle” , and shared interesting facts about Ohio agriculture, and dairy farming.  Since Ohio is the number one producer of swiss cheese, she ended her story time with what else – a snack of swiss cheese!

3.  Family YMCA Fun Night - Over 130 students and family members turned out February 6th to join in Raymond’s first Family YMCA Fun Night.  Participants rotated through various stations that highlighted moving more and making better food choices. Favorites included swimming in the pool and the Dairy Challenge Kick-Off station, where families posed for their Milk Mustache photos and students were able to build yogurt parfaits.  Families also joined efforts in the Boot Camp station and parents heard Pediatrician Dr. Justin Krueger present on ‘Raising a Fit Kid in an Un-Fit World’ while students enjoyed a Health and Fitness Game with the Honda Wellness Center.

Many community resources were on hand to support this event, including the Union Co. YMCA staff, the Honda Wellness Center, the Union Co. Health Department, Memorial Hospital, Marysville Pediatrics, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Action for Healthy Kids, the American Dairy Association Mid-East, and the Ohio Department of Education. The family event was made possible by Raymond’s involvement in the Operation Fit Kids program with Honda’s Wellness Center and the Union Co. YMCA. Event costs, which included  food for the yogurt parfait station was supplied by the Union Co. YMCA and the Honda Wellness Center. 

And then to review the main, or “core” messages of the Game On! Dairy Challenge, nurse Teri Heard sent out a 1 page, 2 sided flyer to all parents – to make sure those who couldn’t attend the family night received some of the same information.  Wonderful way to sum it all up!  Click here for a pdf of the document originally designed in Microsoft Publisher:  RaymondElemDairyChallenge

The only expenses incurred were $10 for the swiss cheese she gave out after reading “Claribel” to each classroom, and $90 for the milk tasting, which was paid for from a Game On! pilot grant from Ohio Action for Healthy Kids.

Great job Teri and Raymond Elementary!  Thanks also to Marysville EVS District for their exemplary wellness policy, which states the directive for nutrition education within the health curriculum.  This confirms the district’s commitment, helps everyone get on the same page, and encourages community partnerships for the long term.  No wonder Raymond has been awarded the status of a Gold level Buckeye Best Healthy School!  For more info on what it takes to become a Buckeye Best Healthy School, go to www.healthyohioprogram.org/healthpromotion/school/schools.aspx

Walk or Bike to School Day – YEAR 2

Our building wellness committee received a walk to school grant from Ohio Department of Transportation this fall, and with it we organized another all-school one day event, but more importantly, 10 walking school buses!

Walking School Bus - the "River Landings River Movers" THIS GROUP IS CONTINUING TO WALK!

"Bike Train"

Here’s an article that sums it all up: WTS press coverage 1109, or see a live video clip of our school town meeting here: http://www.snponline.com/articles/2009/11/11/hilliard_northwest_news/schools/hlwalking%20_20091110_0344pm_3.txt

Walking School Bus, the "Wildcat Walkers"

Here’s the details:      With a $1,000 Walk to School grant from the ODOT SRTS, the wellness committee planned to recruit and train eight walking school bus leader-parents to walk a total of 40 children to school in September 2009.  After a request for interested parent leaders was sent home with all 510 students, parent leaders attended a two-hour educational session to hear about pedestrian safety and discuss relevant safety concerns with the city traffic engineer and a city police officer.   The initial goal was exceeded with a total of 10 walking school buses/bike trains formed, with a total of 75 students committing to walk as a group to school at least four times during the month of October. At least three of the walking school buses have plans to continue walking once a week through November.    A poster in the center hallway has been tracking their progress, along with photos of each walking school bus/bike train. An all-school assembly was held in November 5^th to acknowledge the student walkers and parent leaders, and the group goal they will reach upon walking at least 4 times as a group during October:  $400 of grant money will be given to the library for new books.  T  o our astonishment, Olympic gold medal winner Butch Reynolds came to the assembly, offered his congratulations, and asked us to continue walking next spring.  He said he would come back  with a prize for everyone if we set a goal, and achieved it!

Olympic Athlete Butch Reynolds with walkers/bikers Butch Reynolds addressed the kids Walking Bus, the "Badboyz Batman"

Add Stencils to Playground for recess and classroom use!

If you have seen a USA map painted on a playground surface, you have seen one small piece of an inexpensive option that can get students more active both during recess and during classroom time.  

I first became aware of these options when talking with my child’s elementary principal who said she had purchased the USA and World maps and was waiting for the district to resurface our playground before having it painted.  So finally, last summer it was finally our school’s turn for surface updating, and this summer we organized a group of parents to paint not only the USA map from URSA that was purchased long ago, but also “Peaceful Playgrounds” recess kit, that the principal more recently purchased.  Doing a quick check, I realized there are several companies out there that supply these stencils, all at a minimal cost, compared to that of standard playground equipment that PTO/PTA’s struggle to raise money to afford. 

Our artsy parent Pam painting the number grids

 

Balance Beam Snake - in Buckeye colors of course...

Here are some companies who supply instructions/stencils for active learning (If you know of others, please comment!)

  www.gymgeography.com/playground/index.htm

www. Peacefulplaygrounds.com

www. Fastline.net/stencils.htm

So, because we actually used the Peaceful Playgrounds stencils,  I’m partial to Peaceful Playgrounds because of the wonderful activity books and training that accompanies the whole thing for the teachers.   It also comes with sample press releases, specific instructions and fabulous customer service to answer those last minute painting questions!    In addition, there is a whole structure of conflict resolution that goes along with the stencils to promote less arguing, less bullying and reduced injuries. Sure, you may be able to “wing it” and paint some of these yourselves, but don’t forget the most important piece is that each one of these has many many options for learning and integrating into the classroom.  I’ve known other schools who have a group of boy scouts come in and paint something and then leave – not giving the recess aides or  teachers any idea of how to integrate into learning!   I’m not sure what the other companies offer, but I can say nothing but kudos to Melissa Bossenmeyer for developing Peaceful Playgrounds!

We had a total of 23 parents and two staff come out and help -even on those warm August evenings when black pavement was the last place you would want to sit!

Stasi painting the multiuse circle

 When school started, the kids were so excited to see the new stencils. The physical education teachers incorporated teaching the rules of the games into his regular playground safety session, which they  do every year withall the classes. Binders with the games rules and classroom integration ideas were placed in the staff lounge for teachers to see.   The wellness committee is organizing parents to help sew bean bags, which are needed for some of the games.  Next step – Guidance counselor integrates conflict resolution recess during her classroom  lessons, trains peer mediators.  Ideally we’d like to organize a teacher inservice to learn more about integrating into math, spelling, etc lessons!   We will see if there is a difference in the number of nurse’s visits during recess this year vs. last.

USA Map was fun to paint - kids could help with this one!

 Are you updating or wondering about the safety of a playground?    Great ideas on www.playgroundsafety.org!

Playground Dedication - during PTO pancake breakfast - we encouraged parents to come out and play with their kids!

Posted by Mary Chace, chace1220@sbcglobal.net   11/16/09

Resources for Classroom Energizers

The following information is from Columbus Public Health Department’s monthly eletter, which is a free monthly publication for the school community.  Each month focuses on a timely topic, and features grant and workshop opportunities in central Ohio . For more information, E-mail or call Jen Morel at Columbus Public Health, Office of Health Planning jemorel@columbus.gov 614-645-6055.  To view past issues of Health & Nutrition Flash, visit our website at: www.publichealth.columbus.gov/resources/Health_and_Nutrition_Flash.asp

 

 

 

 

Health & Nutrition Flash

GOOD HEALTH…A Basic Foundation for Teaching and Learning

September 2009

Welcome Back! Students are Ten Minutes Away from Stronger Minds and Bodies!

 

Without a doubt, students will need time to re-adjust to the classroom schedule and being inside for the majority of the day. You can help them adjust to the new routine by building ten minute physical activity breaks during the day. These quick and fun breaks will get students through the mid-morning or afternoon slump, improve overall concentration, behavior, and academic performance, and will increase the time students spend “on-task” (Robert Wood Johnson Foundation).

 

Several Central Ohio school districts have asked teachers to begin incorporating health and wellness programming into their curriculum each week. There are several resources available that can help teachers promote wellness and physical activity such as:

 

Energizers- Energizers are classroom based physica activities that integrate physical activity with academic concepts which are already being taught. They are tailored for elementary and middle school grade levels, and there are over 45 energizers that can be used in K-5 curriculum. There are Energizers for healthful living, language arts, math, music, science and social studies for middle school students. Teachers can download or order free copies of the energizers by visiting http://www.ncpe4me.com/energizers.html.

 

Take 10!- The Take 10! program is another physical activity-based classroom program for Pre-K children and elementary school students. It was created by teachers and integrates academic learning objectives, such as math, social studies, language arts, science, and health with age appropriate movement. The program comes with a teacher toolkit and resources. To learn more about the Take 10! Program, visit http://www.take10.net.

 

Other ideas to incorporate more physical activity into the school day include:

• Have students get up and stretch, jump or dance for five minutes between subjects.

• Start or end each day with ten minutes of activity such as stretches or aerobic activities.

• Give students pedometers to help them track their steps throughout the school day.

 

Encourage students to walk or run extra steps during recess.

• Reward students with physical activity by having extra recess, dancing to music in the

classroom for a few minutes or allowing students to earn other extra physical activity time for

good behavior during the week.

• Use classroom parties as on opportunity to dance, hold relays, offer active scavenger hunts

or challenge another classroom to an activity.

• Use lessons that integrate physical activity across all content areas (such as Energizers and Take 10!).

 

 

Funded by the Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and admnistered by the Ohio Department of Health, Bureau of Health Promotion and Risk Reduction, Cardiovascular Health Program. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the CDC. 

 

 

 

Who knew? Wisconsin Cheesehead hats put to good use!

 

Dairy challenges can be alot of fun – there are so many ways to engage students with positive messages about nutrition!  Here we see Westerville City Schools dietitian Chris Baumann answering questions during a free cheese tasting during lunch – students were offered three types of of cheese cubes and asked to vote on their favorite at Pointview Elementary. 

  Classroom teachers were offered the option and provided with age-appropriate, hands on classroom activity lessons on calcium and the importance of nutrient dense calories.      This challenge was done during the last week of school when teachers are often looking for some fun activities to round out the year and hit those last few standards.   A fifth grade class drew a graph that displayed the results of the voting and posted it the last day of school in the cafeteria.  Parents were sent home an informational flyer about the dairy challenge and also about the importance of dairy, or high calcium foods for those who may be lactose intolerant.   To add to the excitement, posters like this cheesetasting poster were posted around the school a few days before.

Wisconsin Cheesehead hats in Ohio? Why not?

Look at these lovely ladies who encouraged students to sample cheeses and cast a vote for which they liked best – “Your vote ‘cow-nts’ with us!”