“Laughter is a key to good health” Laughter activates the chemistry of the will to live and increases our capacity to fight disease. Laughing relaxes the body and reduces problems associated with high blood pressure, strokes, arthritis, and ulcers. Some research suggests that laughter may also reduce the risk of heart disease.

WHAT WE CAN DO TO REACH PARKWAY GOAL #2 Wellness programs aimed to increase student success

Key Strategies for Goal 2 1. Implementation of the district wellness policy 2. Safe and drug- free programs

Wellness Policy Implementation

Primary Goals To increase student achievement; To promote student, staff, and community health; To address the growing concern of overweight and obese children; and To facilitate learning of lifelong healthy habits.

Parkway Wellness Committee Members Ron Ramspott Michael Kanak Charlotte Ijei Lisa Harnacker Marlene Pfeifer Principals Assistant Principals Health/PE Teachers NursesCounselors Social Workers BOE Members

District Wellness Policy District Policy Statement (Adopted August 2006) Policy Goals –Nutrition Education –Physical Education and Activity –Nutrition Guidelines –School-based Wellness –Measurement and Evaluation Administrative Guidelines for Implementation Methods for Evaluation

Administrative Guidelines for Wellness Policy School administrative roles for implementation District role for implementation Key Strategies School health teams CSIP Goal Evaluation/Monitoring

Wellness Timeline Adoption of district wellness policy Development of strategies & action plan BOE Update (June 2007) Continued development of strategies & action plan Development of wellness evaluation tool (Piloted by six schools) Completion of wellness evaluation tools by all schools (baseline data) Presentation to Principals (November-December) Development of administrative guidelines (February 2009 adoption) Formation of School Health Teams Full implementation of district wellness policy Funding for school wellness programs & district events (i.e. health fair)

School Responsibilities School Health Team School Wellness Goals School Action Plan Wellness Evaluation

District Responsibilities District Wellness Committee District Health Fair Wellness Website Community Education Programs

How will we know we are making a difference? Annual Wellness Report –School wellness baseline –MO Youth combined survey –Fitness scores –BMI –District surveys –School absenteeism –Student behavior referrals –Academic achievement

Sample School Evaluation

Wellness Questions?

Parkway S.T.A.R.S. Students Tutoring About Risk-reduction Strategies

S.T.A.R.S. Program Description The STARS program encompasses a series of programs, which supplements the health education curriculum, covering important topics such as tobacco prevention, alcohol prevention, character development, and developmental assets. The STARS program aims to develop health skills and knowledge which help empower students to “Learn It, Live It, & Pass It On.”

The Power of One(self) (4 th Grade) Peer Teaching (6 th Grade) Youth Alcohol Prevention Program (7 th Grade) Pack’n 4 Now N L8r (8 th Grade) High School Heroes Tobacco Prevention Program (5 th Grade) S.T.A.R.S. Model

STARS Model Development Team Ron Ramspott, H.O.P.E. Coordinator Diana Tate, Title IV Facilitator Debbie Hilke, Title IV Facilitator Marilyn Bader, NCADA Health Teachers Counselors Wellness Committee

STARS Program Goals Develop life skills and learning skills Strengthen and own personal choices Resources for each other (role models, advocacy) Providing youth leadership opportunities

Parkway S.T.A.R.S. Power of One(self) – 4 th Grade High School Heroes – 5 th Grade Youth Alcohol Prevention – 6 th Grade Teen Baseline – 7 th Grade Now N L8r – 8 th Grade

Power of One(self) Fourth Grade One lesson led by STAR facilitators Two additional follow-up lessons Introduction to S.T.A.R.S. Asset Development Self-esteem Health Skills

High School Heroes Tobacco Prevention Program Fifth grade Two lessons led by teen tutors Two additional follow-up health lessons

Peer Teaching Sixth grade Four lessons led by peer tutors –Being connected –Having integrity –Being unique –Being responsible

Alcohol and Other Drugs Prevention Program Seventh grade Two lessons led by peer tutors Two additional follow-up health lessons

Pack’n 4 Now N L8r Eighth grade One lesson (2 hours) –Challenges & Choices Two additional follow-up health lessons

STARS Graduation 8 th grade year District-wide celebration to recognize commitment to drug-free lifestyle.

Teen Tutors STARS Academy – 9 th Grade –Develop leadership skills –Develop tutoring skills STARS Institute – 10 th to 12 th Grade –Learn how to teach lessons

How do students benefit? Social influence Best practice - More effective than the traditional teacher- mediated practices. Tutors and tutees speak a more similar language. Improved attitudes of younger students toward older ones. Peer relations can greatly benefit children’s social and intellectual development.

How does Parkway benefit? Comprehensive health education Compliancy in middle school health education More congruency with safe and drug-free programs More students involved in leadership/tutoring roles Students pulled out less to teach Student role models

CDC Recommendation for Comprehensive Health Education A planned and sequential program of health instruction for grades K-12 A curriculum that addresses a range of categorical health problems and issues at developmentally appropriate ages Activities that help young people develop the skills they need to avoid (i.e. tobacco use, alcohol & other drug use)

Timeline Development of Model (August-October) Present to Principals (November) Approval of Program (December) Budget Preparation & New Initiative Proposal (January)

S.T.A.R. Questions?