January/February 2010

Youth Physical Activity Guidelines Toolkit

Created by CDC's Division of Adolescent and School Health in collaboration with several partners, this toolkit helps adults encourage physical activity among youth to meet current national guidelines. The materials highlight specific strategies that schools, families and communities can use to support youth physical activity, and include fact sheets, a poster, user-guide and customizable PowerPoint presentations. Click here for more information.

Congratulations to
Our New Winners!

Mason Bryant, Physical Education Teacher at HISD's Contemporary Learning Center and Brenda Arteaga, Principal at Eleanor Tinsley Elementary in a drawing won tickets to the January 3 Houston Texans - New England Patriots game at Reliant Stadium, courtesy of the Houston Texans and DairyMAX.

"Health Coaches" Advance Wellness at HISD

	During the "Health Coaches" workshop conducted at the HPE Conference on January 30, participants received training and resources to help students and staff across HISD take small but important steps toward eating better and moving more.

Wellness efforts at HISD are getting a big boost, thanks to the more than 70 HISD teachers and other staff members who are participating in the new "Health Coaches" program, part of the HKHS initiative. Beginning in February, these outstanding wellness champions from across the district will begin implementing a "blueprint" of wellness activities, including Fuel Up to Play 60. To read more about the program and to download tools, along with details about exciting rewards for Health Coaches, click here.

Healthy Kids, Healthy Schools Reaches Milestone

	Getting the chilly and damp day off to a healthy start, dozens of students from Houston Independent School District's Kandy Stripe Academy carried the HKHS banner in the 13th annual Texas Children's Hospital Kids' Fun Run.

Last February, during a two-day Summit, leaders throughout the Houston community gathered to create a comprehensive coordinated school health program HISD. The result was the Healthy Kids, Healthy Schools initiative. One year later, and with support from lots of dedicated volunteers, HKHS is being recognized for its success in promoting a new culture of wellness across HISD. On January 16, HKHS was showcased at a number of key wellness events in Houston. Learn more.

Breakfast Program Gets Boost from DairyMAX

	Superintendent Terry Grier enjoys "breakfast in the classroom" with students at Herrera Elementary School.

Beginning in February, HISD is providing more students with a free breakfast served in the classroom during the first 20 minutes of the school day. The First Class Breakfast Program seeks to ensure that students get adequate nutrition at the beginning of the school day, equipping them to perform better academically. As part of its commitment as a key sponsor of the Healthy Kids, Healthy Schools initiative, Dairy MAX in December provided a $100,000 grant to HISD to assist schools in administering the healthy breakfast program. Learn more.

Sponsor Spotlight

Thanks to generous partners, HKHS Health Coaches who complete the spring 2010 activities will be eligible to receive exciting rewards and incentives for meeting program objectives. To ensure success, additional incentives are needed. If your organization would like to make a donation, contact Cheryl Glover at 1-800-523-5948, ext. 3144.

To view this newsletter online, click here.

The Healthy Kids, Healthy Schools E-news is distributed monthly to the network of education, health, government, community, business, family and student stakeholders involved in Houston Independent School District's Healthy Kids, Healthy Schools wellness initiative.

To join Healthy Kids, Healthy Schools, visit www.healthykidshealthyschools.org/get_involved/get_involved.php.

Please send your news/events to info-hkhs@edumedia.com.