A Word about Breakfast and Testing

We just celebrated Nation School Breakfast Week, March 4-8, 2024. As schools enter the "testing" season, we are all told that breakfast is essential on "testing" days.  Let's remember Breakfast is essential every day as it may positively affect learning in children in terms of behavior, cognitive, and school performance. We all want our kids to excel in school every day. The meaning of breakfast is to break the fast. Imagine trying to drive you car to work without gas?  That is what you are asking your kids to do, run their brains without a new source of energy.   

Breakfast consumption is also associated with positive outcomes for diet quality, micronutrient intake, weight status and lifestyle factors. It's a meal to supply your kids with protein to build strong bones and muscles, calcium from dairy products for strong bones and teeth, vitamin C for growth, development and repair of all body tissues and the absorption of iron, to mention a few benefits.   

Remember breakfast is great for every member of the family every day.  

Oliver Foundation Healthy Choices Grant

Next Deadline April 15, 2024

Apply Now

2024 America’s Healthiest Schools Award

Alliance for a Healthier Generation is accepting applications from schools for the America’s Healthiest Schools Award. This award is an annual distinction presented to schools that have demonstrated remarkable efforts to prioritize the essential health needs of students, staff, and families. Award winners are featured on the annual list of America’s Healthiest Schools and receive a digital Complete award application  by April 16, 2024.

EveryKid Healthy Week

We are excited to announce our annual observance of EveryKid Healthy Week April 22-26!

Introduced by Action for Healthy Kids (AFHK) in 2013, Every Kid Healthy Week is an annual event created to acknowledge school wellness accomplishments and is officially recognized on the calendar of National Health Observances. Taking place during the final week of April each year, this significant week acknowledges the remarkable endeavors schools are undertaking to enhance their students' health and wellness while establishing the correlation between nourishing diets, physical activity, and academic success. For more information Every Kid Healthy Week April 22-26!

Natalie Do, Teen Board Member

Westchester Academy for International Studies – Houston, TX

Teen Board Member 2023 – Present

Natalie is a Junior at Westchester Academy for International Studies. She is a member of several clubs at her school including Debate Team, Odyssey of the Mind, English, Science and Hispanic Honor Society. She holds offices in Med club, National Honor Society, Student Council, and Interact club. Natalie is also president of Fuel up to Play 60. Her goal is to bring the community together and increase involvement. Natalie believes that everyone should learn about the importance of mental and physical health to have overall good health. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, playing games, and being outside. Natalie aspires to be a pediatric oncologist.

.Effects of Social Media on School Environment        

         We live in a world where for the most part, our lives are on social media. We watch TikTok, post on Instagram, follow trends, do challenges, etc. But this comes with its cons. Despite the entertainment we gain from social media, it comes with a bad side especially in our school environment. We can post what we want either a positive or a negative post that could harm others, we’re able to spread information quicker than before, and/or we start papalizing an idea an idea that could be causing more harm than good. This especially affects our school culture environment as it has led to bullying, spread of misinformation, harassment, and many more. But social media and the internet are unavoidable, but what is avoidable is the negative usage of it. 

         This can be done by the demotion of using social media for cyberbullying, spread of rumors, or anything to harm another person and the promotion of using social media to spread positive messages or use for purely as a positive entertainment. By creating this positive school culture, we see improved mental health in students, a better learning environment and better relationships among our peers. School is already seen to be dreadful, but a positive school culture can make school a place where students are happy to go to and overall help students in their performance and their health. 

Natalie Do

April 2024

Teen Board Recipe

Jenna Chuan

Co-Event Coordinator

Avocado Kale Caesar Salad

Ingredients:

-       1 avocado, divided

-       1/2 cup water

-       1/4 cup mayonnaise 

-       2 small cloves garlic

-       2 tablespoons lemon juice

-       1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

-       1/2 teaspoon salt

-       1 bunch kale, stems removed, chopped (5–6 cups)

-       Parmesan and/or pepitas for topping

Directions:

1. Cut the avocado in half. Reserve one half for the salad. Blend the other half with the water, mayo, garlic, lemon juice, Dijon, and salt. Taste and adjust!
2. Toss the chopped kale with the dressing. Throw in a handful of pepitas and Parmesan and toss it all around. Finish the salad with the remaining half of the avocado, cut into cubes. YUM!