In This Issue |
• HSC News: Inauguration Message of Community Engagement; New Green Team Partners
• Program Updates: Parents Speak Up for Recess; Missouri Releases Green Cleaning Guidelines
• Recent Blog Entries: School Siting; Dual Challenge of Overweight and Undernourishment; Michelle Obama on Asthma and more
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HSC News |
Inauguration Message of Community Engagement Supports School Health Efforts
President Obama’s inauguration message of community service and broad participation in social change echoes the lessons that school health advocates have learned in working to promote environmental health and wellness in schools around the U.S.
“It is when individuals throughout the school community raise their voices together that we see the most powerful change to promote student health,” said Rochelle Davis, HSC’s founding executive director.
This message resonates with HSC’s vision that that all families, faculty, staff, students and community members must have a voice in decisions that affect the school environment and that meaningful, sustainable change occurs when informed, engaged and empowered stakeholders work in collaboration with school officials and policymakers.
President Obama’s economic stimulus plan also includes promising news for school health. According to the U.S. News & World Report blog, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act contains about $141 billion for education, including $14 billion for K-12 for renovation and modernization, including technology upgrades and energy efficiency improvements. It also includes $100 million for school construction in communities that lack a local property tax base and $25 million to help charter schools build, obtain, and repair schools.
“We look forward to working with our allies and new partners under Obama’s administration to speak up for children’s health and our environment,” said Davis.
Plus: Read HSC's 2005 interview with Michelle Obama about the challenges of managing a child's asthma at school »
Green Team Welcomes New Partner Organizations
Deadline Approaching for Corporate Sponsorship Opportunities
HSC is pleased to welcome new participating organizations to The Quick & Easy Guide to Green Cleaning in Schools! The School Nutrition Association and the International Executive Housekeepers Association have signed on for the Spring 2009 printing of the guide.
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.
HSC is welcoming new sponsors for The Quick & Easy Guide through the rest of Jan. If your company is interested in joining the team that's helping our schools go green, be sure to contact Sara Klinzing by Jan. 31, 2009.
Plus: Check out the great article on green cleaning in schools [pdf] that recently appeared in School Nutrition Magazine, a publication of new participating organization the School Nutrition Association.
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| Program & Advocacy Updates |
Parents Speak Up for Recess
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| Parent leaders Idida Perez and Lynn Morton |
Parents involved with HCS’s Parents United for Healthy Schools/Padres Unidos para Escuelas Saludables coalition are raising their voices for recess at schools around Chicago as part of ongoing efforts to promote school wellness.
By forming school wellness teams and working with principals to implement the district wellness policy, parents are creating change that ranges from additional physical activity in the classroom to healthier snacks at parties.
Now, parents are focusing their efforts on recess, which has disappeared at alarming rates around the city despite research documenting its benefits for children’s health and learning.
Who are the parent advocates? In upcoming newsletters, we'll introduce you to the remarkable parent leaders who are creating change for healthy schools:
Mirca leads an exercise break at a Parents United for Healthy Schools school wellness training
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Mirca loves to exercise. Before she became the exercise teacher and community organizer known as “the Zumba lady” among moms and kids in her community (thanks to the style of dancing she teaches in her classes), Mirca ran a shoe store in the neighborhood and made it her routine to exercise in the store, between shoe racks, after she locked the doors and before going home each evening.
Now, she leads women in her community in exercise and dance classes that many say have shaped their self-esteem and outlook on life as much as they have affected their health.
She began teaching by holding one class at Anderson School as a way to volunteer and to stay in shape herself.
“For me, it’s a reason to stay fit,” she explained. “But I started to realize that at the same time, it was doing something for their [the students’] self-esteem.”
Read Mirca's story »
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To learn more about HSC's parent advocacy, click here.
Missouri Publishes Green Cleaning Guidelines for Schools
The state of Missouri has joined states around the nation in encouraging green cleaning in schools by releasing green cleaning guidelines with specific recommendations for how schools can best protect student and staff health without harming the environment.
“Providing a clear definition of ‘green’ is an important part of helping schools make decisions that support the health of their students and staff,” said HSC deputy director Mark Bishop. “We applaud Missouri leaders for taking this step and are looking forward to working with advocates to implement these guidelines in schools.”
HSC was instrumental in advocating for legislation requiring green cleaning in Illinois schools and in developing the specific green cleaning guidelines for schools putting the law into practice. HSC also hosted the Green Clean Schools National Summit and provides strategy and support to state-level advocates working to promote green clean schools legislation.
To learn more about green cleaning in schools, visit www.greencleanschools.org.
Sign the Petition for the Future of School Food
Raise Your Voice for a Healthy Child Nutrition Act
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 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!
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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:
Overweight & Undernourished: Many Kids Face Dual Challenge| by Rochelle Davis
Today we face the dual problems of obesity and hunger, affecting to a large extent the same vulnerable population. It is very counter-intuitive to me that both of these conditions exist at the same time. That is why I read with interest a recent study from the American Dietetic Association, which found that childhood obesity and diabetes result, for children in poverty, from not eating enough to meet daily nutritional requirements. . . . Read more
A Parent's Perspective on Asthma: Talking with Michelle Obama| by Rochelle Davis
As I watched the Presidential inauguration this morning, I remembered the strong support that Barack and Michelle Obama have expressed over the years for healthy school environments. Their daughter Malia is one of millions of American children who suffer from asthma that can be triggered by dust, mold, harsh cleaning products or other chemicals at school. Michelle Obama took time to speak with Healthy Schools Campaign in the summer of 2005 about the challenges of managing a child's asthma, particularly at school. . . . Read more
School Siting Concerns to be Addressed in 2009?| by Rochelle Davis
USA Today recently released a report that showed that the air around schools is highly contaminated. In recognition of this problem several years ago, Congress required, as part of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, that the EPA issue voluntary school siting guidelines by June 2009. To date, no action has been taken by the EPA. . . . Read more
Not Just Child’s Play| by Rochelle Davis
It was good see the recent report by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation that showed strong public support for recess. The survey found that the American public wants schools to support healthy lifestyles in general and recess in particular. In addition, 70 percent of parents disagree with the reduction or elimination of recess. . . . Read more
Economic Stimulus Package Includes Funding for Schools
| by Rochelle Davis
With the economy as the number one concern of policymakers and the public alike, much attention is focused on President Obama’s economic stimulus package. According to the U.S. News & World Report blog, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act contains about $141 billion for education, including $14 billion for K-12 for renovation and modernization, including technology upgrades and energy efficiency improvements. . . . Read more |
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We Heard It ... |
"We have the moral responsibility to see what's good for our children,"
- Chef Alice Waters, on her optimism that the Obama administration will promote healthy eating in schools, as quoted by Reuters |
Events |
School Nurse Leadership Training | Jan. 23 & 27 | 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
School Nurse Advocacy Day | April 16 | More |
Office for Sublease |
| Looking for office space in downtown Chicago? HSC has a 9.5 by 16.5 office (suitable for 1 to 3 people) available for sublease. $500 per month includes Internet and access to copier, scanner, fax, kitchen and conference room. Contact Susan for more details. |
In the News |
It May Be Clean -- But Is It Green?
January 2009 | School Nutrition Magazine
This article highlights HSC's green cleaning program, including The Quick & Easy Guide to Green Cleaning in Schools, and discusses the ways that green cleaning is especially relevant in school food service. |
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!
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Support Healthy Schools |
Make a donation
You have the power to help make healthy schools a reality through a gift to HSC or a donation in honor of a friend, family member or a child in your life! | More |
Grants & Resources |
Green Flag Schools Program Valentine's National Day of Action Toolkit
Toolkit includes tips on how to create, plan, and throw a successful event promoting green cleaning, especially in schools. It also includes fact sheets on why green cleaning is important and how to create your own green cleaning products. | More
LEGO Children’s Fund
Deadline: Feb. 1, 2009
Grants to cover sport or athletic programs that concentrate on under-served youth | 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
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