Did you know that a startling 18.9% of Ohio’s third-graders are overweight? Studies show that children who are overweight tend to remain overweight as adults and struggle with health issues, like diabetes and high cholesterol, much earlier in life.

How can you help? Join us at the Statehouse in Columbus on November 16th as we talk to lawmakers about health education standards and other ways we can work together to reduce childhood obesity.

State education standards provide a definition of quality for local schools. By establishing a minimum level of health education, Ohio can be confident that all students are receiving basic health information, while still giving schools options for greater achievement.

Agenda
8:00 -- Registration
9:00 – Welcome and Logistics
9:30 – Group meetings
10:00- Noon - Attend scheduled meetings with Legislators and/or Aides
12:30 – And Now What? How to promote a healthier Ohio back home
2:00 – Press Event (tentative)

 Register today!   It will take all of us—parents, concerned citizens, schools and decision-makers—working together to improve the health and future of Ohio’s children!

We hope you’ll join us and be the voice of Ohio's kids at the Statehouse!

Conference topics will focus on their links to student Absenteeism, Academics, Graduation Rates and Connectedness. Sessions will address issues such as asthma, oral health, literacy, teen pregnancy, diabetes, physical activity, substance abuse, truancy and mental health.

Optional pre-conference topics:

• “Practical Strategies to Increase Student Connectedness”
• “Coordination of Services for at Risk Students”

Registration materials, conference specifics and fees will be available online at http://www.bhsalliance.org/ by February 25, 2011. Registration deadline is June 1, 2011.

The conference is open to teams of four or more school participants.

Experience the conference location and relaxing amenities at:
Cherry Valley Lodge
2299 Cherry Valley Road
Newark, Ohio 43055
Lodging: Single or Double Room Rate: $99

For information or to book a room, call (800) 788-8008 and say you are with the Health Education in Ohio conference, or book online at https://booking.ihotelier.com/istay/istay.jsp?groupID=502022&hotelID=10327

Ohio's kids can learn a lot at school. History. Math. Smoking?

It's hard to believe, but our kids may be learning about tobacco use where you'd least expect it--on school grounds. While school buildings must be smoke free inside, surprisingly, tobacco products can still be used on school property.

Of course, we want ALL Ohio schools to be 100% tobacco-free! The Ohio Board of Education is currently considering a resolution urging the legislature to adopt 100% tobacco-free school grounds--a critical first step to tobacco free school campuses. We must do everything we can to make sure our kids don't learn to start smoking or using tobacco--especially while at school.

Send a message to the Board of Education today to voice your support for this resolution!



We would like to recognize the following school districts for already being 100% tobacco-free:

Alexander Local School District

Buckeye Valley School District
Canton Local School District
Cleveland Municipal Schools
Dayton Public Schools
Dublin City Schools
Fairview Park City Schools
Jackson Local Schools
Kent City School District
Licking Valley Local Schools
Medina City Schools
Mentor School District
Middletown-Monroe City Schools
Newark City School District
Norwood City Schools
Princeton City Schools
Southern Meigs School District
Trimble Local School District
Worthington School District

What does it mean for a school to be 100% tobacco-free? Obviously, students are prohibited from the use of tobacco...but what about staff? Visitors? The tobacco-use of staff or even visitors could still have a negative impact on students due to the dangers of secondhand smoke. Moreover, students may be looking at staff members at their school as role models - do you want to be setting an example of tobacco-use for our youth?

The Office of Healthy Ohio wants all schools in Ohio to adopt a 100% tobacco-free policy. To this end, they've provided a toolkit on their website to help school staff and administrators get their school officially 100% tobacco-free!

Download the toolkit today!

The Ohio Department of Education & Buckeye Healthy Schools Alliance are sponsoring a two day health education workshop for middle and high school health teachers. This workshop is set up as two interactive training sessions designed to teach educators to develop curriculum, teaching units and lessons plans that focus on building the critical thinking and decision making skills students need to establish good health behaviors.

This development opportunity is designed as two full-day workshops scheduled 4 months apart. Participants will meet on November 19th, 2010 and learn how to incorporate characteristics of effective health programs into their health curriculum/ units/ lesson plans then go back to their classrooms to implement and test these strategies. Participants will come back together on February 11th, 2011 to discuss lessons learned and work through their challenges in the classroom. At the end of the training, participants will be able to:

1. State the goal of skill-based health education
2. Describe the Characteristics of Effective Health Education Curricula
3. Apply the Characteristics of Effective Health Education Curricula to a middle school or high school health class
4. Describe the steps needed to adequately teach and assess a health skill
5. Apply the steps for teaching health skills to middle school or high school students
6. Understand health education theory supporting the focus on health behavior outcomes

When: November 19th, 2010 from 9:00 to 5:00 and February 11th, 2011 9:00 to 5:00. Lunch will be provided. 
Where: State Library of Ohio, 274 East 1st Avenue, Suite 100, Columbus, OH 43201-3692
Who: The workshop will be facilitated by Dr. Susan Telljohann and Dr. Joseph Dake of the University of Toledo.

For a detailed flyer including cost, go to http://www.bhsalliance.org/Health_Education_-_A_Skills_Based_Approach.pdf or to access the on-line registration form, go to http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/QSDPRY2.

Plan a Walk to School event in 7 days


Walk to School Day events draw attention to the benefits of walking and any changes needed to make it safer for students to walk to school. Larger events include breakfasts, balloons, school mascots, and press conferences.

Many events are simpler. In fact, it's possible to plan a Walk to School event in one week. Here are some tips:

1. Get the school's principal to approve a Walk to School Day event.
2. Register the school's Walk to School Day event on http://www.walktoschool.org to be counted among the millions of International Walk to School participants. Registering your Walk to School Day event will also give you access to valuable resources and promotional materials.
3. Invite students and parents to participate in Walk to School Day 2010. If the school has an e-newsletter or listserv, use those existing communications outlets to announce your Walk to School Day event. Visit www.walktoschool.org for posters and fliers that can easily be printed on a home computer.
4. Check the Who's Walking in 2010 map, www.walktoschool.org/who/index.cfm, to see if there are other registered Walk to School events and resources in your state. It's a quick way to find out what is already happening in your area and to identify a local contact willing to share Walk to School Day tips and information.
5. On Tuesday, October 5, make a Walk to School reminder announcement on the school's intercom system encouraging students to walk or bicycle to school on Wednesday, October 6.
6. Create posters or a banner that will greet students when they arrive at school on October 6. Potential phrases include "Thanks for walking" "It's Walk to School Day" or "It's cool to walk to school!"
7. Ask students to list the Top 10 ways they got their parents to walk and bike to school with them, Top 10 reasons to walk and bike to school or Top 10 things that need improvement. Save the students' lists to get ideas for a 2011 event.

 
Download a 'Plan an Event in 7 Days' flyer (PDF, 1.1 MB)