Claim your prize.  U.S. Playground Map Stencil Winners 
December 2013
 Brant Walker-Cypress Elementary-Newbury Park, CA.

Cindy Sauter-Amanda Elementary-Middleton, OH.

Kim Clawson-Forest Ridge Elementary- Laurel, MD.

Call us: 951-245-6970


Do you know about our new U.S. Map Stencil Games Book?  It's one of a kind and sure to keep kids active and learning.
Great for outdoor learning activities!

Here's a great You Tube video on the topic of playground surfacing from the National Program for Playground Safety.

PHOTOS: “Peaceful Playground” at West Haven, Conn. School - New Haven Register Media Center

Ribbon Cutting for Peaceful Playgrounds at Savin Rock Community School in West Haven, CT.   Photographs by Peter Hvizdak / New Haven Register

(Peter Hvizdak — New Haven Register) Savin Rock Community School in West Haven, Conn. holds a ribbon-cutting for its "peaceful playground" Wednesday, November 20, 2013. The playground has designs and te…

See you tomorrow at the NYSahperd Conf.  Please join us for our Sessions:

"Saved By the Bell"  Thursday 11/21 @ 1:40-2:55 Room: Cayuga

"Peaceful Playgrounds" Friday 11/22 @ 8:00-9:15 Room: Meadow

"Musical PE" Friday 11/22 @ 3:55-5:10 Room: Event Center

As you may know, I'm a bit of a history buff so I couldn't let this date pass without pointing out.....

On Nov. 19, 1863 Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address. This is the 150 year anniversary of the event. His 2 minute speech is one of the most famous in American History. Listen to it here. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gettysburg_Address

I included a picture of one of an ancestor that fought in the Civil War.  My 3 times  great gra…

Physical Activity, School Gardens & Childhood Obesity Programming Healthy Schools (CO) Foundation  The focus of the Healthy Schools program is to expand the number of public schools and preschools that have health and nutrition education, physical education, healthy food in cafeterias and vending machines, opportunities for physical activity, and health care services.

Award amounts vary. Nonprofit organizations and public agencies l…

Do you know that play is an important part of health and happiness?  Stuart Grauer the Founder of the Grauer School located in Encinitas, CA  wrote a post on the Smart Blog on Education talking about  play's important role in education. 

Citing Stuart Brown, a Stanford psychiatrist and producer of a PBS series on play he points out that  "creative achievers such as Nobel laureates virtually all had high amounts of play in their early l…

B.C. school bans kindergarteners from touching each other | CTV British Columbia News

What were they thinking?  B.C. School bans touching, tag, and hugging.  No human contact.  Does this sound as crazy to you as it does to me?

Be a Star

Organization: The Creative Coalition And WWE

Website: https://community.wwe.com/diversity/programs/be-star-grants

Purpose: Is Your Organization Taking A Stand Against Bullying? Would Additional Funding Help Take Your Efforts To Another Level?

Funding Cycle: Annual ( 11-01-2013)

Amount: $25,000.00

Questions?  BeaSTARAlliance@wwecorp.com or Bhorvath@thecreativecoalition.org.

Funding opportunities are available to any qualified K-12 school enrolled in Fuel Up to Play 60.

This competitive, nationwide funding program provides seed money - up to $4,000 per year per school – to help your school implement one Healthy Eating Play and one Physical Activity Play from the 2013-14 edition of the Fuel Up to Play 60 Playbook.

Funding Amount- $4000 per school

Deadline:  November 1, 2013

Rules and Application

Physical Activity in Schools - Webinar
Live Webinar Join us for a live webinar on October 9th at 9a.m. PST 
This physical activity programming in schools webinar is with Judy Lo Bianco, who is the Supervisor of Health, Physical Education and Nursing Services at the
South Orange-Maplewood Schools in New Jersey. She is also the 2013 Physical Education Administrator of the Year (NASPE).  
In addition to talking about physical activity programming,…

This is a fun activity for the month of October to get a little movement into your lessons.  Kids love it! 

Musical PE Plus is another website with lots of PE activities using theme music for the holidays.  Plus it is the website of our Master Trainer, Carrie Flint.

U.S. Department of Education  Awards Nearly $32 Million  to Local Education Agencies and  Community-Based Organizations  for Nutrition and Physical Education September 30, 2013
Contact:   Press Office, (202) 401-1576, press@ed.gov

Today, the U.S. Department of Education awarded 60 grants totaling nearly $32 million to Local Education Agencies (LEAs) and community-based organizations (CBOs) under the Carol M. White Physical Edu…

It's finally here the U.S. Map Stencil GAMES BOOK and OUTDOOR LEARNING ACTIVITIES.


Twenty new games for use with the Playground Map Stencil.  Games include:

1.Capitol Toss
2. State Word Search
3. East to West
4. Capitol Match
5. Capitol Spelling Challenge
6. Hands Across America
7. Exercise By Number
8. State Relay
9. Knock Off
10. State Abbreviation Relay
11. State Shake Walk
12. Guess and Travel
13. Where I’ve Been
14. Name Three
15. Musical States
16. H…

McDonald’s Joins! posted on 9/26/13 by Alliance for a Healthier Generation I’ll Have a Salad With That McDonald’s has partnered with the Alliance for a Healthier Generation and made a commitment to modify their menu and utilize their global marketing power to promote healthy behaviors in children and families.
The commitment is built around a comprehensive plan to increase access to fruits and vegetables and create a marketing strategy that i…

Our friends at the Notah Begay III Foundation (NB3F) are seeking applicants for a grant making initiative that seeks to address childhood obesity and Type 2 Diabetes in Native communities.
The Promising Program Grants are designed to help Native American controlled nonprofit organizations partner with Native communities to strengthen existing youth focused physical activity and healthy nutrition programs and build capacity for program e…

2013 ING Run For Something Better School Grant Winners

ING U.S. today announced that it has awarded 59 schools from 26 states across the U.S. with up to $2,500 grants to help students combat childhood obesity by getting them more active through school-based running programs. Through its ING Run For Something Better(R) School Awards Program, retirement, investment and insurance leader ING U.S., in partnership with the American Alliance fo…

Mid Month Play Nice Newsletter released.  Information on New "Alternatives to Withholding Recess, Grant ideas, Physical Activity and the Brain Infographic.

http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs125/1101617897150/archive/1114929327548.html

The application period opens today for a $1000 morning physical activity program grant called BOK.

Reebok and the Reebok Foundation are awarding $1,000 to up to 500 schools for the 2013/2014 school year to help get kids moving in a fun way to wake up their bodies for a day of learning with BOKS, a before school physical activity program. Application period starts TODAY! Elementary schools across the country can apply for this $1,000 grant…

U.S. PLAYGROUND MAP STENCIL WINNERS ANNOUNCED.

September Winners Connie Webster, Principal  Sts. Peter & Paul   Easton   MD Candy Seifert, Teacher  Orchards Elementary  Vancouver  WA Meghan Slowik, PTO Bowles Elementary  Springfield  MA
Congratulations!  Please call 951-245-6970 to claim your U.S. Map Stencil ------------------------------------------------
The September Play Nice News and Grants newsletter has information on the following …

Physical Activity and the Brain Infographic. FREE DOWNLOAD
"Why Active Kids Make Better Learners"


“Physical activity has dramatic effects on individuals’ physical mental health,” according to Charles Basch in his report, Healthier Students Make Better Learners.

Put simply, educational outcomes are directly influenced by health. It is no surprise that students’ fitness levels continue to be low and obesity and overweight categories in…

Stark County Elementary Opens with Health Department GrantJuly 16, 2013 By starkcsdadministrator
Stark County Elementary School and the Henry Stark Health Department are partnering together with funds from the We Choose Health Grant to transform the elementary playground to an area of learning and physical activity.  Stark County Elementary teachers and staff members from the health department worked hard to create different activity …

One of our schools put together this slide show on the Peaceful Playgrounds Approach and their results after implementing the program.

Peaceful playground approach from jarsenault3

Visit our website to learn more about Peaceful Playgrounds.

Don't forget to download your free gift, Ten Rainy and Snow Day Activities for Indoor Recess.

#PLAYGROUNDS FOR EVERYONE  maps 1300+ accessible playgrounds

 While it’s the most comprehensive resource available, the “Playgrounds for Everyone” app is still far from complete. NPR needs the public to identify more playgrounds, and share photos, info and tips for the ones already in the app. Get involved now at: http://npr.org/playgrounds

Advocating for quality health and physical education programs for every child in America just got a whole lot easier!  The American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD), partnering with Soft Edge, is thrilled to offer new and enhanced advocacy tools to members and anyone committed to children’s health.

Take a look at AAHPERD’s new advocacy webpage - AAHPERD Take Action - view key issues AAHPERD is monitori…

Results of the 2012 SHPPS released. Information on PE, Health, Recess, Physical Activity, Standards, etc.

http://www.cdc.gov/HealthyYouth/shpps/index.htm

Program/Grant: Aetna Foundation Regional Grants

Website http://www.aetna-foundation.org/foundation/apply-for-a-grant/regional-grants/index.html
Purpose:  Healthy activity – Programs that provide opportunities for physical activity in underserved communities.

Funding cycle: Check website – currently closes Sept 2013

Amount: $25,000-40,000

Eligibility:
We concentrate our regional grant making in the following states, with particular emphasi…

Coming Fall 2013PLAYGROUND SUPERVISION: A How To Guide For Playground Supervisors The book will include:

Chapter 1 includes Featured Articles on: Playground Supervision Reduces Injuries, People Make a Difference on the Playground, Playground Supervision Accident or Injury, The Effects of Peaceful Playgrounds on Injuries and Playgrounds Can Be Safe: Injury Reduction.

Chapter 2 includes Tip Sheets for playground supervisors to take to the pla…

Peaceful Playgrounds Play Nice News and Grants.

LOTS OF GRANTS IN THIS ISSUE.






















Newsletter Link

GEF and Gardener's Supply Company are calling on schools and youth groups to submit chronicles of their garden projects. The award is designed to support the continued sustainability of an exceptional youth garden program that has demonstrated success and has impacted the lives of kids and their community.

Eligibility: Existing garden programs involving children currently in grades K-12, from schools and youth groups nationwide.

Deadline: S…

Children who spent more time doing moderate or vigorous physical activity during school hours did not compensate for their extra exercise by reducing their activity levels at home, according to a study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

Previous research has suggested that kids have a built-in "activitystat" that regulates the total amount of energy they expend (see Reuters Health story of May 7, 2009 here: reut.rs/iGDVdO…

I just love this photo my daughter sent me.  Wonder why?

The many benefits of physical education continue to grow.  A recent study by the Physical Activity Council shows that students who do not receive PE are more that twice as likely to be totally sedentary outside of school.

On the other hand, students who receive Physical Education are two to three times more likely to participate in sports and be active outside of school.

Clearly what happens in physical education can have a profound effect on t…

Any teacher knows that attention span is related to academic achievement.  Now a researcher has identified a link between physical activity and attention span.

A recent study out of the University of Granada has linked participating in physical activity with longer attention spans. Better cognitive abilities such as time perception were also higher in physically active participants. It has been generally known that physical activity lends …

Hello Melinda,

Our elementary school has been wanting a USA map for two years.  Finding the volunteers to help was the challenge.
Jason was looking for a project for his Eagle Scout badge.  The map turned out to be the perfect project.

Jason coordinate the volunteers and the school now has two amazing maps.  The maps make the whole playground look so much more colorful and creative.


Laura
Taylor Elementary school
Colorado

Link to order U.S. Playgr…

Box Tops for Education

This is a great time to begin to plan for Box Tops for Education.





 Visit www.rewardyourschool.com to enter and learn more!

A lawsuit against a public school district was filed in 2011 by a 7 year old student's mother.  Megan L. Chang-Ngaruiya, the attorney on the case, stated “This case was pursued by our clients to bring attention to the need for increased supervision of students." It is reported by Kvewtv.com website that McGee Elementary has settled for $150,000.

The lawsuit stated that playground supervision was inadequate for the following reasons:
…

Alice Smith Elementary School has added a colorful new component to its playground, but it’s not all just fun and games. Thanks to an HEF grant, donated paint, and the creative thinking of Smith’s guidance counselor Kristin Lutz, the playground surface is home to a wide variety of new painted stencils.


The stencils are the physical aspect of a ‘Peaceful Playground’ program. Painted this summer by PTO volunteers, the stencils may look simple enoug…

Monroe Elementary School in Oklahoma City, Ok.   The PTA painted a new Peaceful Playground for students when they return for the fall.  Nice design and beautiful colors add fun and excitement to the first day of school.

http://bonniecabbageprogram.com/teachers/


Bonnie Plants delivers millions of free cabbage plants each year to students in third grade classes throughout the country. The program offers students a chance to get a unique, hands-on gardening experience through growing colossal cabbages, reaping hefty harvests, and holding high hopes to win “best in state” and receive a $1,000 scholarship towards education from Bonnie Plants.

Playground injury suit claims the school failed: 1) to intervene in improper use of playground equipment, 2) inadequate supervision, and 3)  lack of procedures in place to ensure safety. A 14 year old boy and his father are suing a Catholic School charging negligence related to the incident in which a 6th grade student fell from a play structure platform.  Link to entire article: http://www.abqjournal.com/225404/north/catholic-school-sued-ove…

This is a beautiful picture that we received from an Eagle Scout Project.  I love the Honor Guard in the picture along side the beautiful job Michael did on the U.S. Map Stencil Project.

Link to U.S. Map Stencil and the World Map Playground Stencil for purchase.  We give a discount to Girl Scout Troops and Eagle Scouts for their projects to schools.

You can also Enter the U.S. Map Stencil Contest and win a stencil for free. 

Instructions for pain…

Rite Aid Foundation

The Rite Aid Foundation is offering funding to nonprofit organizations that focus on children's health and wellness in the communities in which Rite Aid operates. Benefit your entire community by improving children's health—past recipients have used the grants for everything from disability services assistance to fitness initiatives. The Foundation accepts proposals throughout the year and the next deadline is October …

News  Events for Let's Move Cities, Towns and Counties

16 July    Webinar: How to Achieve the LMCTC Goals in Mid-Sized Cities

21 Aug    Webinar: How to Achieve the LMCTC Goals in Large Cities

1-3 Oct    2013 National Walking Summit in Washington, D.C.

12-14 Nov    National Summit on Your City's Families in Seattle, WA

13-16 Nov    Congress of Cities and Exposition in Seattle, WA

The report: Educating the Student Body Taking Physical Education and Physical Activity to School reports on the importance of these three activities in a well rounded education.







http://www.iom.edu/Reports/2013/Educating-the-Student-Body-Taking-Physical-Activity-and-Physical-Education-to-School.aspx





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