Back to School with Wellness: Students Lead Change for Food & Fitness
Students from the Mikva Challenge Teen Health Council celebrate the launch of the Go for the Gold campaign
As kids and teachers head back to school, HSC is taking a moment to spotlight remarkable students who are leading change to make this year the healthiest for their schools -- and for schools across the country.
Teen leaders from the Mikva Challenge teen health council have been working throughout the summer in preparation to help their schools meet the high standards for food, fitness and nutrition education set by HealthierUS School Challenge, the program that First Lady Michelle Obama is urging schools to take on. The student efforts are part of the Go for the Gold campaign to support Chicago Public Schools in meeting the challenge.
The teen health council students created a toolkit for their high school principals to use in making change to meet the challenge; at a special breakfast they hosted for principals, students presented the toolkit and spoke about why healthy eating and opportunities for physical activity matter at school. Students even met with USDA Deputy Administrator Audrey Rowe, who oversees programs such as the HelathierUS School Challenge, to share their vision for making high schools healthier places and to learn more about how young people can help. Principals at five high schools committed to take on the challenge this year with the students' continued involvement and support.
Students studying culinary arts in Chicago are getting involved directly in the healthy school food movement by creating school lunch recipes that meet tough standards for nutrition and budget. The great-tasting healthy lunches, created for HSC’s Cooking up Change healthy cooking contest, have been integrated into the regular lunch menu in Chicago high schools and have been served in schools across the U.S. Student teams will face off at the Chicago competition on Nov. 4, 2010. (Stay posted for details on the 2011 national competition coming soon!)
Kudos to these student leaders! How are students in your community taking part in the movement for healthy schools?
Be Part of the Team that Brings Back Recess
Campaign deadline extended!
HSC's special opportunity to raise funds to help bring recess back to Chicago schoolchildren has been extended!
We teamed up with Groupon and The Point to leverage the power of collective action in the effort to bring back recess. After an exciting two-day kick-off, our generous friends at The Point have extended the campaign deadline. Please join us in taking advantage of this opportunity to make play part of the school day!
Why is recess so key? Physical activity in schools is more than fun -- it brings serious benefits for kids’ health. Last year's study in the journal Pediatrics also linked recess to better classroom behavior and learning. When kids break for recess, they're exercising developing social skills and learning to stay fit, in addition to giving their brains a chance to rest before the next lesson.
HSC provides resources to support schools in bringing back recess and has been working with parents to reinstate recess in Chicago schools. As part of this effort, HSC is developing a training program for parents to become recess monitors. HSC would like to recognize 1 World Sports for its partnership and support in developing this training program.
Thanks to all who have supported this important effort!
Teachers: Share Your Ideas for a Healthy Classroom!
Win prizes and be part of the national movement for kids' health
Share your ideas. Do you have a favorite book you read to your class that includes messages about food and fitness? Have you found a few minutes during the day for a physical activity break? Please take a moment to share your ideas and experiences!
Be part of the movement. Across the nation, from the White House to the school yard, we’re seeing a movement to help kids live healthy lives. By sharing your ideas, you’ll provide invaluable guidance to other teachers and be a leader in promoting wellness.
Win prizes. When you share your idea, you’ll be entered in a raffle to win fabulous prizes for your classroom, including kits from The OrganWise Guys, Skillastics and School Health Corp.
Earn recognition. HSC will feature selected ideas in several publications and share them with teachers nationwide. If your idea is used, you will be recognized in HSC’s communications and in any published materials that include your ideas.
Enter today! Click here to learn more and share your ideas. To be eligible for the raffle, ideas must be submitted by Sept. 15, 2010.
We are looking forward to the great ideas!
Reserve Your Tickets for Cooking up Change Chicago
Student chefs at Cooking up Change Chicago
2010 has already been an exciting year for Cooking up Change! Now, we are thrilled to make our flagship Chicago benefit and healthy cooking contest our most dynamic Cooking up Change yet!
Please join us as we celebrate good friends, good food and good works! We invite you to:
- Be part of the movement to transform the way our nation’s children eat at school.
- Raise a glass and enjoy great-tasting food from aspiring young chefs and Chicago’s leading caterers.
- Meet high school culinary students competing to create a healthy school lunch to be served in Chicago schools.
- Celebrate while making a difference for our environment, our children and education.
We are thrilled that Karen Duncan, wife of Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, and Christie Vilsack, wife of Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, are serving as National Honorary Co-Chairs of Cooking up Change. We are also pleased to announce that Susan S. Aaron and Ernest Sanders are serving as Event Co-Chairs and Chefs Jill Houk and Patrick Williams are serving as Healthy Cooking Contest Co-Chairs.
Many thanks as well to our generous sponsors and host committee! To learn more about joining the Cooking up Change host committee or becoming a sponsor, please contact Alicea Miller.
The benefit has sold out for the past several years, so reserve your tickets today. For more details, visit www.cookingupchange.org. |
