Healthy Schools Campaign

Daylight, Gardens, Bouncy Chairs: The Role of Wellness in Healthy School Design

by Tara Kennon, HSC communications manager

Here at HSC, we love it when wellness and sustainability meet – especially when the topics merge in discussions of an issue as exciting and promising as green schools. We’ve long advocated for further development of “healthy, high performing” schools – a term that covers both a school’s impact on the environment (often its energy efficiency) and its impact on student health and learning. Attributes such as well-designed ventilation system can make a school healthy and high-performing. So can daylighting or good acoustics.

Lately, we’ve started to have more conversations with our partners about how to integrate wellness into the ways we all think and talk about green schools.  How does a kitchen outfitted with the equipment to prepare healthy meals fit into our definition of a healthy school? What about adequate space for children to be physically active?

And perhaps most important: how does a school building that supports wellness shape student learning?

This question is at the heart of a new book (and related online community), The Third Teacher, which discusses the ways that the environment – in this case the built environment, the school facility – has a dramatic impact on student learning.

HSC board member Vince Iturralde, principal of Tarkington School of Excellence, a public elementary school on Chicago’s southwest side and the first LEED-certified green school in the city, eloquently explains the  benefits of a school building that supports learning and wellness in a Chicago Public Radio story exploring the subject:

Iturralde says one of the unique elements, is how Tarkington shares land and space with the park district.

 

That’s meant a larger gym, and a field where kids can play during recess. The Park District also offers pre-school and after-school programs that Tarkington kids attend.

 

ITURRALDE: Students need to be active. They keep the kids constantly busy. And when the kids are constantly busy, they stay out of trouble. And so violence goes down, crime goes down, and our students’ success rate goes up.

 

Principal Iturralde says teachers use the green features to highlight the school’s environmental focus. And the teachers voted to extend their day so the kids could have recess and run all over that grassy field.

 

ITURRALDE: It was the first LEED certified school in the city of Chicago, which had huge advantages that were unforeseen. It was amazing how many different things evolved from the building itself.

 

Like using the setting for hands-on lessons in the gardens, the field or even some unusual places.

The story also takes listeners to a school in nearby Barrington, where students spend their days in desks designed to allow movement throughout the day:

In this classroom in District 220 in Barrington, about half the class is literally bouncing up and down. One kid is sitting on a big gym ball modified to look like a chair. Other fourth-graders are in chairs with inflatable cushions on them. There’s a tall desk with a swing bar that a boy is kicking against over and over again.

You’d think it would be chaos.

 

Connie Simon says it’s just the opposite. Simon is an assistant superintendent here.
 
SIMON: It just is not a natural thing to make kids sit for six hours a day. This provides opportunities for children to be able to move in a natural way that learning still continues.

Simon points to students like Jaycee Carden who are moving in place, but still focused on their work.

 

JAYCEE:  I usually do better in the chair, like I can think quicker when I’m in this chair because I’m also getting a lot of energy out at the same time, so it helps me think a little more.

The Third Teacher spotlights ideas such as these – daylight, gardens, bouncy chairs – that are considered innovative for school design although they are often based on simple observations (“a lot of kids fidget”) as much as on new technologies. The ideas range from “#20: Make Peace with Fidgeting” to suggestions that teachers talk with students about how green technology works, using it as a learning tool.

Listen to the full story at the Chicago Public Radio website or read more of the ideas in The Third Teacher at www.thethirdteacher.com.

Help HSC Meet the $25,000 Challenge -- Make a Difference for Children’s Health and our Environment

HSC is excited to announce a $25,000 challenge grant from an anonymous donor! To meet the challenge, we must raise $25,000 in gifts from new donors, or gifts in higher amounts from previous donors. This is an amazing opportunity to leverage $50,000 in crucial support for our work.

To meet the challenge, we need your help. Please consider making a first-time gift to support HSC, increasing your annual gift, or telling your friends and colleagues about this opportunity to help bring much-needed resources to the campaign for wellness and environmental health in schools. 

You can make a gift and find tools to tell your friends here.

Your gift will help us continue the important work of making schools healthier places in which to learn and work. Our goal is for schools to provide healthy environments that have a positive impact on the rates of childhood obesity and asthma. To create sustainable, long-term change, we help parents, school nurses, teachers, principals, students and other school stakeholders work hands-on to improve their schools, and make sure that they have a voice in advocating for effective, long-term change.

HSC’s efforts can mean:

- Children in cafeterias across the country eating more fresh, healthy food – fresh fruit, whole grains and even locally-grown vegetables – giving them the nutrition and energy to learn and the opportunity to develop the eating habits that will shape their health for a lifetime

- School staff cleaning classrooms with safe, effective, environmentally friendly cleaners, cutting the health risks that come with exposure to potentially toxic traditional cleaning chemicals and reducing the contaminants that can trigger asthma attacks or respiratory problems for children and teachers in the classroom

- Parents joining together to establish active wellness teams that create walking school buses, after-school dance classes, shared gardens in urban yards and even neighborhood healthy cooking classes to make a difference for kids’ health

 - Kids running and playing at recess, taking a much-needed break from structured classroom lessons and boosting their physical activity rate

- School nurses leading change to make sure their schools support student wellness – taking steps to improve the air quality at school, the food available all day and even students’ understanding of healthy eating

- Students with asthma breathing easily in well-ventilated green schools after years of using an inhaler to get through the day at a school with poor indoor air quality

- High school students working together to create healthy school lunches that meet high nutrition standards on a tight budget – then telling their friends about the benefits of healthy eating as the meals they design are served in schools across the nation

Because HSC works with school stakeholders – teachers, parents, nurses, students, principals, facilities’ staff, architects, community leaders and more – to make change, our impact reaches beyond one-time events to help create a culture of wellness and sustainability in our nation’s schools.

Please consider lending your support to this campaign for our environment, our children and education.

Click here to make a gift or tell your friends about this opportunity to make a difference.

Be Well: Parents United for Healthy Schools Leaders Spotlighted in Book & National Campaign

Two leaders from HSC’s Parents United for Healthy Schools – HSC project coordinator Jovita Flores and parent leader Rosa Guzman – are in the spotlight as their inspirational stories of personal healthy change have been featured in the book Be Well.

Rosa Guzman

The book and accompanying campaign, presented by the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation and the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, shares "messages from moms on living healthier lives" by profiling 15 inspirational women around the nation whose remarkable stories include lessons and tips for parents everywhere.

See Rosa’s story »

See Jovita’s story »

Read about more parents making change in Chicago's Latino communities »

Jovita and Rosa are leaders in the effort to bring increased physical activity and healthy food to schools in Chicago’s Latino and African-American communities.

Jovita Flores

Jovita, who taught the neighborhood nutrition class that first inspired Rosa to begin making healthy changes, provides the training and ongoing guidance that helps parents create effective school wellness teams and begin making changes such as offering walking school buses, food education or after-school physical activity programs. She also works closely on a city-wide effort to bring back recess to Chicago Public Schools.

Rosa, whose story of personal transformation has inspired parents throughout her neighborhood and beyond to make changes and become advocates for wellness at school, continues to speak up for healthy food and physical activity at school and in the community. She provides guidance to neighbors and other parents seeking to make change, offering her tips for modifying traditional recipes or fitting exercise (often walking or dancing) into a busy schedule.

"We’re thrilled to congratulate Jovita and Rosa on the recognition they’ve received as part of this national project," said HSC executive director Rochelle Davis. "Their work is truly an inspiration and has made a tremendous impact on parents, children and schools across Chicago. We’re so pleased that their stories can now offer inspiration to more parents across the country."

Read more about the Be Well book »

Plus: Jovita and Rosa were both recently quoted in a Chicago Tribune story on mothers who champion health

Have you and your families made healthy changes? What mothers inspire you? We'd love to hear your stories!

Congratulations to the Winning Student Chefs at Cooking up Change!

Congratulations to all the amazing student chefs who participated in the Cooking up Change healthy cooking contest! All of the teams created tasty, healthy school meals that wowed judges and guests at the benefit. Even more remarkable: the teams met nutrition requirements while ordering from a set ingredient list and spending just about a dollar per meal for ingredients. And they did it with less than six weeks to prepare!

HSC is pleased to offer special congratulations to the winning teams:

School Lunch Awards

First place: Tilden Career Community High School

Chicken Jambalaya with Jalapeno Cornbread and Cucumber Salad

 

Second place: Richards Career Academy

Twice Baked Sheppard's Pie with Pub Salad and a side of Cinnamon Bread Pudding with Spice Sauce

Third place: Chicago Vocational Career Academy

Mom's Chicken Salad with Farmer's Market Vegetable Soup and Harvest Apple Crisp

Audience Choice Award

Corliss High School

Cranberry-Raisin-Walnut Cookie

Cookie-preneur Awards

Chicago Vocational Career Academy

Abracadabra Bars

 

Clemente Community Academy High School

Spiced Pumpkin Cookie

Corliss High School

Cranberry-Raisin-Walnut Cookie

Many thanks to all of the team mentors, judges and culinary instructors behind the cooking contest, and to all of the sponsors and host committee members who make Cooking up Change possible!

 

Good Luck to the Cooking up Change Student Chefs: A Message From White House Assistant Chef Sam Kass

Cooking up Change is only a few days away and we're getting excited. Our high school student chefs are finalizing their healthy school lunch menus as they prepare for the competition. We can't say enough about how thrilled we are for their participation in HSC's healthy culinary contest. The meals that the students create will be part of a national dialogue on the future of school food, highlighting the power of student engagement in healthy change.

But we also think that Assistant White House Chef Sam Kass says it better than even we could. Sam got to know Cooking up Change when he prepared the winning meal from Cooking up Change 2008 alongside the student chefs who designed it at a briefing on the future of school food.

Check out his message to the young chefs:

Here's a transcript of Sam's remarks:

How's it going, my name is Sam Kass, I'm an assistant chef at the White House. I'd like to welcome you to Cooking up Change, it's an exciting night. I know all of you guys are a little bit nervous and excited for this big event. But stay calm and relax. I'm really excited to see all of the amazing dishes you guys are going to create.

We all know how important it is to feed our kids healthy, delicious meals every day when they go to school for lunch. This is something that is a top priority for us here at the White House. And we are excited and thrilled by the new energy that you are going to bring to this, all of the creativity that you have, and the fact that you are the future of chefs in America.

So I really look forward to hearing and seeing and maybe tasting what you guys come up with, and see the winning team in Washington.

Good luck!

We couldn't have said it better! So good luck. We can't wait to see you there!

For more details, visit www.cookingupchange.org.

Veggies, Hula Hoops and the Future of School Food: HSC at the White House Healthy Kids Fair

By Rochelle Davis, Founding Executive Director

Yesterday I had the pleasure and privilege of participating in Healthy Kids Fair at the White House. It was a fun event with an important message and I was thrilled that Healthy Schools Campaign was able to be part of it.

Of course I've been following the First Lady's work promoting healthy food and fitness, especially around the White House Garden and the farmers market. But being able to actually participate in an event at the White House and hear first-hand her comments about promoting healthy eating at home and in schools, seeing her interact with children eating healthy food and engaging in physical activity was a real treat. And yes, she actually did the hula hoop (142 rotations, according to the AP) and jumped rope.  

Amidst her strong message about the need for healthy eating and physical activity, Mrs. Obama’s comments were humorous and filled with practical advice. The event included a policy announcement --  expanding the USDA’s existing Healthier Schools USA program -- that was great though not really game-changing in the movement for healthier school food.

But the First Lady's involvement clearly demonstrates a strong commitment by the Administration to improving school food.  In fact, Secretary of Agriculture Vlisack told the crowd at the fair that when President Obama asked him to become the Secretary of Agriculture, the President told him that improving school food needed to be his top priority.

As I left this event, I couldn't help but think of something that many of us who care about kids' wellness have been saying again and again lately: it really is a new day for school food and fitness.

Seeing this type of enthusiasm for veggies and hula hoops coming from the White House is more than just encouraging and fun: it changes the conversations we have about good food and physical activity by creating a climate in which these things are valued and applauded. 

Global Handwashing Day Today - Win a Glitterbug Kit!

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UPDATE: Congratulations to @dese2, winner of our Global Handwashing Day Twitter contest! She'll receive a Glitterbug handwashing kit for her school. 

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Today is Global Handwashing Day! So, Healthy Schools Campaign wants to remind everyone that good habits can protect us all from getting germs -- and spreading germs -- at home, school, or work. Simple actions such as covering your mouth and nose and cleaning your hands often, can stop the spread of germs, prevent illnesses and cut back on absenteeism.

Three Steps to Stop the Spread of Germs

Make sure you:

1. Cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze or cough
   
2. Clean your hands often
3. Remind your children to practice healthy habits, too

1. Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing

Cough or sneeze into a tissue and then throw it away. Cover your cough or sneeze if you do not have a tissue. Then, clean your hands, and do so every time you cough or sneeze.

2. The "Happy Birthday" song helps keep your hands clean?

Not exactly. Yet we recommend that when you wash your hands -- with soap and warm water -- that you wash for 15 to 20 seconds. That's about the same time it takes to sing the “Happy Birthday” song twice!

3. Alcohol-Based Hand Wipes and Gel Sanitizers Work Too

When soap and water are not available, alcohol-based disposable hand wipes or gel sanitizers may be used. Non-alcohol-based hand sanitizers may also be useful. You can find these in most supermarkets and drugstores. 

Resources

You can download and print these posters from the CDC to help educate people in your schools about the importance of hand hygiene.

Poster of Boy	English	Spanish
Poster of Girl	English	Spanish
Cover your Cough	English	Spanish

Win a Glitterbug Handwashing Kit for Your School!

In honor of Global Handwashing Day, HSC is hosting a drawing to give away a Giltterbug Handwashing Kit for you to provide to your school. This kit includes everything one needs to present an effective and memorable hand hygiene training event. The kit includes: GlowBar lamp with 4 D-Cell batteries, AC adapter for plug-in convenience, Handwash DVD (HCU.DVD), GlitterBug Potion (240ml), GlitterBug Powder (68gm), GlitterBug Instruction Manual, How to Wash poster (P132), two pages of "I Was Rude" stickers (ST6), two Hand Brushes and one GlitterBug Champion Medallion. Estimated Retail Value: $185.

All you have to do to enter the drawing is to tweet on Twitter about handwashing on October 14 or 15, 2009 with @healthyschools in the tweet. For example:

@Healthyschools - Global Handwashing Day Today! RT to win free Glitterbug kit for your school! http://tiny.cc/X19IZ

Good luck -- and happy handwashing!

Invite Your Legislators to the Through Your Lens Exhibit!

The Through Your Lens Exhibit opens on Capitol Hill today! The photos in the exhibit, all taken by students, teachers and community members around the US, tell a powerful story about the condition of our nation's school buildings.

The exhibit is opening as Congress considers legislation to fund the repair, renovation and construction of safe, healthy, and green school buildings.

Please help us spread the word about the exhibit and ensure that our legislators know how important it is to take a look at the images. Please take a moment to invite your senators and representatives to view the exhibit on Capitol Hill and to join us for the opening reception on Monday, Oct. 5 from 5-7 pm! (In the DC area? Come out and join us yourself! And bring a friend!) You can view the exhibit:

•     Online at www.throughyourlens.org
•     In the in the Russell Rotunda of the Senate office building  Capitol Hill Oct. 5-9.

Thank you for helping show our elected leaders the often unseen reality of our nation’s school building conditions.

Through Your Lens Photo Exhibit Opens on Capitol Hill Next Week!

By Mark Bishop, Deputy Director

We're thrilled announce that photos and stories from our Through Your Lens contest (which we've been blogging about over the last few weeks) will be shown in a special exhibit on Capitol Hill next week! The Through Your Lens exhibit will be on display from Oct. 5-9 in the Russell Rotunda of the Senate office building on Capitol Hill.

The exhibit will open as Congress is considering legislation to fund the repair, renovation and construction of safe, healthy schools.

The photos and stories in the exhibit were submitted by students, teachers and community members across the country. The exhibit provides an honest window into our public school facilities: the parts that are inspiring and the parts we need to change.

Despite the importance of school buildings to teaching, learning, health, environment and community vibrancy, many of our nation’s public school buildings remain in poor condition. With legislation to provide federal support for school construction, modernization, and renovation moving through both the House and Senate, the time to act is now.

Help us by getting involved. There are three things you can do:

• Join us at the exhibit!  If you're in the DC area next week, come and see the exhibit. Or come to our exhibit opening event on Monday, Oct. 5 from 5:00 - 7:00 pm to meet some of the student photographers and hear from advocates for safe, healthy schools. (Click here to RSVP.) If you can't make it, you can always view the photos online.

• Invite your legislators to the exhibit! Send a message to your legislators telling them to stop by the rotunda and view the exhibit. We want to make sure they see the reality of our nation's school building conditions.

• Help spread the word about the exhibit! Click here for links or sample messages to share Through Your Lens with your friends.

We're excited for the opportunity to bring these images to DC -- and we hope to see you at the exhibit next week!

Support HSC by Shopping at Any Chicago Whole Foods Market on Tuesday, Sept. 22!

Tomorrow, Tuesday Sept. 22, you can make a difference for children’s health and our environment at the same time you get your groceries!

Five percent of the day’s sales at all Chicago Whole Foods Markets will be donated to Healthy Schools Campaign to support our work on behalf of our environment, our children and education.

HSC staff and some very talented student chefs from the Chicago Public Schools culinary arts program will be on hand at different points throughout the day with cooking demonstrations, healthy school lunch tastings, and opportunities to take action to change the future of school lunch. Be sure to drop by to see us at any of the participating locations:

South Loop 1101 S. Canal St. Lincoln Park 1550 N. Kingsbury St. Gold Coast 30 W. Huron St. Halsted & Waveland 3640 N. Halsted St. Lakeview 3300 N. Ashland Ave.

We hope to see you tomorrow at Whole Foods!

You can learn more online and invite your friends to join you at the market!