Heroes for Healthy Schools Week Spotlights Role of School Wellness in Addressing Health Disparities
Recognizing Minority Health Month
Students warm up for running clinics led by Chicago Run
HSC teamed up with Chicago Public Schools and the Office of Minority Health, U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, to present Heroes for Healthy Schools: Coming together for student wellness and achievement, a week-long series of events to recognize National Minority Health Month and focus attention on the role everyone can play in ensuring that all children are able to succeed in school and live healthy lives.
More than 400 community members joined a panel of thought leaders to discuss the impact of health disparities on minority student achievement at a citywide forum, while students raced through running clinics and soccer games, chefs brought veggie tastings to elementary classrooms through Chef in the Classroom and teachers shared health-promoting lessons with their peers as part of Fit to Learn. School nurses gathered for a leadership summit and met with Tonya Lewis Lee, author, producer and wife of filmmaker Spike Lee. The week began with Cornell McClellan, President Obama’s personal trainer, getting things off to an active start by leading students in energizing physical activity.
Cornell McClellan commends students who spoke about the value of healthy eating and physical activity
The week showcased Chicago’s collaborative strategy to address health disparities and improve educational achievement, particularly for minority students.
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| Soccer event led by Urban Initiatives |
"We’re proud of the individuals working for change and of Chicago’s city-wide efforts to make meaningful changes that improve children’s access to healthy food and physical activity," said Rochelle Davis, HSC president and CEO. "While we still have a long way to go to eliminate the serious challenges facing our students, this is a good moment for us to recognize our progress as a community and commend the individuals whose work is so valuable for children’s well-being."
HSC also kicked off an effort to bring attention to the work of the often unsung heroes for healthy schools who are working toward an ideal in which all children, of all backgrounds, from all communities, have access to a school environment that supports their health and opportunities to learn. (Stay posted for spotlights on many of the heros nominated during this week!)
Read profiles of a few heroes for healthy schools:
And check out photos from a few Heroes for Healthy Schools week events:
Plus: Read the presidential proclamation for Minority Health Month recognizing the role of healthy school food in addressing health disparities.
Congratulations to the Through Your Lens Student Winners!
Students Show the World What They See at School
Photo "Caution Kids @ Play" by student winner Kwon from Washington, D.C. Kwon wrote: "Students at Kimball Elementary School in South East DC find the joys of childhood by jumping rope with caution tape!"
We are thrilled to announce the student winners of the 2011 Through Your Lens Photo Contest! Congratulations to the student winners:
- Laquita from Washington, D.C.: "A Gym for No Fans"
- Kwon from Washington, D.C.: "Caution Kids @ Play"
- Giavanna from McKees Rocks, PA: "The Moldy Math Book" & "Running from Water"
- Sarah from Palo Alto, CA: "An Evening to Enjoy"
- David from Laguna Niguel, CA: "Shiny, New and Blue"
Check out the remarkable winning photos online at www.ThroughYourLens.org.
Through Your Lens is a collaboration of The 21st Century School Fund, Critical Exposure, and Healthy Schools Campaign to raise awareness of the need to fund school buildings that support learning and provide a safe, healthy environment for students and teachers. By sharing photos and stories of what they see every day at school, students and teachers who participate in Through Your Lens provide us all with an honest window into today’s school buildings.
Winners were selected by a panel of photographers, writers and advocates. The judging panel includes renowned photographers Callie Shell, Matt Slaby and Ami Vitale; Rachel Gutter, Director of the Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council; and student judge Ian Starks, a winner of the 2009-10 Through Your Lens contest.
Thank you to everyone who shared photos and stories! The winning students will receive a digital camcorder and framed print of their photo. Photos will be shown at a special exhibition in Washington, D.C. and many more will be shown in a Through Your Lens photo book and online gallery. Stay posted for updates on the exhibit and book!
Sponsorship Opportunities Available for 2011 Printing of The Quick & Easy Guide to Green Cleaning in Schools
HSC is pleased to announce that sponsorship opportunities are now available for the 2011 printing of The Quick & Easy Guide to Green Cleaning in Schools!
The expanded third edition will include changes to ecolabeling programs and updates on current laws and regulations. The expanded third edition includes updates on current laws and regulations plus detailed information on green cleaning and H1N1 and an expanded section on food service. Check it out for the latest in training and operations for green cleaning programs and much more
The deadline for sponsorship is June 1, 2011.
To learn more or join the green team, click here or contact Sara Klinzing at 312-419-1810.
Policy Update: HSC Releases Recommendations for Education Policy that Supports Health and Wellness
Healthier students are better learners.
At HSC, we believe that this simple fact is key to education reform. In our efforts to support quality education, we cannot ignore the health of our students. When we define successful schools, we must include measures of healthy environments, access to healthy food and physical activity. We must provide educators with the knowledge and skills they need to support student health and wellness in the classroom.
This week, HSC released our education policy recommendations [pdf], specifically supporting reform for the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and the Blue Ribbon Schools Program. We invite you to take a look and to read through our recommendations [pdf]. If you agree that education policy should support student health and wellness, please take a moment to add your name to our petition.
Healthier students truly are better prepared to focus, learn and succeed in school. Please join us in urging our leaders to recognize the connection between health and learning by making student wellness a priority in efforts to reform education.
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