January 24, 2016
Demystifying the 6-Step Process: Step 4 - Explore Resources
This post was authored by Stephanie Kohout, Physical Education Teacher and Wellness Coordinator at Springhill Lake Elementary, MD
Though I am not a health expert, I understand how to help my school community work together to become healthier. My school wellness council has used the Alliance for a Healthier Generation’s Healthy Schools Program website – specifically the Tools & Resources section – to assist us in making healthy changes to our school environment.
This section delivers a wealth of information including helpful websites, informational flyers, online learning opportunities, and contact information for the Alliance’s School Health Experts that helped my school progress forward.
When my school, Springhill Lake Elementary, needed ideas about how to celebrate birthdays in a healthy way, I looked in the Resource Database under Healthy Eating and Celebrations/ Rewards and found three really helpful flyers on healthy celebrations (Healthy Celebrations, Constructive Classroom Rewards, and Rosa Parks Edison Kindergarten Birthday Menu). Now our staff uses extra recess, lunch with the teacher, and free homework passes as alternative rewards with the full support of our principal.
Through interactions with the Alliance’s School Health Experts and networking with other school leaders, I learned how to persevere and be creative. For example, I learned that a “ninja warrior course” is a great fundraiser for your students, linking quick response (or QR) codes to resources can send information quickly to parents, and to always invite my Superintendent to our health-related activities because they like to have fun and stay healthy too!
Whenever you are stuck in a rut or just want another opinion, look toward the Alliance’s Tools & Resources section on the Healthy Schools Program website. I promise you, it will be worth your while.
Click here to browse the Resource Database and find videos, websites, curricula and more to help you implement your Action Plan. Reach out to the Healthy Schools Program support staff at 888-KID-HLTH with any questions.