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Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child framework is a systematic approach to improving the health and well-being of students and school staff. The CDC model brings together school administrators, teachers, other staff, students, families and community members to assess the school’s health policies, programs and practices. Funded by the Maternal and Child Health Services Title V Block Grant, administered by the New Jersey Department of Health, Child and Adolescent Health Program small grants are competitively available to schools throughout the northern NJ region that includes the counties of Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Morris, Passaic, Sussex, and Warren counties. The grants are designed to create a healthier school environment and improve student and staff wellness by increasing opportunities for healthier lifestyle choices. By improving school health we anticipate enhancing student learning. Administration and technical assistance is provided by the Center for Prevention & Counseling and Sustainable Jersey for Schools. In an attempt to foster collaboration among each of the 10 schools we have decided to launch a quarterly newsletter. It is our hope that through this newsletter you are able to partner with other schools as well as join us in celebrating their successes.
Much Health,
Ashley LeBelle and Pamela Pastorino MPH
School Health Specialists
at The Center for Prevention and Counseling
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2016-2017 Grantee Spotlight Schools
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Anthony Wayne Middle School
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Anthony Wayne’s Clear Water Initiative began with the goal of installing two water fountain bottle filling filtration systems. Staff members and students kicked off their school year by participating in a school wide survey to assess drinking habits and beverage preferences. Results from the survey provided the School Health Team with baseline data that will be used to determine any changes in these habits at the conclusion of the school year. Staff and students then created and released an informational PSA in order to drive home the importance of staying hydrated and teach students how to use the filling station. Within just one month of installation, students and staff members saved 711 plastic bottles and consumed an average of 400 ounces of water a day.
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Mount Arlington Public School
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Mount Arlington Public School has been working hard this past year on a two phase program. Phase I of their program is a bicycle and Pedal-A-Watt system utilized in their physical education classes to generate electricity. The electricity produced is used to charge large batteries that then power the sound system which supplies their PE classes with music. To accompany this Pedal-A-Watt system Mount Arlington has created a log sheet that compares the participant’s heart rate before and after their pedaling and then tracks the calories they burned. With this log they have created multiple fitness challenges and opportunities.
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Montague Elementary School
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Montague Township School has undergone many changes throughout the past several years. Prior to the start of the 2015-2016 school year, Montague Township School was solely k-6 with students attending 7th and 8th grade in New York. In September 2015, Montague expanded their academic programs to include grade 7. In September 2016, they went on to include grade 8, thus giving all students in grades k-8 the opportunity to attend primary school in their local town. With such changes comes many new demands, and in an attempt to meet the needs of their students, Montague Township School created the NetWorks program. The NetWorks program is intended to provide an afterschool intramural sports program, as well as enhance the physical education program and provide opportunities for the outside community to partake in sports and activities.
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A Parents As Champions Success Story
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This past March ten parents representing seven Sussex and Warren County schools participated in a two day “Statewide Parent Advocacy Network (SPAN) - Parents as Champions for Healthy Schools” workshop hosted by The Center’s School Health Specialists, Pamela Pastorino and Ashley LeBelle. After this training the parent participants were given the opportunity to apply for a $1,000 grant. A second Parents as Champions Training is being held at Union City High School on
March 4 and 11, 2017.
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High Point Regional High School
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High Point Regional High School, under the representation of parent Cheryl Moser, was one of this year’s three awarded schools. With the main goal of promoting the importance of nutritional and energy packed snacks after school for High Point’s athletes, Cheryl began her project by focusing on the men’s soccer team which consists of (20) Varsity and (23) Junior Varsity members. High school sports are a great opportunity for so many of today’s youth, but with pressures of making it to the game on time, we have found that athletes are making poor nutritional choices that result in a depletion of energy. It was her concern and passion for the health, well being and the overall success of these athletes that drove Cheryl to creating the Young Men’s Soccer Excel Program.
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Grant Opportunities and Resources
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Action for Healthy Kids presents School Grants for Healthy Kids
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School Grants for healthy Kids from Action for Healthy Kids will begin accepting grant applications for the 2017-2018 school year on Monday, February 6. Schools may apply for a school breakfast grant ($500 - $5,000) to pilot or expand their school breakfast programs or a Game On grant ($500 - $2,500) to fund physical activity and nutrition initiatives. Deadline to apply is April 7. Click here to access the application and more information.
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FoodCorps Application Now Open
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As a FoodCorps service member, you can help kids learn what healthy food is, fall in love with it, and eat it every day. FoodCorps recruits talented leaders for a year of paid public service building healthy school food environments in limited-resource communities. As a service member, you will:
- Teach students hands on lessons in growing, cooking and tasting healthy food;
- Promote healthy eating options in the cafeteria: and,
- Make schools healthier places to eat, learn and grow.
Applications are due March 15th. Register here:
https://foodcorps.org/apply/
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CDC and SHAPE America Release New Recess Documents
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CDC and SHAPE America have developed new resources for recess in schools. These resources will help schools develop a written recess plan and use evidence-based strategies for recess to increase students’ physical activity and improve their academic achievement.
The
Strategies for Recess in Schools
provides schools with evidence-based strategies for planning and providing recess in schools. The
Recess Planning in Schools: A Guide to Putting Strategies for Recess
into Practice helps schools develop a written recess plan that integrates the evidence-based strategies. There also is a
Recess Planning Template
that schools can use to customize what is included in the recess plan to reflect their existing priorities, and make recess decisions that support the unique culture of their schools. Visit
SHAPE America’s website
and download additional resources that can help schools address the evidence-based strategies for recess.
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Monthly Health Observations
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Kick Butts Day, March 15th
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Kick Butts Day is a national day of activism that empowers youth to stand out, speak up and seize control against Big Tobacco. This year an expected 1,000+ events will be taking place in schools and communities across the United States and even around the world. On Kick Butts Day, teachers, youth leaders and health advocates organize events to: raise awareness of the problem of tobacco use in their state or community; encourage youth to reject the tobacco industry's deceptive marketing and stay tobacco-free; and urge elected officials to take action to protect kids from tobacco. Kick Butts Day is organized by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. For more information on how your school community can get involved visit
Kickbuttsday.org.
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American Diabetes Association Alert Day, March 28th
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Alert Day is a "wake-up call" asking Americans to take the
Type 2 Diabetes Risk Test
to find out if they are at risk for developing type 2 diabetes. Companies, organizations and communities can play an important role by encouraging their employees and members to take the Diabetes Risk Test, share it with family and friends and participate in workplace-friendly activities that demonstrate ways to lower their risk for diabetes.
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This nutrition education and information campaign is created annually in March by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. The campaign focuses attention on the importance of making informed food choices and developing sound eating and physical activity habits. NNM’s 2017 theme is “Put Your Best Fork Forward”. For interactive games and promotional materials on this year’s National Nutrition Month visit the
Food and Culinary Professionals.
To see the 36 ideas EatRight.org lists as ways to get involved this National Nutrition Month
click here.
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World Health Day, April 7th
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World Health Day is to mark the anniversary of the founding of the World Health Organization (WHO) and provide us with a unique opportunity to mobilize action around a specific health topic of concern to people all over the world. The theme of WHO’s 2017 World Health Day campaign is depression. Depression affects people of all ages, from all walks of life, in all countries. It causes mental anguish and impacts on people’s ability to carry out even the simplest everyday tasks, with sometimes devastating consequences for relationships with family and friends and the ability to earn a living. Yet, depression can be prevented and treated. A better understanding of what depression is, and how it can be prevented and treated, will help reduce the stigma associated with the condition, and lead to more people seeking help.
Click hereto see the campaign essentials and toolkits for this year’s World Health Day.
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The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc. (NCADD) sponsors Alcohol Awareness Month to increase public awareness and understanding, reduce stigma and encourage local communities to focus on alcoholism and alcohol-related issues. With this year’s theme, “Connecting the Dots: Opportunities for Recovery. A comprehensive approach to addressing underage drinking,” the month of April will be filled with local, state, and national events aimed at educating people about the treatment and prevention of alcoholism, particularly among our youth, and the important role that parents can play in giving kids a better understanding of the impact that alcohol can have on their lives.
https://www.ncadd.org/blogs/in-the-news/save-the-dates-alcohol-awareness-month-2017
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The Center for Prevention and Counseling | 61 Spring Street Newton, NJ | 973-383-4787
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