Like most of the country, you probably know someone who has the flu (if you don't have it yourself). We're watching out for the flu in our schools and want you and your family to be safe from illness.



Here's some help in making that happen!



Prevent

Everyday preventive actions are steps that people can take to help slow the spread of germs that cause respiratory illness, like flu.

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it. Cough into your arm.


• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. If soap and water are not available, an alcohol-based hand rub may be used.


• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. Germs spread that way.


• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.


• Keep a regular routine for cleaning and disinfecting in your home. Flu viruses are relatively fragile, so standard practices, such as cleaning with soap and water, can help remove and kill them.

100 Chefs, 100 Schools was a huge hit with the young culinary students at Glengarry Elementary, and for good reason! The kindergartners in Shauna Russell’s class learned how to make fruit nachos. (And yes, they also ate them!). The class was selected to participate in the initiative that aimed to pair 100 chefs with 100 schools to promote healthy eating.

That wasn’t the class’s first encounter with a healthy lesson; early this fall they recorded a special song and dance that was named first runner-up in the Coordinated School Health program’s Classroom Challenge. The video competition was designed to promote healthy lifestyles.

Meanwhile, Head Middle Magnet welcomed chef Michael New as part of the “100 Chefs 100 Schools” program. Chef New showed students how to prepare healthier snacks and provided samples of his yummy treats.

Check out the photos we received from other schools that also participated in 100 Chefs, 100 Schools:

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and at Brick Church Middle School students showed their support by wearing pink and white and forming a human ribbon. Many of the students and faculty have friends or family members who have been affected by cancer, and the school wanted to show the community that they have not forgotten their struggle.  

More than 150 students and faculty members participated in the human ribbon. According to Principal Chirelle Jefferson, “this is a wonderful testament to teamwork, cooperation, and working towards a single goal.”

Nashville Mayor Karl Dean and the Maplewood High School football team are leading the Maplewood community in a neighborhood walk, Monday, Oct. 22, at 2:30 p.m., immediately after school dismisses. The walk will begin at the flagpole in front of the school. This event is in celebration of the Mayor's WALK 100 miles challenge. Nashvillians who walk 100 miles by the end of 2012 will receive a free congratulatory t-shirt.

Wednesday, Oct. 3, thousands of students, their parents, teachers and school staffs will hit the pavement and walk to school! It's Walk to School Day, an event designed to raise awareness of healthy living, particularly the importance of physical activity for kids, improved air quality, and safer routes for walking and biking. Fifty six Metro Schools will join thousands of educators, students and community members from across the country in this national movement. Cole Elementary will serve as the lead Metro school and will host a special event including MNPS administrators and Nashville Mayor Karl Dean.

Bring out the Sharpies, Maxwell Elementary has a star on its staff! Cafeteria Manager Cynthia Tinnel proved her incredible skills in the kitchen on the hit reality show "Chopped." Tinnel out-cooked three other school cafeteria managers, taking home $10,000. She also gave the nation a small taste of what it's like to cook for hundreds of students each day. 

Way to go, Cynthia!

School lunches are getting healthier, and the National PTA, Kids’ Safe, and Healthful Foods Project are teaming up to share this year’s improvements with families through Virtual Back to School Night. The best part, you can listen live from your own home! Check out the release below:

Join National PTA and the Kids' Safe and Healthful Foods Project for


Virtual Back to School Night: The School Day Just Got Healthier!

School lunches will have a whole new look this year as part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) updated nutrition standards for school meals.  As parents, it can be difficult to navigate what these changes mean. Join National PTA President Betsy Landers, White House Chef Sam Kass, the Kids' Safe and Healthful Foods Project, and USDA for a live discussion about the exciting new meals coming to school cafeterias!

When:  Thursday, September 13, 2012 at 7PM EST

Where: Tune in live right here from wherever you are!

Speakers:

• Sam Kass, White House Chef and Senior Policy Advisor for Healthy Food Initiatives


• Betsy Landers, National PTA President


• Jessica Donze Black, Director, Kids' Safe and Healthful Foods Project, The Pew Charitable Trusts


• Audrey Rowe, Administrator for the Food and Nutrition Service, USDA

Students at Martin Luther King Jr. Magnet School have an incredible new Heath & Fitness facility at their disposal. Thanks to Dane Burks & Company Fitness and the YMCA of Middle Tennessee, the school now has a brand new, state-of-the-art fitness facility for students and staff. The center includes elliptical trainers, a full weight gym, treadmills, and more. The project began as a simple need noticed by Lifetime Wellness teacher, Dr. Tina Bozeman, NBCT, but culminated with a true community partnership.

Expect a few phone calls from us this summer. When you answer there will be the familiar recorded greeting “Good evening, Metro Schools families.” What comes after may determine whether or not your child can attend school next year.



When school starts Wed., August 1, 2012, any student entering the seventh grade must have an updated Tennessee Immunization Certificate showing a recent tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis (Tdap) booster and verification of immunity to varicella (chicken pox). Without it, students will not be allowed to attend school.



That’s why we’re urging everyone to take care of these requirements now, not later. Have your child vaccinated and give the updated certificate to your school before summer break starts. It’s easier for everyone and takes another item off your summer to-do list.



The Metro Public Health Department offers immunizations required for school each Monday through Friday at its three Health Centers. Health officials emphasize that children with insurance coverage should visit their own healthcare provider for these shots, along with an added benefit of getting an annual well child physical exam. Tell your neighbors, friends, co-workers, and church groups. Send it to your neighborhood list-serv. Announce it at your next PTA meeting. It’s important information for the entire community.



Go to your family doctor or one of the three Public Health Centers to make arrangements for your child to receive these immunizations. Then when the phone rings with our friendly reminder, you can go on with your evening. For full information about required immunizations and where you can get them, call your child’s healthcare provider or visit the Metro Public Health Department website: http://health.nashville.gov/Immunizations.htm

Congratulations to you and your student who is about to finish 6th grade! There is one last requirement before your student can begin 7th grade.



Students currently enrolled in a Tennessee school and entering the 7th grade in August 2012 must provide the school an updated Tennessee Immunization Certificate with proof of two additional immunizations:

1. Tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis booster (“Tdap”):not required if a Td booster dose given less than 5 years before 7th grade entry is recorded on the DTaP/Td line


2. Verification of immunity to varicella; (2 doses or history of disease)

1. Your private health care provider


2. The Metro Public Health Department (addresses below)

Lentz Public Health Center 311 23rd Avenue North Nashville, TN 37203 (615) 340-5616 Walk-In Hours 8:00-3:30

East Public Health Center 1015 East Trinity Lane Nashville, TN 37216 (615) 862-7916 Walk-In Hours 7:30-3:00

Woodbine Public Health Center 224 Oriel Avenue Nashville, TN 37210 (615) 862-7940 Walk-In Hours 7:30-3:00

Remember 2-4-7:

2 Immunizations

Be 4 my student

Can start 7th grade



To view in Spanish, click here.

Metro Schools Nutrition Services Department recently teamed up with the Tennessean and MTSU in a tweetup regarding childhood obesity. The goal was to raise awareness of the growing problem and find ways to help our young people live healthier. Check out these fun facts we shared.



Nutrition by Numbers:

• 19 of our schools participate in the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable program that brings fruit and vegetable snacks directly to the classroom.


• Students exposed to many different types of fruits and vegetables. This year, we added 14 new salad bars in our schools. 
  


• FACT: Our school lunches average 541 calories


• 19 of our schools have won the Healthier US Challenge Award which recognizes schools who promote healthy eating and physical activity. How do you stay fit?


• 48 of our school have school gardens. MNPS and the Metro Health Dept are teaming up to increase this number http://www.mnps.org/Page85165.aspx


• Pizza can be healthy. Pizza served in our schools are made of 51% whole wheat flour and low-sodium cheese. We also serve turkey hotdog.


• Here’s a fun fact. 10 of our schools started a pilot program to do more cooking from scratch and use less processed foods.

And don't miss these great links:

School Gardens

Menu and Meal Prices

Nutrition Information

See what's going on inside MNPS Coordinated School Health!

Tuesday, Jan. 18, the MNPS Office of Coordinated School Health received the first annual Pioneer Award at the NashVitality HEAL Summit. The award was given to honor the work that Coordinated School Health does to assist MNPS schools in establishing Healthy School Teams and health-related goals for students and staff.

Pictured (R-L) Nicole Proffitt, Susan Lyle, Johnsie Brewington

West End IB World School is competing for a $5,000 grant to help solve hunger in the school community. Through the Brookside Foods Giving Back Challenge: Call for Community-Based Organizations, the students have submitted an “IDEA” that revolves around the expansion of the school’s community garden. If selected, West End will add raised beds and a greenhouse to the existing community garden, which will allow the students to grow more vegetables and herbs. The produce will be packed into students’ backpacks and sent home for health weekend meals.

Click here to see West End’s video and cast your vote.Voting is open until December 9, 2011, 2:00 p.m.

From new community gardens to incorporating physical fitness into everyday classrooms and activities, the November issue of the Coordinated School Health newsletter is packed with good news and tips to keep our students healthy.

Nashville Big Picture High School’s Student Government Association is sponsoring a Breast Cancer Awareness walk Friday, Oct. 28, at 12:00 p.m.  Students will walk a mile around the building and pass out pamphlets regarding breast cancer.  Students and staff are also encouraged to wear pink in support. Mentors, community partners and parents are invited to join the Big Picture Breast Cancer Awareness Walk.

As part of a class project, the students in the Academy of Global Communications at Hillsboro High School are releasing their first office news release. Check out their work:

Hillsboro hosts Community Health Fair

Join us on September 10, 2011 from 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. for the 1^st Annual “Health Fair”, located at Hillsboro High School. This event is FREE! There will be many informative booths, such as: Red Cross, Walgreens, who will be offering Flu-Shots, Whole Foods and healthy eating, water-quality testing, smoking cessation, height, weight, body mass index,  and a First-Aid Kit table. There will also be a bake sale with lots of goodies to eat.

So, join us for a fun filled healthy event that can make a healthier you! This event is sponsored by The Academy of Global Health at Hillsboro High School.

Parents, remember there are new immunization requirements required by the state. Click here to review the requirements.

For most students, a lack of updated vaccination records by Monday, Aug. 22 will mean they cannot return to school until they turn in updated records.

To help families meet these requirements, Metro Health Department is adding nurses and opening a special Fast Lane Immunization Clinic. Here is the information from the Health Department:

The Nashville Predators donated $10,000 in Physical Education equipment to several MNPS high schools. Each high school physical education department received exercise tubes and bands, dumbbells, stability balls, medicine balls, activity mats and four- and six-inch fitness steps. This generous donation will continue to keep Metro School students healthy and physically fit.

Here's some exciting news for the new school year! United Neighborhood Health Services is opening health clinics in four Metro Schools this fall. The organization was recently awarded a $500,000 grant  from the U.S. Health and Human Services Administration. The school-based clinics will open at Hunters Lane High School, McGavock High School, Haynes Middle School and Rose Park Middle School. The centers will provide health screenings, health promotion and disease prevention activities, and care for acute or chronic illnesses, all at no cost to students.

MNPS’ six HealthierUS Schools Challenge award-winning schools and the district Food Services Department have been invited to Washington D.C. for efforts to promote healthier lifestyles! The group will participate in a HealthierUS School Challenge Reception at the White House on July 29. Click through to see a video from the award presentation earlier this spring!

Bordeaux Enhanced Option School is celebrating “Read Me Week” and “National Nutrition Month” March 7-11, with several special guests! First, Chef David Owens, author of “The Adventures of Brocklee and The Little Chef, will host an assembly Monday, March 7, at 9 a.m. He will read, discuss and demonstrate tasty nutritional recipes and facts to the student body. Chef David will return Tuesday, March 8, for a follow-up presentation at 5 p.m., for a demonstration and discussion with the parents in regards to community health. The Bordeaux EOS library will be open Tuesday night from 5 - 7 p.m., for parents and students to purchase books. A special section will be open for students to create their own books!