Friday Beat
A publication of the Texas Department of State Health Services
School Health Program
January 23, 2015 Edition
For additional resources on these topics and others related to school health
education and services, visit the School Health Program website at
www.dshs.state.tx.us/schoolhealth
The Whole Child Initiative
Each child in each school in each of our communities deserves to be healthy, safe, engaged, supported and
challenged. That’s what a whole child approach to learning, teaching and community engagement really is.
Launched in 2007, ASCD's Whole Child Initiative is an effort to change the conversation about education from a
focus academic achievement to one that promotes the long term development and success of children.
Through the initiative, ASCD helps educators, families, community members, and policymakers move from a vision
about educating the whole child to sustainable, collaborative action. For information
about this initiative, go to ASCD’s Whole Child Education website at www.wholechildeducation.org.
Whole Child Tenet #4
SUPPORTED
Each student has access to personalized learning and is supported by qualified, caring adults.
Indicator: Our school uses a variety of methods across languages and cultures to communicate with all
families and community members about the school’s vision, mission, goals, activities, and opportunities
for students.
Components: School climate & Culture, Community & Family, Leadership
Postings and Notifications:
Nominations Open for Healthy School Heroes – No deadline
Nominations for 2016 are now being accepted. Please consider nominating schools or organizations as a Healthy
School Hero who are doing exceptional work improving nutrition and physical activity for kids. Winners announced in
the spring of 2016. For guidelines and nomination form, go to http://www.actionforhealthykids.org/support-healthykids/volunteer-for-healthy-kids/healthy-school-hero-award.
SHAC Survey – Deadline: February 2, 2015
Help is needed to assess the current state of SHACs and identifying the greatest area of need for additional trainings
and resources. This survey is part of an initiative from It's Time Texas and the Texas Action for Healthy Kids’ SHAC
Leadership Team which includes experts from state-level agencies and organizations who are working to help SHACs
across Texas. Take the survey and share a SHAC "Success Story" at
http://www2.actionforhealthykids.org/e/21152/r-SHAC-Assessment/rzbtb/152296079.
Healthy Playground Makeover Sweepstakes – Deadline: March 19, 2015
Anyone can enter on behalf of the school and multiple entries are accepted every day until the deadline. Two Grand
Prizes will be awarded: 1) $30,000 in prizes for the school’s wellness program; and 2) A new playground from
Playworld Systems, Inc. See more at http://www.togethercounts.com/at-school/win-for-yourschool/sweepstakes#sthash.7NE9jz4U.dpuf.
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Conferences, Trainings, and Professional Development:
Texas Action for Health Kids Annual Summit – Jan. 29-30, 2015
With presentations by Dale Hayes, M.S., R.D., nutrition expert and award winning author; and
David L. Lakey, M.D., Commissioner, Texas Department of State Health Services, the
Summit will be held at the J. J. Pickle Research Center in Austin, Texas. Speakers from around the state will share
information on the following topics: USDA Smart Snack rules, 84th Legislative Session, connecting health and
academics, and effective SHACs. Breakfast and lunch is included with registration. To register, go to
http://www.actionforhealthykids.org/events/event/76.
Partnerships for School Health TETN – February 4, 2015, 9-11:00AM CST
Texas Education Agency, Texas Department of Agriculture, Texas Department of State Health Services, and Texas
Action for Healthy Kids present the following agenda:
 National School Breakfast Week –Texas Department of Agriculture – Alyssa Herold
 Texas Schools and the Presidential Youth Fitness Program– Anita Wheeler, Texas Department of State
Health Services
 Breakfast Impact on Academics – Michelle Smith, Texas Action for Healthy Kids
 Legislative Update – Barney Fudge, Texas Education Agency and Anita Wheeler, Texas Department of State
Health Services
Register for this event through local regional education service centers, or register to watch the webinar at
http://www.actionforhealthykids.org/events/webinars/event/268. For questions related to the TETN, please contact
healthandsafety@tea.texas.gov.
Physical Education and Recess as a Platform for Classroom Learning – February 5, 2015, 9:30-11:00AM CST
The Department of State Health Services and the Texas Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and
Dance present the first of a two-part webinar series exploring physical education and recess as a platform for
classroom learning. Dr. Deborah Rhea, Professor and Associate Dean of Health Science and Research at Texas
Christian University, will present. Join the webinar to learn:
 State mandates - Pressures to perform in the classroom.
 Rigor is a must - Sitting at the desk increases.
 Program for International Student Assessment results - What other countries are doing differently.
 How physical education and recess create a platform for rigor and learning.
 How do we know if this type of change would create anything different in our schools? An exploration of the
Let's Inspire Innovation 'N Kids project.
Register at https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/5777111532997388801.
Cook Children’s School Nurse Webcast: Asthma – February 10, 2015, 4-5:00PM CST
Cook Children’s Hospital will be hosting a webcast discussing asthma care in the school setting. The webcast will
cover recent changes in asthma medications as well as identify asthma resources available to school nurses. To
register for the webcast go to https://www.onlineregistrationcenter.com/register/111/page1.asp?m=4268&c=1644.
70th ASCD Annual Conference and Exhibit Show – March 21-23, 2015
Join educators of all levels to learn, share, and grow at the conference in Houston. New ideas and strategies by which
to improve and deliver real results for students will be shared. To register, go to
http://annualconference.ascd.org/attendee/welcome/registrationinformation.aspx?utm_source=eblast&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=AC15-email-11915.
International Children and Nature Conference Coming to Texas – April 7-9, 2015
Children who spend more time in nature are Healthier, Happier and Smarter - come find out why and connect with
leaders from the health, education, build environment and technology fields at the Hyatt Lost Pines Resort outside of
Austin. Register at http://www.childrenandnature.org/site/conference2015/.
Physical Education and Physical Activity:
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Educator: Students Benefit from Movement-Based Lessons
Recess and free play are important parts of the school day, but educators also should integrate more movement into
classroom lessons, Aleta Margolis, founder and executive director of the Center for Inspired Teaching, writes in this
blog post. She describes several ways teachers can incorporate movement-based activities into their lessons. To
read the blog, go to http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2015/01/19/letting-kids-move-in-classisnt-a-break-from-learning-it-is-learning/.
Nutrition Services and Education:
National School Breakfast Week Is March 6
Go to the Texas Department of Agriculture website at
http://www.squaremeals.org/Programs/SchoolBreakfastProgram/2015SchoolBreakfastWeek.aspx for resources to
promote school breakfast programs.
Comments from the New Commissioner of Agriculture in Texas
Cupcakes now are a focal point in an ongoing debate over school nutrition. While some U.S. school districts have
banned the treats from classrooms, the new secretary of agriculture in Texas recently announced a policy granting
"cupcake amnesty." Read about it at http://abcnews.go.com/Health/schools-cupcake-amnesty-cupcakebans/story?id=28254755.
"Passive" After-School Commute Tied to Extra Snacking by Students
"Passive commutes" after classes may result in unhealthy eating habits in students, according to a study in the
American Journal of Preventive Medicine. Researchers examined 3,622 fourth- and fifth-grade students and found
those who rode home from school in a bus or car ate 78 more calories from snacks and sweets than those who
actively commuted by biking or walking. Read more at http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/01/15/us-health-childrencommuting-idUSKBN0KO2E320150115.
Study: Children Eat More Calories, Fat on Pizza Days
Children and adolescents who eat pizza consume more calories, saturated fat and sodium on that day than on days
when pizza is not served, George Washington University researchers reported in Pediatrics. Study data showed that
children ate pizza for dinner less often, but lunch consumption remained about the same during the study period of
2003 to 2010. Read the news story at http://www.post-gazette.com/news/health/2015/01/19/Pizza-Not-so-healthy-asa-school-lunch-report-says/stories/201501190015.
Healthy and Safe School Environment:
Teachers Work to Recognize, Handle Bias in the Classroom
Teachers in 25 states participated in training through Human Rights Campaign's Welcoming Schools program to
teach mini-lessons about bullying and racial and gender biases. Rather than using a specific date, such as the Martin
Luther King Jr. holiday, teachers are trained to promote diversity and address situations, such as hurtful remarks and
actions in class, throughout the year. Read about it at http://www.cnn.com/2015/01/18/living/feat-teaching-diversityschools/index.html.
ASCD: Support During the School Day Can Help Prevent Truancy
Students are less likely to skip school if they feel safe and secure and receive support during the school day, said
Sean Slade, ASCD's director of whole child programs. "What we're finding is something teachers have known for a
long time -- knowing your students, making sure they feel valued and wanted. Those things matter," Slade said. Read
about it at http://www.districtadministration.com/article/creating-anti-truancy-environment-schools.
Counseling and Mental Health Services:
Weekly Community of Practitioner Exchange from UCLA – Mental Health in Schools
http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/pdfdocs/mhpractitioner/practitioner.pdf
Methods Some Districts Use To Address Chronic Absences
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School districts nationwide are taking steps to curb truancy and keep youths out of the juvenile-justice system. Steps
include additional monitoring of absences, early interventions and providing social services. Read about it at
http://www.districtadministration.com/article/tackling-truancy.
Study: Student Athletes Less Likely To Seek Mental Health Assistance
One in four young adults between the ages of 18-24 has a diagnosable mental illness, according to the National
Alliance on Mental Health. But student athletes are far less likely to seek help than non-athletes, says a 2014 study
done by a group called the Healthy Minds Network, which is run by a University of Michigan professor. Read more at
http://michiganradio.org/post/when-student-athletes-struggle-mental-illness.
Teens Who Skimp on Sleep Have More Drinking Problems Later
Sleep-deprived teenagers find it difficult to focus in class, and they're more likely get sick. They are also more likely to
develop problems with alcohol later on, according to a study published Friday in the journal Alcoholism: Clinical &
Experimental Research. The study included teens who suffered from conditions like insomnia as well as those who
simply weren't getting enough sleep. Teenagers ages 14 through 16 who had trouble falling or staying asleep were 47
percent more likely to binge drink than their well-rested peers. Read the article at
http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2015/01/16/377720744/teens-who-skimp-on-sleep-now-have-more-drinkingproblems-later.
Comprehensive Policies, Reports, Research and Resources:
Data Reveal Growing Needs Among Low-Income Students
Federal data show children from low-income families now are the majority in U.S. public schools, with about half of
children in 21 states meeting requirements for free and reduced-price lunch. The Obama administration has asked
Congress to increase state funding to help meet the educational needs of low-income students. Read the news story
at http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/majority-of-us-public-school-students-are-inpoverty/2015/01/15/df7171d0-9ce9-11e4-a7ee-526210d665b4_story.html.
New Year, New Wellness Policies...
Reviewing and revising Local School Wellness Policies to create a plan to implement the policy and meet related
performance measures happens around this time of the year. Action for Healthy Kids (AFHK) wellness policy
tool (especially sections five, six and seven) provides important guidance on how to help implement the policy
and ensure that districts have a strong framework for grant-related activities and performance measures. To access
the AFHK Wellness Policy Tool, go to http://www.actionforhealthykids.org/tools-for-schools/revise-districtpolicy/wellness-policy-tool.
U.S. Painkiller Abuse 'Epidemic' May Be Declining, Study Says
The U.S. "epidemic" of prescription-painkiller abuse may be starting to reverse course, a new study suggests. Experts
said the findings, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, are welcome news. The decline suggests that
recent laws and prescribing guidelines aimed at preventing painkiller abuse are working to some degree. But
researchers also found a disturbing trend: Heroin abuse and overdoses are on the rise, and that may be one reason
prescription-drug abuse is down. Read the article from Health Day at http://consumer.healthday.com/general-healthinformation-16/drug-abuse-news-210/americans-painkiller-abuse-may-be-declining-study-says-695492.html.
Quote to Note:
“Some of us think holding on makes us strong; but sometimes it is letting go."
Hermann Hesse, German-Swiss writer and poet
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Friday Beat – January 23, 2015
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Friday Beat – January 23, 2015
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