• Funding Available for Serving Fruits and Vegetables throughout the School Day - Applications Due March 7
• South Dakota KIDS SPEAK 2008 - Call for Applicants
• Governor Rounds’ Healthy School Award
• Immunization Requirements for School Entry
• Schools are Required to Report School-Based Disease or Outbreak
• Get Ready for Your Spring Walking Program
• CDC Study Warns of Deaths Due to the “Choking Game”
• Capacity Building Opportunity
• Resources
• Funding Opportunities
• Upcoming Events
• Professional Development

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South Dakota KIDS SPEAK 2008 - Call for Applicants

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Governor Rounds’ Healthy School Award

Schools are encouraged to submit an application for the Governor Rounds’ Healthy School Award. This award provides public schools with local and state recognition for their leadership in the area of school health programming including the areas of nutrition services, health services, health education, physical education, counseling services, family and community involvement and health promotion. Award winning schools will receive a banner and a $5,000 Recognition Award. The deadline for submitting applications is April 15, 2008. For more information go to: http://doe.sd.gov/oess/schoolhealth/GHSA/index.asp. 

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Immunization Requirements for School Entry

South Dakota law (SDCL 13-28-7.1) requires students entering school or early childhood programs to present certification that they have been adequately immunized, according to the recommendations of the Department of Health. The law applies to all children entering school for the first time, including transfer students. Refer to the following website for minimum immunization requirements: http://doh.sd.gov/Immunize/School.aspx. Contact the South Dakota Department of Health, Immunization Program, at 1-800-592-1861 (in SD only) or email tim.heath@state.sd.us.

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Schools are Required to Report School-Based Disease or Outbreak

Institutions, such as schools, are required to report diseases and outbreaks to the South Dakota Department of Health (ARSD 44:20:02). For your convenience a confidential disease reporting website is available. One of the key advantages of the site is that it is intuitive and allows the user to know what data elements are needed for reporting purposes. This helps reduce call-backs to schools which in turn saves staff time associated costs. The website can be accessed by logging onto: www.state.sd.us/doh/diseasereport. An “Outbreak Report” hyperlink at the top-right of the main page directs the user to a simplified screen for reporting outbreaks.

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Get Ready for Your Spring Walking Program

Get ready for your spring walking programs by registering for the South Dakota Schools Walk program! Register online at http://doe.sd.gov/oess/schoolhealth/sdwalks/registration/. Schools will receive water bottles for their participating K-2 students and wrist sweat bands for their participating 3-6 students. For taking the initiative to sign up their class, teachers will receive a Coordinated School Health post-it notepad. The Schools Walk Healthy Habits Calendars, as well as tips and ideas for implementing the calendars, is available at:
http://doe.sd.gov/oess/schoolhealth/sdwalks/calendar/index.asp. For more information about the South Dakota Schools Walk Program contact Colleen Reinert, Coordinated School Health at the Department of Health at 773-6189.

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CDC Study Warns of Deaths Due to the “Choking Game”

At least 82 youth have died as a result of playing what has been called “the choking game,” according to a study released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The choking game involves intentionally trying to choke oneself or another in an effort to obtain a brief euphoric state or “high”. Death or serious injury can result if strangulation is prolonged. Eighty–seven percent of these deaths were among males, and most fatalities occurred among those 11 years to 16 years old. Choking game deaths were identified in 31 states. CDC found that most of the deaths occurred when a child engaged in the choking game alone, and that most parents were unaware of the choking game prior to their child′s death. “This report is an important first step in identifying the choking game as a public health problem,” said Ileana Arias, Ph.D., director of CDC′s Injury Center. “More research is needed to identify risk factors that may contribute to kids playing the choking game and to determine what may help to reduce this type of behavior.” For more information on the warning signs and long term consequences of this dangerous behavior go to http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/duip/research/choking_game.htm. 

Capacity Building Opportunity

In connection with the American School Health Association’s cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Division of Adolescent and School Health to support leadership and governance for coordinated school health programs, ASHA is seeking 3 school districts (one rural, one urban, one suburban) to help field test a needs assessment instrument and participate in efforts to build the capacity of school districts and their community partners to improve health program coordination.

Each selected district will be expected to assemble a five person team that can participate (at no cost to the district) in a 3 day training event in early August 2008 and commit to working with ASHA for up to three years to strengthen coordination of their health-related programs and services. At least one member of the team must be a member of the American School Health Association. For more information or for a copy of the request for applications (RFA), go to http://www.ashaweb.org/coordination_shp.html.

Resources

No Gym Space! How to Get Them Moving, When There is No Room to Move!

Tracy Nelson Physical Education teacher at Hillcrest School in Brookings conducted a presentation on limited space activities at the 2006 South Dakota Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (SDHPERD) convention. Each activity is aligned to a South Dakota Physical Education standard.

• http://tn008.k12.sd.us/physical%20education/no_gym_space.htm. 

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Oral Health

There are resources available to assist your participation in a national effort promoting the integration of oral health into coordinated school health programs. The Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors (ASTDD) School and Adolescent Oral Health (SAOH) Work Group has developed a national project that supports integration of Oral Health into Coordinated School Health Programs.

• Letter to School Nurses and School Health Professionals

• Oral Health Brochure

Additional resources (including a power point for training health professionals) are available on the ASTDD website www.astdd.org through the links to the School and Adolescent Oral Health Workgroup webpage.

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Fruit and Vegetable Fact Sheets

Team Nutrition has made available the Fruit and Vegetable Fact Sheets. The fact sheets have been included in the Gardening Toolkit that is going out to all agencies receiving a Department of Education Gardening Mini-Grant. The Gardening Toolkit was developed by South Dakota State University for Team Nutrition. Coordinated School Health provided funding for the toolkit. Click here to view the fact sheets.

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Funding Opportunities

2008 Wellmark Foundation Request for Proposals (RFP)

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Safe Routes to School Program (SRTS) Funding

• Enable and encourage children, including those with disabilities, to walk and bicycle to school

• Make bicycling and walking to school a safer and more appealing transportation alternative, thereby encouraging a healthy and active lifestyle from an early age

• Facilitate the planning, development, and implementation of projects and activities that will improve safety and reduce traffic and fuel consumption in the vicinity (approximately 2 miles) of primary and middle schools (Grades K-8)

Funding must be used for education, enforcement, encouragement, evaluation and may be used for engineering. Applications for funds and other helpful resources can be found at: www.sddot.com/srts/. The deadline to return completed applications is June 6, 2008. Successful applicants will be notified mid-August 2008. For more information contact: Angela.olson@state.sd.us or call 605.773.2402.

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Carol M. White Physical Education Program Competition for Funding

The Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools (OSDFS) is pleased to announce that Carol M. White Physical Education Program (PEP) grant competition opened on February 15, 2008 and closes on March 24, 2008. Eligible applicants are local educational agencies and community-based organizations. Grantees with current and active grants are not eligible to apply for a grant in FY 2008.

PEP grants support the initiation, expansion, and improvement of physical education programs (which may include after-school programs) in order to make progress toward meeting State standards for physical education for kindergarten through 12th grade students by (1) providing equipment and support to enable students to participate actively in physical education activities; and (2) providing funds for staff and teacher training and education.

A physical education program funded under PEP must provide for one or more of the following:

1.  Fitness education and assessment to help students understand, improve, or maintain their physical well-being.

2. Instruction in a variety of motor skills and physical activities designed to enhance the physical, mental, and social or emotional development of every student.

3. Development of, and instruction in, cognitive concepts about motor skills and physical fitness that support a lifelong healthy lifestyle.

4. Opportunities to develop positive social and cooperative skills through physical activity participation.

5. Instruction in healthy eating habits and good nutrition.

6. Opportunities for professional development for teachers of physical education to stay abreast of the latest research, issues, and trends in the field of physical education.

The Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools will offer an audio conference call on March 4, 2008, 2:00- 3:30 PM ET, during which staff will take questions from prospective applicants on topics including eligibility requirements, application requirements and the peer review process. For more information on accessing this call, as well as the full application package go to: http://www.ed.gov/programs/whitephysed/applicant.html. 

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Upcoming Events

An Expert Panel of regional HIV specialists and HIV+ people will provide key information regarding HIV/AIDS prevention, health services and personal experiences. Representatives from the SD Department of Health, SD Department of Education, the medical community, Berakhah House, and people living with HIV/AIDS will be featured. Continuing Education Units (CEU’s) will be available for social workers, educators, mental health counselors, prevention specialists and chemical dependency counselors. Continental breakfast will be provided. Space is limited – register now!

Speakers & Health Fair for the Public - 5:00PM – 8:00PM
Holiday Inn City Center, Starlight Room, 100 West 8th Street, Sioux Falls, SD 57104

Family Fun Night will provide an educational evening for teens and parents. Families will enjoy a relaxed learning atmosphere with a free light meal. Come hear two young women talk about living with HIV and its effect on their lives. Booths will provide participants with opportunities for skin care/make-up consultation, crafts from local artisans, health and wellness information, and complimentary back massages! This event is geared toward young adults and their parents. Topics are not appropriate for young children. Space is limited - register now!

Cost and Registration
Both events are provided at no charge! Registration is required for both events! If you have any questions, contact Michelle Majeres at 605-335-6474, press 2 or email at m.majeres@voa-dakotas.org.

• Click here to view the event brochure

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• In a healthy eating plan all the foods I eat should be low fat. T or F
• Eating carbohydrates causes weight gain. T or F
• Vegetarian diets are healthful. T or F
• Eating sugar causes diabetes. T or F
• Fad diets work. T or F
• Canned or frozen fruits and vegetables are not as nutritious as fresh fruits
  and vegetables. T or F

National Nutrition Month® was created by the American Dietetic Association to raise awareness about how food and beverage choices and physical activity impact health. National Nutrition Month encourages people to seek out a registered dietitian for scientifically based nutrition information. Curious as to whether you answered all the above questions correctly? The answers can be found at http://www.eatright.org/ada/files/Quiz_PDF.pdf

What is your school doing to raise awareness about the importance of nutrition and physical activity? There are lots of ways to get student and staff attention from hanging posters in hallways and classrooms, teaching lessons on the importance of nutrition and physical activity in the classroom, having fun events encouraging students and staff to eat more fruits and vegetables, sending materials home with students, and the list goes on and on. For nutrition education resources including lesson plans, quizzes, word searches, games, fact sheets, and other materials, visit the National Nutrition Month® website at
http://www.eatright.org/cps/rde/xchg/ada/hs.xsl/NNM_2007_home.htm.

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Professional Development

• http://www.nbpts.org/for_candidates/certificate_areas1?ID=28&x=34&y=10

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