Healthy Schools Campaign

PE Teachers Take on PALA Challenge to Help School Communities "Stay Fit!"

Earlier this summer, we teamed up with 1 World Sports and Chicago Public Schools to host Champions for Wellness, a professional development event for physical education teachers. 

Cornell McClellan, personal trainer to the First Family of United States of America and member of the President's Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition called PE teachers to action at the event and announced the Presidential Active Lifestyle Awards challenge in Chicago. McClellan said it best when he said, “PE teachers are natural champions for wellness.” 

This video spotlights Fuller Elementary PE teacher Mable Askew’s excitement to be a part of the movement.

 

PE teachers contribute a wealth of knowledge beyond the stereotypes they encounter of dodge ball and traditional "gym class." Physical education supports students in building social skills such as teamwork and self-esteem, teaches children about health and development and contributes to their fitness and overall health. Research also documents the many ways in which physical education and physical activity boost students' readiness to learn and succeed academically.

As Chicago participates in the PALA challenge, we are excited to see so many individuals in the school community -- including many PE teachers -- take on a leadership role to answer First Lady Michelle Obama’s call to reverse the childhood obesity trend.

As this Fuller Elementary PE teacher exclaims, “Stay Fit!”

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If you would like to join in the PALA Challenge with Chicago schools, you can sign up with 1WORLD Sports. Not in Chicago? You can sign up through the national registration.

Bonus! Chicago's PALA kick-off was featured on ABC Chicago! The event featured Chicago Fire president Julian Posada along with our partners 1WORLD Sports and Aetna. You can also view pictures of the event on our Facebook page.

Prioritizing Health & Wellness in Discussions of a Longer School Day

by Guillermo Gomez, Vice President of Urban Affairs

In my years working with parents in Chicago Public Schools to advocate for wellness in schools -- for simple but important changes such as bringing back recess -- one of the most common concerns we hear is "there's just not enough time." With one of the shortest school days in the nation, Chicago school leaders are forced to make tough decisions about how to spend every minute kids are in school. And unfortunately, this means that health and wellness initiatives such as recess and nutrition education can get squeezed out.

We’ve worked with schools to find creative ways to make wellness part of the day, but the reality is that without a longer school day, schools will continue to struggle to make time for all the things that matter, including physical activity and lessons about wellness.

The movement toward a longer school day has made headlines in recent weeks, with Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Chicago Public Schools CEO Jean-Claude Brizard expressing their strong support for a new schedule that would include 90 minutes a day more than the current schedule. CPS leaders are encouraging schools to switch to the new schedule now and are planning for all schools to transition to the new schedule for the 2012-13 school year.

CPS has formed a Community Advisory Committee focused on the longer school day. I was honored to be invited to serve on this committee and was encouraged by the discussion at our first meeting last week.

What stood out to me most at the meeting was that the discussion didn’t focus on how to parse an additional 90 minutes; rather, we talked about a new vision for education, one that better equips students to succeed in school and beyond. This includes recess and adequate lunch periods for students as well as enrichment opportunities including physical education, art and music.

My perspective is that these changes will have an impact far beyond their face value. Recess, for example, does more than give children a chance to be active (which is already incredibly valuable in light of the obesity epidemic); it also helps them focus when they get back to the classroom. Having enough time to eat lunch means that students have a better chance of returning to class with the energy they need to learn. And we can’t forget that students form lifelong habits -- good or bad -- in school. Structuring the school day to encourage healthy eating and physical activity will help students develop healthy habits that will stay with them for life.

At our first advisory committee meeting, we began by reviewing a snapshot of CPS statistics. One number stood out to me: 57 percent of high school students graduate. This means that 43 percent of students do not. This is a shocking number that to me sends a clear message about the need to honestly re-think education in our city. I am glad that by taking steps to a longer school day and making wellness a priority in the school day dialogue, we are beginning to do just that.

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Plus! Guillermo is featured in a news report on the move to a longer school day on ABC-7:

Chicago Schools Take Steps to Fitness with PALA Challenge

Today, Chicago's kids are taking steps to fitness with the launch of the Presidential Active Lifestyle Awards challenge in Chicago schools!  The PALA challenge is a program that encourages people to make physical activity part of their daily lives. Students, teachers, school dining managers and many others at nearly 200 Chicago Public Schools have signed on to take the challenge!

Earlier this summer, HSC hosted Champions for Wellness where Cornell McClellan, personal trainer to the First Family of United States of America and member of the President's Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition, announced the challenge. For six weeks, everyone who takes the challenge will commit to being active: students must log one hour of activity five days a week for six out of eight weeks, while adults log 30 minutes of activity five days a week. Alternatively, participants can track their steps using a pedometer and log steps rather than time. In Chicago, Aetna has generously donated pedometers to help students at participating schools track their steps.

We're thrilled that so many individuals and schools have responded to the challenge! Check out video of 1WORLD Sports' Ted Devine on the excitement of the challenge:

 

Stay posted for updates and stories from participants getting fit with their schools! 

If you would like to join in the PALA Challenge with Chicago schools, you can sign up with 1WORLD Sports. Not in Chicago? You can sign up through the national registration.

Back to School with Go for the Gold!

As students get ready to head back to school this year, we are excited for another year of Go for the Gold!

Go for the Gold is a partnership of Chicago Public Schools and Healthy Schools Campaign with the USDA and Illinois State Board of Education. Go for the Gold provides leadership training, programs and resources to Chicago schools as they strive to meet the USDA's HealthierUS School Challenge, a cornerstone of First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move campaign.

In June, we celebrated as 19 schools received national recognition for making health and wellness a priority! Now, dozens more schools are on their way to making changes. We invite you to learn more and check out our latest Go for the Gold video!

 

Plus: To learn more about Go for the Gold, check out our Gold for the Gold blog updates. Stay posted for more stories and updates as the school year gets underway!

Yoga and Spelling Tests: Connecting Wellness and Learning with Second-Grade Students

By Katie Hogberg, HSC Intern

Take a big deep belly breath in. Count to three as you inhale. Hold it for three. Then exhale for three. 

Just a few breathing exercises a couple minutes a day and I can calm, energize, or focus myself. As a student at the University of Wisconsin La Crosse (UWL) in the Community Health Education program, I had the opportunity to learn about many different mindful practices, including yoga. I experienced a lot of pressure to keep a balance between school, a social life, and sleep. Yoga was one tool I used to balance my busy schedule. The meditation and focus on breathing kept my mind clear of busy thoughts and the stretching and poses kept my body free of tension.

When I was given the opportunity to teach second graders about yoga and mindful practice, I couldn’t wait to share what I’d learned!

Many studies have explored the idea of physical activity and concentration levels in elementary students. One such pilot study, conducted with elementary students and published by Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, showed that “the majority of subjects reported improvements in directly targeted behaviors, with 50 % to 80% reporting improvements in flexibility, balance, attention, liking oneself, liking the way one’s body feels, behavior in class, strength, ability to calm oneself, and sleep.”

Another study conducted by undergraduate students at UWL was administered and evaluated at Northern Hills Elementary in Onalaska, WI. The study was created to test the levels of concentration and success rates of spelling test in second graders. 

“They found that yoga helped to calm the mind and prepared the students for their tests—they were not as anxious and were scoring relatively higher than if they were not to perform the practice,” said Chelsea Zess, a UWL undergraduate student and yoga instructor involved with the program.  

The school leaders at Northern Hills believed in the practice of yoga and continued to use it as a fitness and academic tool for the past few years after the study. For two years, I was lucky enough to be part of the program teaching second graders about yoga and mindful practice. 

Even with the many budget cuts and pressure to focus on the new Common Core State Standards in Wisconsin, in the 2010-2011 school year, the teachers at Northern Hills pleaded for students to receive one half hour of yoga before their spelling exams on Fridays. The teachers argued that the students’ scores, self-esteem, and concentration levels went up when they were allowed time to have physical activity and a chance to center their minds before their tests. 

And the students loved it! After class, they would tell me that they practiced yoga at home with their parents or would ask for handouts with poses so they could teach their siblings. One of the best parts of being a second grader at NHE was being able to tell the first graders that they would get to do yoga the following year. The excitement they expressed over what I believed they would think of as only a few stretches never ceased to amaze me! Especially when they got to pose in the candle or pigeon positions, the room would explode with an excited “yessssssssssss!”  

In my experience, yoga was not only great for the students but also for the teachers. Even if I wasn’t there to teach yoga on Fridays, the teachers would easily be able to keep it going because of the simplicity of some of the stretches. It is an activity that I found to be truly sustainable in the classroom. Just spending ten minutes a day on a few poses would help boost self-esteem, improve flexibility, balance, and attention, and help children calm themselves and focus on their school work. 

Have you had experiences with yoga in the classroom? We’d love to hear about them!

A Mesquite Mom Advocates for Recess

By Sarah Rosenberg, HSC intern

Engaged parents are a key part of healthy, successful schools. Today we’re excited to share the story of one such parent who is working hard to make school healthier for children in her state by advocating for recess.

When Corrie Meyer found out that her son's public school not only took recess time for sessions with students with learning disabilities, but they also took it away as punishment for disruptive behavior, she wasn't happy; but what could she do?

“It was all just by accident,” she said when I spoke with her about her recent efforts to get a statewide mandate for recess. “I joined the PTA, and the more time I spent there the more it became something where I felt like I wanted to do something.”

When the principal at her school wasn't receptive to changing the recess policy, she decided to seek help from her representative to the Texas legislature, Rep. Cindy Burkett. Burkett was enthusiastic about supporting Meyer's idea. Within weeks a bill was written and filed that would mandate recess for schools the state. 

Of course, writing legislation is one thing; getting it passed is a whole different ballgame. This is particularly true in a state where regulation is often considered a dirty word and many leaders aren’t on board with the idea of a state-wide mandate for recess. Meyer herself wishes it wasn’t necessary. 

“I hate that we have to demand it,” she said. “But we do.” 

That’s why Meyer has been working hard to build support for recess and other education initiatives. She is an active blogger, writing as “Just a Mom in Mesquite,” reaching out to others knowledgeable and passionate about education issues, networking at events like the recent Texas Parent-Teacher Association conference. 

“When parents are blogging or talking about these issues, it makes it easier for other people to come to the table,” Meyer explained. And the reaction from parents seems to be mostly positive, she said: they know their kids, and they know kids need a break.

The Texas legislature adjourned this year without holding a hearing on Meyer’s bill, the next step in the legislative process. Though one representative in particular has been trying to block the measure, Meyer is undeterred. Her attitude to obstacles is that if you can’t go through them, just go around them. In this case, she has been calling the reluctant representative’s campaign contributors to discuss the issue with them. 

The next chance for Meyer’s bill is not until 2013, as Texas switches between legislative sessions and budgetary sessions. Meyer sees the extra time as a good thing, especially with the elections coming up: “We’ve got two years to point-blank ask candidates their feelings on [recess].” 

If you’re from Texas, you can take action as part of Meyer’s effort: visit her campaign’s action website to raise your voice and help make sure all kids in the state have recess.

For parents interested in starting a campaign of their own, Meyer also has some advice: “Do the research and do the homework. Definitely pay attention to what is happening in legislation. And network -– don’t do it alone.”

Here at HSC, we were happy to be in touch with Corrie and offer support throughout this effort. If you are working on similar issues in your state, don’t hesitate to contact us. We can offer advice and technical support and help connect you with others in the area who may be working on similar issues. 
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Plus: Parents in HSC's Parents United for Healthy Schools coalition recently celebrated a milestone in recess advocacy when the CEO of Chicago Public Schools announced plans to bring back recess to all elementary schools in the district! Read more here.

"Cooling Down" the Classroom with Fit to Learn Facilitator Carla Tantillo

Today we have a guest blog by Carla Tantillo, founder of Mindful Practices and one of the wonderful facilitators at HSC’s Fit to Learn professional development training. Thanks to Carla for sharing this post!

As one of my favorite graduate school professors used to say, "As educators, it is our job to tend the flock we are given." Often, the direction our "flock" is heading can be frustrating. It is very easy to point out myriad factors why our classroom may not be following the path we had hoped. We find ourselves lamenting, "If only my students’ parents would do x, y, z," or "I could do x, if my school administrator would only follow through with y." We can easily end up stuck in a place of stress and inactivity. As a result, our classroom culture can become nebulous or stressful.

Just as we ask our students to set goals for their academic progress, it is important that we also set tangible and meaningful goals for the shape we want our classroom to take. To make progress, we need to set these goals today, not tomorrow when x, y or z may or may not happen.

One of the goals that I’ve found can make a real difference right away is a commitment to “cooling down” the classroom and keeping energy at a productive level.

Teaching students to cool down and be aware of how their level of energy affects their behavioral choices gives them the life-long learning tools to succeed. When students and teachers are aware of the effects of energy levels in their classroom, they understand that frantic and lethargic energy often prevent authentic learning from taking place. Once this energetic awareness is created, it empowers students and teachers with knowledge and they are able to modify their energy level with relaxation, breathing and physical activity. These tools help restore focus and concentration to the classroom, creating a cool and productive learning environment.

By including breathing, yoga or physical activity into a students’ daily routine, teachers empower themselves and their students to make the connection between energy and learning. If students realize that being tired or hungry negatively impacts their learning, with time they will be more inclined to go to bed a bit earlier or arrive in the morning for the school breakfast program. If you, as an educator, understand that angrily reprimanding overly energetic students after lunch is often ineffective, perhaps you will be more inclined to change your classroom routine to include a yoga pose or breathing activity.

One of my favorite activities that combines mindful breathing with a math experiment is called “cotton ball breathing.” The steps are simple:

1. Pass out one cotton ball per student and assign each student a partner.
2. Place two yard sticks end to end. Have one student stand at the end of the yard sticks, with a cotton ball. (He or she should place the cotton ball in the palm of his or her hand, remembering to always keep the palm flat.)
3. The other partner makes an estimate of the distance the student can blow the cotton ball.
4. The student blows the cotton ball five times. Each time, the partner records the distance.
5. The two partners work together to find the mean, median, mode and range for the set of values recorded.
6. The partners switch places.

You can check out some of the other fun classroom exercises that we recently shared at Fit to Learn here [pdf].

Yes, changing your classroom routine is scary and maybe even out of your comfort zone. But, to quote a famous yoga teacher, “If you wait until you feel 100 percent prepared, you will be frozen in immobility. The time to try your best is now.”

Plus! Hear from Carla and other Fit to Learn facilitators in this recent segment on WGN news about HSC's professional development program for teachers!

   

Carla Tantillo, MA, CYI, is the founder of Mindful Practices, an organization dedicated to putting wellness in the hands of students and teachers from all walks of life.  She is the author of Cooling Down Your Classroom, provides Professional Development workshops across the country and offers Hip-HopYoga™ to schools locally in Chicago.  Carla can be reached via email at admin@MindfulPracticesYoga.com.

Recess Returns to Chicago Public Schools: Another Milestone for Parents United, Another Victory for Kids

By Guillermo Gomez, vice president of urban affairs

Yesterday, Chicago Public Schools CEO Jean-Claude Brizard announced that the district will mandate recess in the 2012 school year. 

This not only represents a victory for children across the city, but also a milestone for Parents United for Healthy Schools! 

Since 2006, the parent-led group has provided a voice for parents, educators, and community advocate determined to create a culture of health and wellness in the school environment. Bringing back recess was a main objective of Parents United in addressing health disparities such as childhood obesity. 

In 2009, Parents United submitted more than 4,000 petitions in support of recess and called for the creation of the Recess Task Force. Together with the district, we put together the Recess Development Plan, which is currently being used to transition physical activity into the school day.

Local support for recess mirrors national sentiment. 

Recess provides children with the necessary physical activity to reduce childhood obesity and stimulates cognitive and emotional abilities. Research continues to reinforce how healthy, active children are better prepared to learn and succeed.

The hard work of parents, health and wellness advocates, and our schools continues to amaze me. This victory doesn't mean our work is done. Parents can get involved in by joining their local school review committee:

• Facilitate and create opportunities to discuss school wellness. You can review the Chicago Public Schools wellness policy here.
• Engage other parents by working with your local school council, school wellness committee, and recess committee.
• Volunteer your time to support recess and wellness.

I applaud Chicago Public Schools in making health and wellness a priority. 

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You can read the Spanish version of the Chicago Public Schools wellness policy here.

To learn more about the Parent Leadership Institute and read about last year’s institute, check out the Parents United for Healthy Schools section of HSC’s blog. 

You can read exercise and recess updates on our blog.

Health and Academic Achievement: An International Perspective

By Rochelle Davis, HSC President & CEO

In April, Healthy Schools Campaign hosted a forum on health disparities and their impact on the minority achievement gap. We heard from Dr. Charles Basch, who pointed out that health disparities and wellness have been largely overlooked in efforts to improve student success and learning. He focused on seven educationally relevant disparities: vision, asthma, teen pregnancy, aggression and violence, lack of physical activity, nutrition and breakfast and ADHD, and successfully makes the case for schools to adopt strategies to address this issue.  

I was interested to see that recently, the World Health Organization released a report on the same topic but from an international perspective.  

The researchers reviewed 53 studies which looked at the impact of student health on educational outcomes in high-income countries. Based on the evidenced reviewed, they found the following:

• Overall child health status positively affects educational performance and attainment. For example, one study found that very good or better health in childhood was linked to a third of a year more in school; another concluded that the probability of sickness significantly affected academic success: sickness before age 21 decreased education on average by 1.4 years.
• The evidence indicates that the negative effect on educational outcomes of poor nutrition or smoking is greater than that of alcohol consumption or drug use.
• Initial research has found a significant positive impact of physical exercise on academic performance.
• Obesity and overweight are associated negatively with educational outcomes.
• Sleeping disorders can hinder academic performance.
• Particularly under-researched, especially considering their growing significance, is the effect of anxiety and depression on educational outcomes.

Research continues to show what educators and parents around the world know: healthy students are better prepared to learn and achieve at school.

You can view the full report here.

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Bonus! Rochelle is featured as a children's health champion in Everyday Health's spotlight series! For more resources, visit their Everyday Health Kid's Health center.

PE Teachers Become Champions for Wellness, Learn from First Family's Fitness Trainer Cornell McClellan

Cornell McClellan, Personal Trainer to the First Family of United States, with students from McAuliffe School. McClellan will lead a session at today's Champions for Wellness training for PE teachers.

Physical education teachers from across Chicago are gathering today at a special professional development training to develop leadership skills for supporting healthy eating and physical activity at school. Through this training, PE teachers will be equipped to champion a culture of wellness in school, working with principals and other teachers to make healthy eating and physical activity a priority.

In particular, PE teachers will hear about the latest research connecting physical activity with academic success and the important role that wellness plays in learning.

"Helping students to reach the recommended sixty minutes of physical activity per day enables children to achieve cognitive as well as physical, emotional, and social health," said Chicago State University associate professor Dr. Sarah Buck, who will speak at the event.

Teachers will get resources and learn how their schools can become part of Chicago's Go for the Gold campaign, a city-wide effort to support schools in meeting the HealthierUS School Challenge, the program that first Lady Michelle Obama is urging schools to take on.

Cornell McClellan, personal trainer to the First Family of United States of America and Member of the President's Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition, will lead PE teachers in a workout and will announce the launch of Chicago’s Presidential Active Lifestyle Award (PALA) Challenge.

Stay posted for updates and stories from PE teachers championing wellness in their schools! For live updates and pictures from the event, be sure to follow HSC on Twitter. 

Terry Mazany's Impact on Student Wellness as Chicago Public Schools Interim CEO

by Rochelle Davis, HSC President and CEO

When Chicago Community Trust President Terry Mazany was appointed as interim CEO of the Chicago Public Schools, I assumed his brief tenure would account for little more than a small asterisk in the annals of CPS history. Little did I realize that in five short months, one man could have such a profound impact on the direction of the third largest school district in the country. 

Mr. Mazany clearly has a deep understanding of the connection between learning and health, as demonstrated by his accomplishments in his short tenure. His accomplishments include:

• Creation of a new health goal for the school improvement plans (SIPAAA), fundamentally enhancing the definition of a successful school to include the ways that a school supports student health and wellness
• Implementation of a health-promoting breakfast in the classroom program for all elementary schools
• Establishment of a new recess policy which streamlined the process to allow schools to include recess in the school day

On June 7, 20 CPS schools were recognized for achieving the high standards for food, physical activity and nutrition education set by the HealthierUS School Challenge, with many more schools making changes to work toward these high standards. Mr. Mazany’s leadership, along with that of CPS Board President Mary Richardson Lowry and Director of Nutrition Support Services Louise Esaian, has been essential for supporting these schools’ journey to wellness. 

We know that Mr. Mazany will continue to show leadership in promoting health and wellness as president of the Chicago Community Trust and as chair of the Civic and Business advisory committee for Chicago’s Go for the Gold campaign. 

As we look forward to working with the new CPS administration, we want to pause and offer our sincere thanks for Mr. Mazany’s achievements and the significant steps he has taken to connect health with academic achievement for all Chicago school children.

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Plus! See video of Terry Mazany's address at the Citywide Forum on Health Disparties and Education here.

Dr. Charles Basch Discusses Health and Education Disparities

On April 6, 2011, Healthy Schools Campaign and the Office of Minority Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services convened a citywide forum on strategies to address health disparities and support student wellness and learning. At the forum, more than 400 attendees heard about the latest research on the impact of health disparities on student achievement and learned what education leaders at the local and national level are doing to address these disparities and support student success. 

This forum was a cornerstone of Heroes for Healthy Schools, the series of events that HSC co-hosted with the Office of Minority Health and Chicago Public Schools for National Minority Health Month. You can learn more about Heroes for Healthy Schools here. 

In the weeks ahead, we will spotlight the remarkable speakers who shared their perspectives on health disparities and education at the forum. Today, we are featuring Dr. Charles Basch, Richard March Hoe Professor of Health Education at Columbia University Teachers College.  

You may also view video of all the speakers' remarks, download the presentations they shared at forum, and see relevant research on HSC’s website. 

 

Dr. Charles Basch, Richard March Hoe Professor of Health Education at Columbia University Teachers College, discussed the ways that health disparities have an impact on education and the role schools can play in addressing health disparities. 

He pointed out that health disparities and wellness have been largely overlooked in efforts to improve student success and learning. If health problems compromise students’ motivation and ability to learn, he said, educational efforts such as teacher preparation, financing, and curriculum are jeopardized.

Dr. Basch outlined seven educationally relevant disparities:

• One in five youth have vision problems.
• Asthma, the most common chronic disease, affects 14 percent or 9.9 million youth under 18 years of age.
• Teen pregnancy will affect one in three teens in their lifetime.
• Aggression and violence affects children at all levels; 28 percent of children are bullied at school and 35 percent have been in a fight in the last year.
• Two out of three children don’t get enough physical activity.
• Twenty percent of children skip breakfast on any given day. 
• ADHD affects 4.6 million school-aged youth. 

Dr. Basch pointed out that these factors disproportionally affect minority communities. He encouraged forum attendees to make a difference by working together. He said, 

“The single most effective approach is to address these disproportional issues collectively.” 

You can learn more and see the full presentation in the video above and can download Dr. Basch’s slides here [pdf].

Plus! Check out this recent post on HSC’s blog about Dr. Basch’s work and his latest report, "Healthier Students Are Better Learners: A Missing Link in School Reforms to Close the Achievement Gap."

New Poll Shows Parents Want More Activity During School Day

A new survey conducted by the University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children's Hospital National Poll on Children's Health shows that "almost all parents of young children believe it's important for elementary school kids to get exercise during each school day" and want more physical activity for their children.

The poll, which found that one-third of participants feel their children are not getting enough physical activity, included a few interesting specifics: 26 percent of participants think that playground equipment is lacking at their kids' schools and 22 percent of parents surveyed feel that recess is too short.

The study also found that parents with weight issues of their own were more likely to think schools need to do more to increase activity.

Our school systems face tremendous pressure to boost test scores and make ends meet on very tight budgets. With these pressures, we often see physical activity take a back seat despite its importance to health and wellness. Now, parents are starting to take notice. Sarah Clark, Associate Director of the Child Health Evaluation and Research Unit at the University of Michigan Medical School, said:

School officials should note the strong support from parents for the importance of physical activity during the school day for children in the elementary grades. Parents see many reasons why physical activity is valuable for their children -- not just in preventing obesity but also in promoting healthy physical development.

The survey asked parents of children aged 6 to 11 for their opinions on physical activity.

Here at HSC, we work with parents through the Parents United for Healthy Schools/Padres Unidos para Escuelas Saludables coalition to advocate for recess at a local level and support schools in finding practical ways to make recess a reality. (For example, more than 50 parents recently completed training to serve as volunteer recess monitors.) Through our Fit to Learn professional development program, teachers learn strategies to incorporate physical activity into classroom activities as a way to boost learning as well as health.

Check out the exercise & school recess section of HSC's blog for more stories on the benefits of physical activity at school -- and ideas for making sure all children have a chance to be active.

Heroes for Healthy Schools Spotlight On: Urban Initiatives

Healthy Schools Campaign is pleased to announce Heroes for Healthy Schools: Coming together for student wellness and achievement, a series that HSC presented early this month with Chicago Public Schools and the Office of Minority Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, to recognize Minority Health Month and highlight the role everyone can play in ensuring that all children are able to succeed in school and live healthy lives.

An especially fun part of the week were the after-school soccer events hosted by Urban Initiatives, a local non-profit that helps schools provide more opportunities for physical activity.  Today, we are thrilled to spotlight Urban Initiatives and the great work they do throughout the year!  

To read more about Heroes for Healthy Schools week, visit www.healthyschoolscampaign.org/healthheroes. 

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Students take part in Urban Initiatives soccer event during Heroes for Healthy Schools Week.

Urban Initiatives, a non-profit that brings health education through soccer to Chicago's students, is a key partner in Go for the Gold, helping schools meet high standards for physical activity.

Dan Isherwood, co-founding executive director, explains: "Urban Initiatives is thrilled to be a partner in the Go for the Gold campaign. It is a natural complement to the healthy lifestyles our students are striving for by providing healthy food options, nutrition education, and opportunities for physical activity. Our hope is that every school in Chicago reaches the Gold standard because we all know that a healthy body equals a healthy mind."

Because of her participation in Urban Initiatives, third grade participant Mariah said, "The team has taught me new skills and how to have fun while exercising. It also taught me to eat healthy stuff and not a lot of junk food."

To learn more about Urban Initiatives, visit www.urbaninitiatives.org.

Heroes for Healthy Schools Spotlight On: Chicago Run

Healthy Schools Campaign is pleased to announce Heroes for Healthy Schools: Coming together for student wellness and achievement, a series that HSC presented last week with Chicago Public Schools and the Office of Minority Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, to recognize Minority Health Month and highlight the role everyone can play in ensuring that all children are able to succeed in school and live healthy lives.

An especially fun part of the week were the after-school running events hosted by Chicago Run, a local non-profit that helps schools provide more opportunities for physical activity.  Today, we are thrilled to spotlight Chicago Run and the great work they do throughout the year!

To read more about Heroes for Healthy Schools week, visit www.healthyschoolscampaign.org/healthheroes. 

 
Students participating in a Chicago Run program

When Chicago Public Schools and Healthy Schools Campaign announced the Go for the Gold campaign to help Chicago schools meet the high standards for food, fitness and nutrition education set by the HealthierUS School Challenge -- the program First Lady Michelle Obama is urging schools to take on -- Chicago Run was one of the first groups to get involved.

Alicia Gonzalez, executive director of Chicago Run, explains her readiness to join the Go for the Gold team: "The better we establish our relationships with our schools –- teachers, principals, and school staff –- the greater the impetus to improve the health of our kids. I see [Go for the Gold] as doing just that."

Actively involved in schools throughout the under-served areas in the south, west, and north sides of Chicago, Chicago Run's programming is a great asset for schools looking to supplement physical education and increase physical activity.

Since 2008, Chicago Run has helped kids achieve fitness and have fun, 15 minutes at a time. In one of several programs it offers, Chicago Runs organizes a safe, appropriate running course on the school grounds, so students can run during recess, the lunch hour or a designated "fitness break." The incentive-based running program also promotes digital learning through its virtual marathon database that highlights historic landmarks, nutrition, and geographical points of interest -- all of which are aligned with Illinois Learning Standards.

During Heroes for Healthy Schools week, Chicago Run offered great after-school running events to get even more kids involved!

Kudos to Chicago Run for their excellent work promoting physical activity this week and throughout the year! 

Launching Heroes for Healthy Schools Week with an Active Start

Cornell McClellan, President Obama’s personal trainer and a member of the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition, with McAuliffe Elemantary students who helped launch Heroes for Healthy Schools week with stories of how school health initiatives have affected their lives.

We were so excited this morning to launch Heroes for Healthy Schools: Coming Together for Student Wellness and Achievement, with such an energetic and impressive group of local and national leaders!

This launch kicked off a weeklong series of events that HSC is hosting with the Office of Minority Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, to recognize Minority Health Month and focus attention on the role everyone can play in ensuring that all children are able to succeed in school and live healthy lives.

We have been recognizing unsung “heroes for healthy schools” on this blog and today were joined by some more remarkable individuals working to make wellness a part of every child’s school experience. We heard from:

•  Dr. Garth Graham, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Minority Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, who reflected on the important role schools play in the context of the stark health disparities our nation faces;
• Ollice Holden, Regional Administrator, U.S. Department of Agriculture, who commended Chicago Public Schools on supporting schools in meeting the HealthierUS School Challenge through the Go for the Gold campaign;
• Clare Muñana, Vice President, Chicago Public Schools Board of Education, who announced that CPS recently added a health and wellness goal to the school improvement planning and reporting system for all schools, fundamentally changing the definition of school success to include wellness; and
• David Pino, Principal of McAuliffe School, who shared several of wellness initiatives at McAuliffe and introduced two students who talked about the impact these initiatives have had on their health and learning.

Cornell McClellan, President Obama’s personal trainer and a key member of the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition, commended McAuliffe for taking on the President’s fitness challenge, then headed to the school’s gym to lead more than 100 students in a workout!

Sen. Dick Durbin joined Cornell in urging the students to make physical activity a daily part of their lives.

Thanks to everyone who made this morning’s kick-off such a success. We invite you to learn more about Heroes for Healthy Schools week online! 

Heroes for Healthy Schools Spotlight On: Teacher John Neal

by Lana Buseman

Healthy Schools Campaign is pleased to announce Heroes for Healthy Schools: Coming together for student wellness and achievement, a weeklong series of events to celebrate Minority Health Month and
focus attention on programs and policies in Chicago that support student wellness and achievement.
This exciting series is presented as a partnership of Healthy Schools Campaign, Chicago Public
Schools Nutrition Support Services and the Office of Minority Health, U.S. Department of Health
and Human Services.

We are thrilled to take this opportunity to spotlight a few of the many individuals who are making a difference for kids' health at school and in our community.

The Office of Minority Health has decided to highlight the efforts in Chicago as excellent examples of school-community partnerships supporting low-income minority students, particularly with regard to healthy school food and fitness. Today's "hero for healthy schools," P.E. teacher John Neal, is helping connect his school with community partners and making physical activity a regular part of the school day.

To read more profiles and nominate your own hero for healthy schools, visit www.healthyschoolscampaign.org/healthheroes. 

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Students from Walsh participate in Chicago Run.

John Neal is the physical education teacher at Walsh Elementary School, located in the Pilsen neighborhood in Chicago. During his time at Walsh, he has helped increase the amount of exercise the students get each week.  By forming partnerships with different city organizations, Neal helped create more health and wellness opportunities for the students at Walsh on a daily basis.

Neal knows that teaching about life-long health and wellness is important for every student.

“My experience has been very positive. It’s been challenging because we’re trying to break out of old habits but still very positive. I use a fitness model for teaching PE. I definitely teach sports and the fundamentals but I want students to understand the benefits of life-long exercise. The administrative staff is very supportive with my style of teaching. I have worked with many different groups of students and all want to be healthy.”

Like other educators who are introducing health and wellness programs into their schools, Neal has faced some obstacles.

“There are definitely challenges. One is the lack of resources, specifically having an outside green space that is safe. The current space has tons of rocks, glass and a lack of grass. Certainly another challenge is healthy food choices at home at a reasonable cost to families. As a father of three, I know it can be expensive to eat healthy. We have recently partnered with a couple groups that will be coming into the school to provide a hands-on workshop for parents to teach them about healthy cooking at an affordable cost. We have a principal, Mr. Mohip, who takes the lead in finding groups to support wellness and that encourages all staff to go after non-profit groups to help fill voids in the school,” said Neal.

The partnerships Walsh has formed have been vital to the success of their wellness programs.

“We have numerous partnerships. Most have been developed in the last three to four years.  Non-profit groups are a huge part of our success. We all know that CPS struggles with providing extras. Groups like Community in Schools, Pilsen Junior Tennis Camp, Urban Initiatives, Healthy Schools Campaign, INTRSCT and Chicago Run really contribute to helping a student become the 'whole student.' We are constantly looking for organizations to help make our school stronger," said Neal. "Currently, we just completed a grant to provide fruits and vegetables to students. We are also in the process with working with Common Threads to provide nutritional education. Both are for the 2011-12 school year.”

As an educator, Neal is surrounded by learning experiences every day.

“Last year two students from Walsh started playing tennis with an organization we work with. These were two girls that had never played tennis with any instruction. They both are now getting ready to play in Junior United States Tennis Association (USTA) Tournaments this coming summer. This all started because we pursued a relationship with an organization that we knew kids would like. The point is, like the old adage says… small stones make only a ripple at first, but eventually they become a wave.” 
 
Every Hero for Healthy Schools needs a personal health hero to look up to. Neal shares his.

“My dad,” he said. “He's 83 and doesn't let age interrupt life.”

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Plus! Read more about Walsh in our Go for the Gold newsletter spotlight here!

School Nurse Creates Trailblazers Project to Get All Students Moving

by Lana Buseman

Last week, we shared the story of school nurse Luisa Ramirez, whose creative strategies got students at Lily Lake Grade School excited about washing their hands. Today, we're excited to report on another fun and very successful initiative that Luisa leads: the Trailblazers project.

Lily Lake Trailblazers is a project that encourages students to exercise by rewarding them with themed tokens each month.  School leaders built a 1/6 mile mulch walking trail on school grounds that students use to earn their tokens. For every five miles students walk, they receive a token that is typically themed based on the month; for example, hearts in February and shamrocks in March.

School nurse Luisa Ramirez, who is also the leading figure behind Lily Lake’s Scrub Club, has worked with her colleagues to make the Trailblazers project a success. School secretary Teresa McMahon "has given countless hours and encourages students in this quest," said Ramirez.

Students are allowed to use the walking trail during their free time or recess. The Trailblazers project became so popular that the PTA raised money to widen the trail and repave it with limestone.

“Last year we had five students reach 100 miles during the school year,” said Ramirez.

There are no food based rewards for this club, and students are excited to receive their tokens each month. Ramirez said that some teachers will take their classes out to the trail to walk half a mile before a big test because they find it helps students concentrate.

“This week is ISATs week, and in the past teachers have brought their students out to walk a couple laps before and after a long ISAT test,” said Ramirez.

Ramirez says that the Trailblazers project has been a great activity for kids to get involved in, especially if they aren’t interested in joining sports teams.

“Every school has students who can’t join groups like soccer or football. This gives students an opportunity to compete against other classmates or even compete against themselves.” said Ramirez. “They have really taken this on because it’s a way for them to set goals to reach.”

Congratulations to Luisa Ramirez, Teresa McMahon and the parents at Lily Lake Grade School for encouraging their students to be active and inspired through the Trailblazers project!

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Plus! Click here to read about another school's walking club that takes places indoors!

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Lily Lake Grade School in Maple Park, IL

School Spotlight on Calmeca Academy: Going for the Gold and Overcoming Barriers to Recess

 
Jose Hernandez with (from left to right) Rochelle Davis and Jovita Flores of HSC and Debra Stanford of TARGET Area Development Corp.

Calmeca Academy, previously known as McKinley Park Elementary, is a school that has put a great deal of focus on increasing wellness programs for their students. Calmeca has visits from OrganWise Guys to teach nutrition education to students at every age level. They offer a Healthy Kids Market, which allows families to stock up on fruits and vegetables once a week.  They offer P.E. and were able to bring recess to the school in the 2009-2010 school year.

However, with the merger of two schools this past year and the student population doubling, Calmeca leaders have faced many obstacles in keeping recess intact.

Jose Hernandez, a Calmeca Academy parent and the general coordinator for the Local School Council Member Alliance of Chicago, played a strong role in bringing recess to his school. Hernandez is also a member of the Chicago Public Schools Recess Taskforce.

“We had recess during the 2009-2010 school year," he said. "At that time we were known as McKinley Park Elementary, the school had 305 students. Teachers agreed to extend the day by 45 minutes. Our name and location changed with the beginning of the 2010-2011 school year. The number of students increased to over 700. The budget we received was based on the number of students we had the previous year."

With this  limited budget, Calmeca faced many challenges in keeping the recess program viable.

“We could not afford to pay the teachers to extend the day," said Hernandez. "The new staff would have to agree to extend the day. Most of the new parents and students were used to a regular school day. The space inside the building is limited so recess is a challenge during the winter."

With the combined help of Calmeca’s principal, Frances Garcia, Hernandez and the LSC, Calmeca began to find a way to keep recess for their students.

“We had to wait for the rollover funds to come in. We included the matter in a LSC meeting. Principal Garcia spoke with the school staff and they agreed to extend the day by 45 minutes. We spoke to the parents and explained the benefits of recess,” said Hernandez.

 
Principal Garcia submitting Calmeca's application for the HealthierUS School Challenge to USDA's Audrey Rowe at the 2010 Principals' Breakfast.

All of this hard work is paying off.  Principal Garcia was honored at HSC's Principals’ Breakfast in November 2010 for her achievements in meeting the high standards for physical activity and nutrition education set by the HealthierUS School Challenge. (HSC partners with Chicago Public Schools to support schools in meeting this challenge through our Go for the Gold campaign.)

After making some health-promoting changes to food and fitness, the school has seen a significant increase in students’ scores on the Illinois Standards Achievement Test (ISAT) in reading, math and science. And most recently, the school has approved the return of recess to their daily curriculum. The school day will start earlier and end later, giving time for both recess and additional instruction time. 

After helping to bring recess to his school, facing the possibility of losing it due to budget and then finding a solution to keep it, Hernandez can offer some advice to parents, teachers and principals who may be facing similar obstacles:

“I would tell anyone to attend the LSC meetings and bring this concern to the table. Many LSCs have the funds and influence to establish recess at their schools,” he said. 

To learn more about overcoming obstacles to recess at your school, check out Go for the Gold or contact us.

Special Guest Blog & Video: Parents Team Up to Win Back Recess

Today we're featuring a special guest blog from our friends at 1WORLD Sports, who are spreading the word about the value of recess. Recently 1WORLD Sports and HSC teamed up to train parents in becoming recess monitors, a step towards making recess a happy, healthy part of children's lives on a daily basis.

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By Lindsay Segenreich, 1World Sports

Sixty-three percent of Chicago Public Schools don't have access to recess. Can you imagine being nine years old and having to hold in all of your energy for almost seven hours a day? Our kids are learning to contain all of their energy at a time when childhood obesity is on the rise. This is a major problem! 1WORLD Sports and HSC recently teamed up with concerned parents in Chicago in an effort to “Win Back Recess.”

We at 1WORLD Sports value the lessons that can be learned through sport and consistent physical activity.  By providing our kids the opportunity to participate in sports, we are empowering them to learn life lessons such as teamwork, setting goals, the importance of a healthy lifestyle and how to have fun while engaging in healthy competition.  Without recess, our kids lose momentum and motivation to utilize their energy and may lose interest in playing sports.

Earlier this fall, parents from Chicago Public Schools took a stand by learning how to bring recess back to their schools and volunteer as recess monitors. Watch as 1WORLD Sports and HSC team up with parent volunteers to win back recess!

Winning Back Recess from 1World Sports on Vimeo.

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Thanks to Jennifer for this video and blog!

Plus: Learn more about Parents United for Healthy Schools/Padres Unidos para Escuelas Saludable, which brings parents together to make recess part of every school day.