In This Issue

• HSC News: Green Cleaning Award Winners; Energy Management Pilot Program
• Program Updates: Healthy School Lunches; Responsible School Siting
• Recent Blog Entries: Edible Schoolyard; Dangerous School Siting; Healthy Snacks for Kids; Flavored Milk and more

HSC News

Congratulations to the Green Cleaning Award Winners
Judging criteria based on HSC's Quick & Easy Guide

HSC extends our sincere congratulations to the winners of the second annual Green Cleaning in Schools Awards!

Jonesboro Public Schools in Jonesboro, Ark. won the Grand Award and Oswego C.U.S.D. #308 in Oswego, Ill. won Honorable Mention.

HSC co-sponsored the awards program with American School & University magazine and the Green Cleaning Network. The criteria for judging the competition were based on the "five simple steps to a healthy school environment” outlined in HSC's Quick & Easy Guide to Green Cleaning in Schools.

Since releasing the first edition of the Quick & Easy Guide in Oct. 2006 and the second edition in Sept. 2008, HSC has distributed more than 72,500 guides with the support of 39 sponsors and 16 participating organizations.

To learn more about how your organization can join the Quick & Easy Guide team, click here or contact Rochelle Davis.

We offer our heartfelt congratulations to the winners of this prestigious award, and salute all schools making the transition to green.

HSC Seeks Illinois Schools to Save Energy, Earn Money
Demand Response pilot program brings revenue to schools

Did you know that electricity grid operators are willing to pay schools to use less energy? 

A recent federal mandate requires electricity grid operators to implement programs to manage the demand for electricity. In response to this mandate, grid operators have developed “demand response” programs in which they make regular payments to consumers – including schools – that volunteer to participate.

HSC is partnering with ClearChoice Energy to be sure that schools are able to take advantage of these easy-to-implement programs. 

There is a very limited time for a small number of school districts to participate in this pilot project. To learn more, click here or contact Mark Bishop at 312-419-1810.

Sign the Petition for the Future of School Food
Raise Your Voice for a Healthy Child Nutrition Act

Click to add this badge to your website!

The 2009 reauthorization of the Child Nutrition Act offers the chance to create a future for school food in which fresh, healthy meals are the norm and all children have access to the type of comprehensive nutrition education that creates healthy habits for a lifetime.

HSC is working with advocates around the U.S. to request that President-elect Obama make a healthy reauthorization of the Child Nutrition Act a priority for his administration.

Please add your name to the list of concerned parents, teachers, school nurses and advocates speaking up at this important moment in history.

Plus: When you sign the petition or sign up for Child Nutrition Act updates, you'll receive a coupon for $1.00 off your next purchase from Applegate Farms!

Speak Up for Responsible School Siting in Illinois
Share your insight and experiences

A school’s site has a tremendous impact on its environmental health: the site affects the air quality around a school and the potential for exposure to dangerous environmental contaminants, and also determines whether children will be able to walk or bike to school.

HSC is working with the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the Office of the Lt. Governor of Illinois and other organizations to develop model policies that encourage environmentally responsible school siting decisions that recognize the important role that siting can play in student health. Your opinions and experiences with school siting can help shape these policies and the related programs.

Click here to raise your voice for responsible school siting!

Recent Blog Entries

HSC's staff experts discuss news stories and new developments every week at the HSC Blog. Stop by and leave a question or comment. And while you're there, enter your email address for automatic delivery on days when a new blog entry has been posted. Here's a look at some of our recent posts:

The Edible Schoolyard, Where Students Nurture Their Own Garden| by Jean Saunders
No doubt many of you are familiar with the Edible Schoolyard or perhaps have even been lucky enough to have visited it for yourself. Prior to my visit, I’d read a lot about how the gardening and cooking programs at the Edible Schoolyard are so carefully integrated into the school's curriculum. I knew I’d be impressed, but I hadn’t expected to have my already high my expectations blown away!. . . Read more

EPA Failed to Consult Children's Health Taskforce| by Rochelle Davis
Recently I was honored to be appointed to a taskforce created by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) called the Children's Environmental Health Protection Advisory Committee. This is my first appointment to this type of committee and, while honored, I was not sure how much impact we would really have. I certainly did not want to participate on a committee that served to rubber stamp or give credibility to an administration that has done little to protect the environment and little to recognize that regulations need to take into account the fact that children are more vulnerable to environmental exposures. . . . Read more

This Season, Plan Healthy Holiday Snacks for Kids| by Lindsay Muscato
For kids, the holidays can be an endless parade of sugary snacks, between all the cookies, cupcakes and candy canes offered by well-meaning adults. But some schools are making sure that nutritious snacks stay on the menu throughout the season. Here's one healthy, crowd-pleasing recipe to try, from Fresh Choices, a cookbook by HSC's founding executive director, Rochelle Davis. . . Read more

The Flavored Milk Conundrum| by Jean Saunders
The Chicago Tribune reported recently that concerns over rising childhood obesity rates have led some Illinois school districts to reevaluate the milk they offer on their lunch menus. Changes are happening in both directions. . . Read more

Children Exposed to Dangerous Air Quality Near Schools | by Claris Olson
USA Today has launched a series of articles and interactive tools on the dangerous outdoor air quality surrounding many schools. Kudos to the reporters for investigating this critical problem and helping bring attention the environmental health and justice issues facing so many of our schools. . . Read more

Kids May Go Hungry to Avoid Stigma of Free Meals | by Jean Saunders
Each day, the USDA's National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP) serve more than 31 million school children. But I wonder how well the USDA -- and all of us who work on school food issues -- are doing at ensuring that no child is going hungry at school due to the stigma attached to participating in these free meal programs?. . . Read more

Making School Meals a Priority with the "Department of Food"| by Jean Saunders
Last week in the opinion section of The New York Times, Nicholas Kristof posed a great question, “Who will be Obama’s Secretary of Food?" Kristoff reminds us that 100 years ago, when about a third of the nation’s population were involved with agriculture in some way, it made sense to have a department of Agriculture. Today, less than 2 percent of Americans are famers, but 100 percent of us eat. . . Read more

"Am I surprised it's increasingly popular? No, I would expect it would be, especially since it's good,"
- Grandfather Mac Curl on the increased number of students taking advantage of free and reduced-priced school lunches during tough economic times, after eating a healthy school lunch with his grandchildren, as quoted by ABC-7 KOAT in Albuquerque

IAQ Tools for Schools Webinar | Jan. 22 | More

Teens Turning Green Summit | Feb. 6-7 | More

Safer Pest Management for Illinois Schools | Jan. 27, Feb. 25, April 14, April 23, and May 12 | More

Tweet, tweet!

You can follow HSC on Twitter to stay up-to-date on the latest news and conversations about school environmental health and wellness. Click here to check out our Twitter profile!

HSC Interns
HSC welcomes interns with a variety of interests and skills. | More

LEGO Children’s Fund
Deadline: Feb. 1, 2009
Grants to cover sport or athletic programs that concentrate on under-served youth | More

Champions for Healthy Kids grants
Deadline: Jan. 15, 2009
Fifty grants of $10,000 each to community-based groups that develop creative ways to help youth adopt a balanced diet and physically active lifestyle | More

Climate Ambassador Program
For middle or high school student who want to address climate change and reduce its effects on children’s health | More

Asthma Training Videos
Training videos and presentations on asthma triggers, treatment, management and law for school staff | More

Bayer Advanced "Grow Together with Roses" School Garden Award
Deadline: Jan. 23, 2009
To help 25 schools establish rose gardens designed to nurture peaceful relations and instill a strong sense of community| More

Planet Connect
Deadline: Jan. 20, 2009
Offers grants of $1,000 to students who want to improve the environment at their school or in their community| More

Richard C. Bartlett Environmental
Education Award
Deadline: Feb. 13, 2009
For an outstanding teacher who has integrated environmental
education into daily education programs | More

National Preservation Awards
Deadline: Mar. 2, 2009
For historic preservation in school renovation or additions | More

Design a School Breakfast Superhero Contest
Deadline: Mar. 20, 2009
Challenging kids to draw and name their own school breakfast superhero and explain how their super powers will help kids ‘Power Up’ with school breakfast | More