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Here's the first stab at a mind map.

Why kids need recess and exercise - CNN.com, 4.3.12

http://www.cnn.com/2012/04/03/health/diet-fitness/parenting-recess-kids/index.html?hpt=hp_t2

Does this look safe to you?

Safe Playgrounds

We deserve safe playgrounds!

Take a look this from NRPA. We qualify for some of those hazards. Here's the US Consumer Product and Safety Commission's Public Playground Safety Handbook. Again, we qualify because bottom line, our play area and equipment is unsafe.

Cross your fingers! I just sent our proposals, questions, cost comparisons and concerns to the powers that be at PUSD. It will be small steps, but we will get there as long as our parents have a strong voice and determination to help better our children's lives!

Lowe's Grant - for next year...

Something to shoot for next year!

I was looking at their grant criteria and came across the following:

Q: We would like to apply for the Large Toolbox grant for up to $100,000. How do we do that?

A: A special fund has been designated for parent group initiated improvement projects at public schools or school districts. Grants from $50,000 to $100,000 are available for a variety of school improvement projects at K-12 public schools such as, but not limited to, landscaping and grounds improvement, library or media center enhancement, science or specialty lab creation or upgrade, or parent education programs. All schools or districts applying for the Large Toolbox grant MUST apply online directly via the Lowe's Charitable and Educational Foundation (LCEF) website. Review the introductory LCEF information and follow the "Continue" prompts at the bottom of each page until you come to the beginning of the application. Please note: In the project title blank, "Your Project Information", make sure you type "Large Toolbox for Education School request" AND your project title in this field. Again, grant requests from large schools or districts must be made online through the Charitable and Educational Foundation, NOT the Toolbox website. Completed applications must be received no later than February 10, 2012.

It's too late for this year, but maybe if we have our ducks in a row for next year, we could make a solid application!

- Lisa

Check out our first versions of our new playground

Proposal 1 - with a lovely, huge school garden on the lower playground:

Proposal 2 - transforming the Kinder playground into the school garden:

 Also, if you are curious what a freestanding ball toss looks like:

Eliot Plants a Garden

An article on the blog Hometown Pasadena about Eliot's new school garden, here.

Healthy school meals served in El Monte

California Schools Take the HealthierUS School Challenge

Posted on 10/28/2011

On October 17, 2011, school nutrition professionals and administrators from El Monte City School District, California, were honored to join First Lady Michelle Obama at a special White House reception honoring HealthierUS School Challenge winnersfrom across the country.  Fourteen El Monte schools have earned the Silver award by meeting rigorous standards for healthy school meals, nutrition education and physical activity.  These schools join more than 1,600 schools nationwide that have become HealthierUS Schools.

El Monte school cafeterias only serve whole grains, and much of the bread is baked from scratch using whole wheat flour, including this month’s special Sweet Potato Bread.  At lunch, students can choose from at least four different fruits and vegetables (more than half of these choices are fresh) and fruit is served with every school breakfast.  Salads are offered each day, ranging from the “Iron Man” spinach salad to the Chinese Chicken Salad.  Nothing on El Monte’s menus is fried, and El Monte has switched to lean meats and low-fat dairy products.

El Monte schools are encouraging students to try these healthier choices too.  The school nutrition department works with teachers to weave nutrition education into the curriculum – from language arts to math and art.

A blurb from Dr. Lewis who is the Nutrition Services Director with Network for a Healthy California:

In El Monte, we involve students in a number of healthful activities including Veggie Fear Factor, Healthy Grocery Store Scavenger Hunt, Fruit and Veggie District Art Contest, Superintendent’s Helathy Essay Contest, Nutrition EXPO, Bring your Parent to Breakfast, Pumkin Decorating Contest, and Kids Get Cooking Camp. We work with a cadre of teachers to integrate wellness and nutrition education into existing curricula including math, science, and language arts. Lastly, our kids get to sample a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables everyday from the USDA’s Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program.

Sites:

http://www.traytalk.org/

http://network.emcsd.org/

Welcome to our Blog!

There are so many wonderful things that happen at our school! Here is a place for Panda Parents to post updates and pictures about the many projects and plans we are working on to make San Rafael even better!