Promoting Health and Physical Education in Hawaii Schools

HealthySchools: Promoting Health and Physical Education in Hawaii Schools

This booklet was created to serve as a guide for schools when developing health and physical education projects. This pamphlet is also available electronically on the Healthy Hawaii Initiative website at http://www.healthyhawaii.com/ For more information, please contact Healthy Hawaii Initiative Hawaii State Department of Health (808) 586-4488 healthyhawaii@doh.hawaii.gov www.healthyhawaii.com Acknowledgements Mahalo to the Hawaii State Department of Education, school administration, and school staff at each of the fifteen Healthy Schools for their time and effort in sharing information about the implementation and success of their projects.

Background The school setting provides a great opportunity for students to build healthy habits. The State of Hawaii Departments of Education (DOE) and Health (DOH) believe that schools play an important role in educating students about healthy behaviors, and this can also have a positive affect on student achievement and learning. In 2007, the DOE and DOH Healthy Hawaii Initiative (DOH-HHI) jointly developed Wellness Guidelines that include standards for nutrition education, food and beverages, physical activity and physical education (PE). Hawaii s DOE Wellness Guidelines have been noted as one of the most comprehensive in the nation. All regular public schools were expected to implement the Wellness Guidelines by July 1, 2011. In 2009, the DOH-HHI developed a Healthy School award to support implementation of the Wellness Guidelines and promote nutrition, physical education, and physical activity in schools. Through a request for proposals, 15 public, charter, and private schools across the state were selected to receive an award of up to $9,750 over two years. The goal of the Healthy School award was to support projects that would impact students and their families beyond the funding period. The projects were required to focus on interventions at the population-level, including school policies, systems, or environmental changes. Each school was asked to develop a work plan and describe how their project was meeting the DOE Wellness Guidelines or equivalent policy. This booklet summarizes the Healthy School activities, accomplishments, and lessons learned. The information provided in this booklet may serve as a guide for schools when developing health and physical education projects. The 15 projects have been divided into four themes: (1) Increasing Physical Activity Opportunities (2) School Gardening and Nutrition (3) Enhancing Health and Physical Education (4) Preparing Healthy Foods Healthy Schools Hawaii 1

Recipients of the Healthy School Award SCHOOLS CITY COUNTY PROJECT NAME 1. Innovations Public Charter School (PCS) Kailua Kona Hawaii Planting Wellness with our Keiki 2. Hawaii Sustainable Education Initiative Honoka a Hawaii Ho o Ikaika 3. Kalama Intermediate Makawao Maui Making a Difference through Physical Activity 4. Kanu o ka Aina New Century Public Charter School (NCPCS) Waimea Hawaii Nutrition in Our Classrooms 5. Kawananakoa Middle Honolulu Honolulu Healthy Active Living 6. Keaukaha Elementary Hilo Hawaii Mauli Ola: Improving the Overall Health of Students, Families, & Communities 7. Makaha Elementary Makaha Honolulu Makaha Elementary Indoor Physical Activity Center 8. Mililani Middle Mililani Honolulu Using Digital Signage to Promote Wellness 9. Nanakuli Elementary Waianae Honolulu Nanakuli Elementary Indoor Fitness Center 10. Nanakuli Intermediate and High Waianae Honolulu Eye Candy and Nanakuli Fitness Activities 11. Saint Louis Honolulu Honolulu Saint Louis Health and Wellness Program 12. Waiahole Elementary Kaneohe Honolulu Ai Pono Garden 13. Waianae Intermediate Waianae Honolulu Waianae Intermediate Indoor Physical Activity Center 14. Waimea High Waimea Kauai Who I Am Makes a Difference: Promoting Healthy Lifestyles 15. Washington Middle Honolulu Honolulu Eagle Wrestling Club Location of the 15 Healthy Schools 2 Healthy Schools Hawaii

Project coordinators were asked to estimate the number of students, staff, and community members that were reached through the 15 Healthy Schools projects. Students Pre-Kindergarten 171 Kindergarten 408 Grade 1 330 Grade 2 238 Grade 3 268 Grade 4 292 Staff/Community Members Administrator 20 Teacher 209 Cafeteria Staff 14 Other Staff 358 Parent/Caregiver 258 Community Member 93 Grade 5 478 Grade 6 1,296 Grade 7 1,352 Grade 8 1,706 Grade 9 325 Grade 10 377 TOTAL Staff/Community Members 952 Grade 11 468 Grade 12 433 TOTAL PARTICIPANTS 9,094 TOTAL Students 8,142 Healthy Schools Hawaii 3

Increasing Physical Activity Opportunities What were the project goals? Increase physical activity levels during the school day Educate students and staff about the importance of physical activity to health and well-being Provide students with physical activity opportunities throughout the school day and after school Improve student participation in healthy activities while at school Provide staff with opportunities for physical activity Promote healthy lifestyles through diet, exercise, and wrestling Build a sense of team and school connectedness to improve health behaviors Develop a school-wide policy to ensure that all students routinely engage in physical activity Who played a key role in the project? Teachers Athletic Coaches Parents/Caregivers Community Members Administrators Land paddling and riding trikkes during morning recess If you observe recess at Makaha, you will see very few sedentary students. - Makaha Elementary, Vice Principal The best thing about Eagle Wrestling Club was that our team was really connected and felt like family. - Washington Middle School, 6th grade student What healthy activities were implemented? Physical activity integrated into curricula areas other than PE 30-minute periods of daily physical activity Brain Gym and movement activities throughout the school day Biggest Loser challenge for staff 1 hour of required physical activity for aftercare students Afternoon recess before lunch Structured physical activities during recess Indoor fitness center for students and staff New playground equipment New fitness and aerobic equipment in the weight room Equipment available for students, staff, and alumni outside of instructional time Newsletters include healthy recipes, sports highlights, and articles on a variety of health topics Wrestling Club participates in team challenges, collaborative games, and competitions Zumba Christmas Makahiki games Health and fitness Ohana Night 4 Healthy Schools Hawaii

Students come early to school to participate they leave the room sweating. - Nanakuli Elementary School, Teacher Top left to right: Fitness room; Wrestling practice; Trikkes; Weight lifting. What did the schools achieve? Increased participation in physical activity before school and throughout the school day Increased knowledge of the connection between physical activity and health Improved physical, mental, and emotional wellness amongst faculty and staff Increased student involvement in vigorous activity during recess Increased opportunities to improve fitness and overall health status Positive weight loss results for staff Bonds formed between team members Increased use of the fitness room Improved school connectedness The movement activities during math were fun and helped me wake up and be alert. - Keaukaha Elementary School, 5th grade student At Mega Recess, students participated in a variety of activities including sports, water play, dancing and arts & crafts. Healthy juice pops were served as refreshments. - Makaha Elementary, Vice Principal I was surprised by how excited the parents and community members were to participate in the Ohana Night activities. Some parents were wondering where they could purchase the Geomats and Geofitness videos because they were easy to do. This inspired us to create a DVD lending library which will be set up for next school year. - Keaukaha Elementary School, Teacher Scooter basketball Healthy Schools Hawaii 5

School Gardening and Nutrition What were the project goals? Increase access to healthy and nutritious food options Increase students knowledge and appreciation of local fruits and vegetables Develop culturally-based wellness knowledge and practices Provide wellness learning opportunities Incorporate standards-aligned nutrition education into classroom curriculum Develop gardens on school grounds Plant, maintain, and harvest fresh fruits and vegetables Provide gardening and cooking instruction At our breakfasts, fruit platters from our garden are served along with whole wheat pancakes with real maple syrup. All food items are served on compostable plates which end up fertilizing our garden. The event has become a school and community favorite with more than 300 guests at every breakfast. It is a great way to showcase our garden and healthy eating practices. Innovations PCS, Project Coordinator Who played a key role in the project? Administrators Cafeteria Staff Community Members Head Custodian Educational Assistants Parents/Caregivers Support Staff/Resource Personnel 6

What healthy activities were implemented? Food to fork curriculum A garden club A part-time garden instructor was employed Nutrition education and gardening integrated into curriculum Lessons and activities based on Hawaiian culture Students harvested and distributed fruits and vegetables grown in the gardens A drip irrigation system installed by students in the garden Connections made with farmers from community Local farms visited by students Local farmers and the community participated in Garden Club activities The garden club provided nutrition education to students and parents Newsletters informed parents about garden progress Nutritional values of the daily fresh snack announced during morning assembly Meals and snacks prepared by students from fruits and vegetables in the school garden Healthy, nutritious snacks prepared daily by aftercare students What did the schools achieve? Increased awareness and knowledge of nutrition and wellness Secured continued community support for gardening program Established a partnership with Adaptations, a local organic farming company Increased appreciation of fresh fruits and vegetables Increased student and parental support for in-school and afterschool activities Received positive parental feedback about the garden program Increased the number of family gardens at home Interest in continuing the garden club Student pride in the fruits and vegetables they harvested Student work: Eatwell plates It was natural to integrate all content areas so that gardening, nutrition, and Makahiki games could be a part of science, health and PE all at the same time. - Kanu o ka Aina NCPCS, Administrator Our garden teacher had a family and community garden day that was advertised to the whole community IPCS families and the community worked hand in hand in the garden. It was a wonderful time for the students to show off the results of their hard work. The students loved leading tours through the garden and were extremely knowledgeable about all of the fruits and vegetables. Garden community work days will be continued as the event was an overwhelming success. - Innovations PCS, Project Coordinator Healthy Schools Hawaii 7

Enhancing Health and Physical Education What were the project goals? Increase physical fitness level of students Develop and integrate wellness education into curriculum Improve school health and physical education curriculum Promote healthy behaviors Increase knowledge and awareness of health GeoMotion fitness: Adding technology to the PE curriculum My students commented on numerous occasions that they enjoyed playing games that didn t focus on a winner or loser, but on strategy and learning a skill instead. - Keaukaha Elementary School, Teacher Students were evaluated using the FitnessGram assessment. The students used the data to create goals for their personal fitness plan in which they shared with their parents at home. The students also evaluated the amount of time spent on fitness in their family. - Nanakuli High and Intermediate School, Teacher Who played a key role in the project? Teachers Administrators Parents/Caregivers Community Members 8 Healthy Schools Hawaii

Tanita scales are used to measure body composition We witnessed first-hand observations of overall greater appreciation for Physical Education and physical activity on campus. There are more students signing up for PE classes and participating in physical activity opportunities outside of class. - Kalama Intermediate School, Teacher What healthy activities were implemented? A Health and Wellness Committee to develop and implement health and PE curriculum Indoor space and equipment designated for PE classes 50-minute weekly physical activity classes taught by a certified PE teacher Standards-based health and PE curriculum Offered health class that provided various nutrition and physical fitness activities for students Professional development opportunities in health and PE New PE objectives for PE instruction A health/wellness IRA (instructional resource augmentation) rotation class was developed to address PE and health/wellness curriculum Fitness testing in PE class to assess physical activity levels Technology (e.g. fitnessgram, tanita scale, heart rate monitors) incorporated into PE class Technology utilized to display health and wellness messages in school cafeteria Culturally-based Makahiki games integrated into PE curriculum New equipment for PE class and exercise rooms PE staff presented activities at different schools and at conferences across the state Information sessions for parents and community members Publicized information about the Healthy Schools project in alumni news publications, the school paper, and parent newsletters Lifelong fitness, health, and nutrition education remains a priority and has been communicated through classes as all teaching teams continue to articulate better ways to integrate it into our curriculum. - Kanu o ka Aina NCPCS, Administrator What did the schools achieve? Improved student knowledge of healthy behaviors Increased student participation in PE Increased enrollment in PE elective courses Integrated nutrition and fitness in health and PE curriculum Increased opportunities to improve fitness and overall health status Improved awareness of health risks due to high body fat and sedentary lifestyle Using stability balls as chairs in the classroom A new school-level committee was formed called the Health/ Wellness Committee. They are meeting on a monthly basis to address implementation of health and wellness activities and professional development for faculty and staff. - Makaha Elementary School, Vice Principal Healthy Schools Hawaii 9

Preparing Healthy Foods What were the project goals? Expose students to different fruits and vegetables Introduce students to healthy thirst quenching drinks Increase awareness and knowledge of nutritional information Teach students how to prepare healthy and nutritious meals and snacks Who played a key role in the project? Teachers Administrators Other staff What healthy activities were implemented? Cooking and nutrition education integrated into school curriculum Students found healthy recipes or modified recipes to create healthy meals Students participated in cooking labs where they learned safety rules, procedures, and use of equipment and appliances Students tracked their food intake and analyzed nutritional value of foods consumed Bi-weekly fruit distributions and tastings conducted Students invented drinks using fresh fruits and vegetables Eye candy fruit and vegetable juices promoted through the Culinary Arts department Healthy eye candy shave ice drinks available for students to purchase after school I learned that it is really demanding to teach cooking with the shopping, preparation, and classroom management during labs. But I learned that it is all worth it because the students get so much out of the hands-on cooking activities. Students gain so much knowledge and skills. Some students are amazed that they were able to create something that looked and tasted so good. Kawananakoa Middle School, Teacher What did the schools achieve? Increased student knowledge about healthy food choices and nutrition Developed cooking skills to prepare healthy meals and snacks Increased availability of healthier beverages at the school store Increased exposure to different types of fruits through taste testing Students encouraged their families to try different types of fruits and vegetables Increased sales for fruits or vegetables distributed to students during a certain week, as reported by local vendors in the community 10

Bike powered Blender Bike for Pesto Recipe (Provided from Innovations PCS Newsletter) 1 part combination basil, mint, parsley ½ part spinach ¼ part olive oil ¼ part parmesan cheese ¼ part macadamia nuts 1 clove garlic (garlic to taste) Salt to taste We were able to get our hands on the bike (powered) blender once again and made healthy pesto. We used basil, mint parsley and spinach from the student garden. This hands-on healthy eating activity was a favorite amongst our students. Innovations PCS, Project Coordinator 1. Harvest herbs and spinach from garden 2. Wash thoroughly 3. Place all ingredients in bike-powered blender 4. Pedal until smooth 5. Combine pesto with noodles, or use as spread on bread or pizza sauce 5 Healthy Snack and Lunch Ideas (Provided from Innovations PCS Newsletter) Think outside the box. Olives, sliced cucumbers, carrot sticks, rice cakes, dates rolled in coconut, hard boiled eggs, nori, asparagus, pickles Send the fruit, skip the juice. Real fruit offers fiber, just the right amount of 100% natural sugars, enzymes that aid digestion, and is biodegradable. Check farmer s market and local neighborhoods for flashy fruit like lilikoi, jaboticaba, guava, limes, lemons, oranges, figs, star fruit, avocado, and coconut. Slip in the greens. Try adding a handful of spinach to any blended smoothie, marinara sauce, pesto, or soup. Small enough, they don t know it s there. Kids eat what they grow/make. Let the kids pick out what fruit they want. Grow something you eat with your child. Get keiki measuring, cooking, chopping, inventing in the kitchen. Make two minute granola bars. Wrap individually in recyclable aluminum or biodegradable brown paper bag and store in fridge. Eat on the run. Two Minute Energy Bars Recipe (Provided from Innovations PCS Newsletter) 1 cup peanut butter 1 cup honey 3 cups oats (can substitute some oats with flax seeds, ground sesame seeds, ground sunflower seeds, shredded coconut, etc.) 1. Heat peanut butter and honey in pot until the mixture becomes runny 2. Take pot off heat, add oats, and stir until mixture is combined 3. Make drop bars on cookie sheet or mash mixture into casserole dish 4. Cool 5. Press a few chocolate chips on top of bars to guarantee consumption 6. Wrap individually and store in fridge Healthy Schools Hawaii 11

Concluding Thoughts and Remarks What contributed to the success of the projects? Administrative support Community support Faculty and staff participation Family involvement Culturally-based learning philosophy School-wide focus on cognitive, physical, emotional, and social development This year s theme was Zumba Christmas. Each grade level sang a Christmas song and then grades 1, 3, 4, 5, and 6 performed a zumba inspired dance number to Oh Santa by Mariah Carey. There were approximately 240 students involved with practices each day for about 2 weeks. The teachers, support staff, and administrators willingness to participate helped tremendously to facilitate this project. - Keaukaha Elementary School We were amazed that students had not tried fruit and vegetables that are commonly found in supermarkets. Nanakuli Elementary, Administrator What lessons were learned? We can make a big impact on student health in elementary school Cooperation and support from school staff is necessary for program success Physical activity can be done anytime throughout the day School commitment to increase physical activity of students is important Promoting physical activity by perpetuating Hawaiian culture, traditions, and values was effective for increasing students enthusiasm for physical activity Recipes need to be tried out before teaching to students Class management strategies are important during cooking lessons Importance of planning and focusing on goals and objectives Exposing students to fruits and vegetables they don t normally eat is beneficial to their individual and their families nutrition If students learn things that are relevant, interesting, exciting, and have some ownership, then they are engaged, learning is invaluable, and they are infectious with what they know 12 Healthy Schools Hawaii

What challenges occurred along the way? School renovations Time to implement program Funding Changes in faculty/staff after first year of program Weather Initial investment costs for cooking lab facilities and equipment Limited variety of fruits and vegetables Training teachers and staff in new curriculum Although everyone agrees physical activity is important for students, it is a challenge to overcome existing attitudes toward food and nutrition that exist among community members and staff. - Makaha Elementary, Vice Principal We were surprised by the community support for our garden snack program. A local real estate company has stepped up to continue to fund the program next year. Further, through a partnership with Adaptations, we just had our first school farmer s market to support the program. - Innovations PCS, Project Coordinator What happens from here? Establish partnerships with local organizations Health, gardening, nutrition, wellness, and physical activity classes will be maintained in school curriculum Continue utilizing equipment and supplies purchased Provide ongoing professional development opportunities Continue annual Ohana Night The Fresh Fruits and Vegetables program will continue Healthy beverages will continue to be sold at the school store The Garden Club will continue every school year Planted trees will continue to produce fruits Community donations and fundraising Ongoing parental support and involvement Healthy Schools Hawaii 13

Hawaii State Department of Health Healthy Hawaii Initiative 1250 Punchbowl Street, #422 Honolulu, HI 96813 Phone: (808) 586-4488 www.healthyhawaii.com NONDISCRIMINATION IN SERVICES We provide access to our programs and activities without regard to race, color, national origin (including language), age, sex, religion, or disability. Write or call our Affirmative Action Officer at P.O. Box 3378, Honolulu, HI 96801-3378 or at (808) 586-4616 (voice/tty) within 180 days of the problem. Funded by the Tobacco Settlement Special Fund, Healthy Hawaii Initiative, Hawaii State Department of Health. January 2012