May is National Bike Month!

The weather is slowly getting better so now is a great time to pull your bike out, tune it up, and go for a ride! Check out all the local events in Gresham
Community Bike Events 
Find a new ride in your neighborhood 
Bike Path Map
Check out the Bicycle Transportation Alliance for more communty resources
BTA Resources

Send me a picture or story of your favorite ride and I will post it on the blog. 

Happy Riding!

New Wellness Policy Approved

On Wednesday, March 9, the Centennial School Board approved a new wellness policy created by the district's Wellness Committee.  Some policy highlights are:

• school meal programs will be designed to feature fruits, vegetables and other healthy foods from local sources to the greatest extent possible
• Fundraising efforts will be supportive of healthy eating
• Food should not be used as discipline or motivation in class (can be used as part of a celebration, if it includes healthy choices)
• at least 50% of PE time be devoted to physical activity
• staff will not use physical activity (running laps, pushups) as punishment
• schools will have access to free clean and safe drinking water at all facilities 

To see the entire policy follow this link:  Centennial Wellness Policy

Meet Julie Mack- New Healthy Active Schools Coordinator

Hello everyone.  Katie Cadigan had to leave her position as HAS Coordinator. Thanks for ALL your hard work Katie!  I have taken over her position and am excited to continue her work. 

A bit about me:  I have worked for Centennial School District since 2005, teaching for two years at Centennial Learning Center as the Health and PE teacher and working as an Educational Assistant. I graduated from Evergreen State College in Community Health and Education, and went on to Concordia University and received a Masters In Art of Teaching with an endorsement in PE and Health. My health secrets are northwest fruit (especially blueberries with soymilk), riding my bike, and I take a boxing class at Dishman Community Center.  I believe that when we feel good, we are happy, productive, caring people.  I want healthy environments and access to health resources to be a way of life for everyone. 

Stay tuned for updates, info, resources, and news!

Exciting Opportunities to Get Involved in 2011

Note these upcoming local events that offer hands on opportunities to help make our Centennial community a healthier place:

WHAT: East Portland Safe Routes Conversation - Join this Safe Routes to School workshop to share ideas about increasing walking and biking to school in East Portland, talk about challenges, ask questions, brainstorm solutions and meet your neighbors.

WHEN: Tuesday, January 18, 6:15-7:30pm

WHERE: Midland Library (805 SE 122nd Ave)

WHAT: Oregon Youth In Action Kick-Off - This event will announce a contest that awards $2,000 for middle and high school students who have great ideas to help fight obesity in their schools and neighborhoods.

WHEN: Saturday, January 22,1:30pm to 4:30pm
WHERE: Portland Building 1120 SW 5th Avenue, Portland, 97204

School Gardens: Food, Fun and Fitness

Healthy Happening: What offers students opportunities to be physically active while learning about the environment, nutrition, teamwork, and patience? A school garden, of course! Several Centennial schools have a garden, including global gardens that contain plants from around the world and vegetable gardens. Involving young people in growing produce gives them ownership of the food products and encourages them to try new foods.

Students, parents, and staff at Pleasant Valley Elementary work to create a school garden

Resource: Growing Gardens
Growing Gardens Youth Grow Program partners with interested schools to improve nutrition and decrease the risk of food insecurity by teaching children lessons in where food comes from, the importance of eating fruits and vegetables and how to grow food through fun hands-on activities.

Funding Opportunity: Multnomah County Health Places Healthy People Grant
Deadline: Dec 1                         Award Amount: $2,500 - $50,000
School gardens are one of many types of projects that could apply for funding through this grant

District Wellness Committee: Building Momentum

How energizing to see healthy happenings involving diverse groups of dedicated players popping up across the district! I hope everyone had a chance to read in yesterday's Cmail about the exciting "Treadmarks" program promoting physical activity for students at Pleasant Valley and Lynch Meadows Elementary Schools. 

Health is happening at the district level as well: This past Wednesday, 15 people from the Centennial community joined together to revive the district wellness committee. And what an enthusiastic and motivated group of parents, faculty, administrators, directors, and supervisors; the committee is eager to meet not once more, but TWICE more during this very busy time between now and winter break! Students - we are eager to involve you in this wellness work, so if you're interested in joining the committee or just learning more about wellness in your school, let me know! The committee welcomes ideas and feedback from the greater Centennial community.

Welcome to the Centennial Healthy Happenings Blog!

This blog is designed to support the efforts of the Healthy Active Schools Program at Centennial School District by:

1. Highlighting Healthy Happenings going on in Centennial Schools
2. Providing links to resources
3. Announcing relevant funding opportunities

Healthy Happening: Friday Fit At Oliver Elementary

Oliver Elementary turned a lemon into lemonade after library time was cut last year. To fill that 20 minutes/week for each class, Friday Fit emerged, allowing each class to have 20 minutes of physical activity with Principal Egbers and Mr. Kalstad in the gym every Friday. Way to go Oliver Elementary!

Resource: Playworks
Playworks provides recess coaches and technical assistance to "support learning by providing safe, healthy inclusive play and physical activity to schools at recess and throughout the entire school day."

Funding Opportunity: Nike Employee Grant Fund
Deadline: November 15          Award: $5000-20,000
Description: For projects that use sport or physical activity to leverage other community benefits


Do you have a healthy happening to share? Want to learn more about a resource? Are you interested in pursuing a funding opportunity?  Let me know!

Your Healthy Active Schools Program Coordinator,
Katie
katie_cadigan@centennial.k12.or.us