Fire Up Your Feet!
National PTA has partnered with Safe Routes to School National Partnership and Kaiser Permanente with a new physical activity fundraising program that encourages families to walk more to and from school and in daily life while keeping track of their steps, and raising money for their PTA or school. This program is called Fire Up Your Feet and it basically provides a fun new opportunity for families to become more active while spending quality time together AND helping out their PTAs/PTSAs and schools!
Spread the Word, Not the Germs!
Can you believe one of the easiest and most inexpensive preventative medicine strategies is literally available at your fingertips and costs less than one penny? It is called hand washing.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), “hand washing is the single most important means of preventing the spread of infection." Hand transmission is a critical factor in the spread of bacteria and viruses causing disease such as colds, flu, and food-borne illness. See Tips on Hand Washing from the CDC.
What Do This Year's Updated Nutrition Standards Mean
Do you know what the changes in nutritional standards mean for your child's lunch at school? Follow the link below for important information on the new changes to school lunches: http://www.healthyschoolscampaign.org/getinvolved/action/new-standards/
Introducing the New Health-Based President's Challenge Program
In September 2012, the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition announced they are phasing out their Youth Fitness Test which dates back to 1966 and replacing it with the Presidential Youth Fitness Program. The comprehensive school-based program employs the latest science and promotes health and physical activity for America’s youth. This voluntary program represents a significant change in how schools and parents approach kids’ physical fitness. Instead of recognizing athletic performance, the new program assesses students’ health related fitness and helps them progress over time. The Presidential Youth Fitness Program is available for free to schools at www.presidentialyouthfitnessprogram.org.
