Coordinated School Health

Teller County Public Health supports School Health Advisory Councils (SHAC) and Wellness Committees (WelCO) in the Teller County school districts.  A SHAC or a WelCo is an advisory group or committee comprised of school staff, administrators, parents, students, and community members.  The TCPH encourages Teller County School Districts to addresses each component of the Center for Disease Controls (CDC) Coordinated School Health Program:

• Health Education
• Physical Education
• Health Services
• Nutrition Services
• School Counseling and Psychological Services
• Healthy and School Environment
• Health Promotion for Staff
• Family/Community Involvement  

Five  Reasons Why Healthy Celebrations at School are Important

• Healthy Kids Learn Better:  Research clearly demonstrates that good nutrition is linked to better behavior and academic performance.  To provide the best possible learning environment for children, schools must also provide an environment that supports healthy behaviors.
• Provides Consistent Messages:  Providing healthy classroom celebrations demonstrates a school commitment to promoting healthy behaviors.  It supports the classroom lessons about health and healthy choices instead of contradicting them.  Healthy celebrations promote positive lifestyle choices to reduce student health risks and improve learning. 
• Promote a Healthy School Environment:  In order to positively change eating behaviors, students need to receive consistent, reliable health information and ample opportunity to use it.  Healthy celebrations are an important part of providing a healthy school environment.
• Creates Excitement About Nutrition:  Children are excited about new and different things, including fun party activities and healthy snacks.  School staff and parents need not worry that children will be disappointed if typical party foods are not served in the classroom.  Holiday treats and traditional birthday parties with cake will still be available at home and elsewhere.
• Protects Children with Food Allergies:  When parents send in food, it is difficult to ensure the safety of children with food allergies.  Schools can protect food allergic children by providing nonfood celebrations or, if food is served, obtaining it from known sources such as the school food service program at the school.

Steps to Healthier School Celebrations:  Non-Food Ways to Celebrate 

Ways for Families to Celebrate Special Events   

• Donate a book to the school library or classroom in honor of a child’s birthday with his/her name inside.
• Donate funds for playground, physical education or activity equipment such as jump ropes,  balls or Frisbees - ask your school’s athletic staff to see what needs they have.   

School or Classroom Celebrations

• Play indoor games of the student’s choosing.
• Engage children in a special art project.
• Take the children on a field trip.
• Turn on music and have a dance party.
• Take a fun walk around the school with principal or teacher.
• Play games outside or host a field day/allow extra recess time.   

Healthful Food Celebrations Ideas for Classroom Celebrations

• Make your own fruit sundae bar with fresh fruit and low-fat yogurt or sorbet.
• Make your own pizza party using chopped vegetables, fruits and low-fat cheeses.
• Host a culture club - ask students to find and prepare healthy recipes from different cultures.
• Host an agriculture – ask a local farmer to bring in produce and having a tasting party   

Snack Ideas         

• Snack cake squares without icing or topped with fruit and reduced-fat whipped topping
• Angel food cake
• Low-fat yogurt with fruit and granola topping
• Oatmeal raisin cookies and low-fat milk
• Fig bars
• Frozen fruit bars
• Trail mix
• Dried fruits
• Animal Cookies
• Low-fat milk
• Sugar-free pudding
• Baked chips or pretzels and reduced-fat dip
• Fresh apple wedges and caramel dip
• Reduced-fat popcorn
• Whole grain crackers and cheese cubes
• Fresh-cut vegetables and reduced-fat ranch dip or salsa
• Small 100% juice – without corn syrup sweetener
• Water

Alternatives to Using Food as a Reward

• It undermines nutrition education being taught in the school environment.
• It encourages over consumption of foods high in added sugar and fat.
• It teaches kids to eat when they’re not hungry as a reward to themselves.  

Zero Cost Alternatives

• Sit by friends
• Watch a video
• Read outdoors
• Teach the class
• Have extra art time
• Enjoy class outdoors
• Have an extra recess
• Play a computer game
• Read to a younger class
• Get a no homework pass
• Make deliveries to the office
• Listen to music while working
• Play a favorite game
• Earn play money for privileges
• Eat lunch outdoors with the class
• Dance to favorite music in classroom
• Get “free choice” time at the end of the day
• Have a teacher read a special book to the class
• Lead the class to lunch, recess, library or other adventure  

Low Cost Alternatives

• Take a trip to the treasure box (non-food items)
• Get stickers, pencils, and other school supplies
• Receive a video store or movie theatre coupon
• Select a paperback book
• Enter a drawing for donated prizes
• Receive a “mystery pack” (notepad, folder, sports cards, etc)
• Get a set of flashcards printed from a computer 

Steps to Healthier Fund Raising      

• Auction
• Bike-a-thon
• Bowling night
• Car Wash
• Carnival
• Celebrity basketball, baseball, touch football games
• Craft show
• Student art show
• Dances and dance-a-thon
• Family protraits for the holidays
• Ethnic festival
• Gift wrapping
• Golf tournament/ miniature golf
•  Jump rop-a-thon
• Magic show
• Talent show
• Read-a-thon
• Singing telegrams
• Skate night
• Spelling bee
• Treasure hunt
• Walk-a-thon
• Holiday themed baskets
• Tile/ brick/ stone memorials
• Cookbook
• Flea market/ sidewalk sale
• Flower and bulb sales
• Holiday ornaments
• Calendars
• Raffles
• Holiday flower and fruit basket sales
• School spirit gear

Please visit the National PTA web-site for other great ideas to help your school raise funds and stay healthy @ http://www.pta.org