Community Stories

9-5-2-1-0 for Health Appears in Patrick Henry Elementary School Halls

Recently, students at Patrick Henry Elementary School were presented with a mystery: the numbers 9-5-2-1-0 had appeared along the school halls. Students were very curious to know why those numbers were on the walls. For a week students guessed about what 9-5-2-1-0 might mean. Was it an important zip code? A strange locker combination? The school nurse, Deena Pagliaro, knew the answer because she put the numbers on the walls.

The following week Pagliaro began giving students answers to their questions about 9-5-2-1-0. Each morning, on the school televised morning news, she presented one of the 9-5-2-1-0 numbers in an innovative short education spot. In addition, a corresponding bulletin board began filling up with information on 9-5-2-1-0 for Health. By the end of the week, 9-5-2-1-0 was no longer a mystery for Patrick Henry Elementary students.

This program is a good example of a low-cost, easily replicable health education program using 9-5-2-1-0 for Health. Pagliaro used materials she had available and made up her bulletin board design/TV script. Placing the numbers along the school halls got students' attention and the use of the televised school morning news allowed Pagliaro to educate the entire school in an interesting format.

Deena is happy to share her ideas/program information with others: to read the 9-5-2-1-0 TV script, click here.

Northern Virginia Couple Initiates 1st Annual Neighborhood Kids' Triathlon

"My wife and I planned and implemented the 1st annual kids’ triathlon for our neighborhood – I was inspired by the work from our coalition and wanted to do something for my neighborhood. We had 14 kids sign up.

The night before the event I required each of the athletes to come up and meet with me to walk over the course. At that time, I also reviewed with them the 9-5-2-1-0 and told them that they would be quizzed on it the following day. I gave each of them the handout posted on your website.

The next day, all 14 successfully completed the event. I was even more blown away when they started chanting 9-5-2-1-0 and when quizzed could recite everything. Yesterday, I received numerous e-mails from parents thanking my wife and me for planning the event. All the e-mails told me that their family was still discussing the 9-5-2-1-0 and how they could adjust their lifestyle to follow the plan.

It just takes one step at a time to get the message out.

Now that I have successfully piloted the event we plan to make it bigger next year. I hope the Northern Virginia Health Kids Coalition will be one of our sponsors." (From Evan Braff, Fairfax County)

Prince William Health Partnership Healthy Eating Active Living (HEAL) Program

The Prince William Health Partnership, an organization partially funded by Prince William Hospital and Sentara Potomac Hospital, is working in association with Inova Health System and the Northern Virginia Healthy Kids Coalition to address the childhood obesity epidemic through community partnerships.

In 2008 the Partnership was awarded a $50,000 Kaiser Grant to support The Healthy Eating Active Living (HEAL) Program. The Partnership, in collaboration with Prince William 4H and the 3 area public school systems, Prince William County and the Cities of Manassas and Manassas Park, have designed and implemented a HEAL Program for grades K-5. This program is impacting more than 83,000 children in the Greater Prince William Area and to date has received positive and enthusiastic reception from area school systems and teachers.

The intent of the HEAL Program is to reinforce and strengthen existing school wellness policies and work to achieve the following program objectives:

•

40% of area elementary schools (28,500 students) will fully implement recommended wellness guidelines by June 1, 2010.

•

34% of all elementary students enrolled will participate in the recommended school environments for healthy eating and active living by June 1, 2010.

•

100% of all elementary schools in the Greater Prince William Area will participate in the Governor’s Nutrition and Physical Activity Awards program with 25% of the schools (13) earning recognition in the Bronze level or higher.

The Program is considered to be sustainable and unique, offering grade level interactive curriculum while responding to the Virginia Standards of Learning. The HEAL Program also promotes 9-5-2-1-0 for Health, an initiative for children stressing 9 hours of sleep, 5 fruits and vegetables each day, no more than 2 hours of recreational screen time each day, at least 1 hour of exercise each day and zero sugary drinks.

For more information on this program please contact Margaret Goldberger, Executive Director of the Prince William Health Partnership at (703)670-1340.

Brentsville District High School FBLA “Cooks Up Wellness” On Capitol Hill

Twelve members of the Brentsville District High School (BDHS) Chapter of the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) represented the over 200,000 national members of FBLA at the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill on October 6. The FBLA National Office invited the BDHS students to take part in the “Cooking Up a Future Congressional Reception.”

FBLA and several other Career and Technical Student Organizations served as hosts at the event. The Congressional Reception was sponsored by the Association for Career and Technical Education, Black Entertainment Television, Viacom and Participant Media.

At the reception, BDHS chapter members talked with many Congressmen and Congressional staff members explaining their involvement with promoting teen healthy lifestyles and healthy eating habits. Shannon Butler, Diane Corish, Thomas Forman, Wayne Fullen, Samantha Gough, Nayan Karanth, Noel Kowalewski, Sara Qamar, Rachel Sable, Alicia Sullivan, Courtney White, and Melissa Wood were the student presenters from BDHS.

“The chapter has taken on the challenge of educating BDHS and the local community about how wise choices in health and wellness will affect them today and later on in life,” said FBLA Advisor Sally Martin. “The members talked in depth about the first year of the annual BDHS Betterment Fair that the FBLA hosted in January as well as a new collaborative project with Kaiser Permanente and Cisco Systems, Inc.”

By becoming teen health and wellness advocates, the chapter members are encouraging other teens to adopt healthy lifestyles and foster healthy eating habits. As Future Business Leaders of America, Brentsville District High School students are working toward improving healthcare concerns and costs for employees and employers across the nation.

(from pwcs web site)

Northern Virginia School Wins Governor's Nutrition and Physical Activity Award

Governor Tim Kaine presented Claremont Elementary School with the Governor's Nutrition and Physical Activity Gold Award at a school ceremony on Oct. 21. Claremont is the first Arlington school to receive the award and one of eight schools across the state to receive the award (Arlington Public Schools). To read the press release, click here.

Students from Alexandria City Public Schools are in NFL Play 60 PSA

Students standing are 7th and 8th graders from Francis C. Hammond Middle School in Alexandria, VA (Alexandria City Public Schools). The younger kids are from a Maryland track club.

In October, students from Alexandria City Public Schools joined President Barack Obama, Saints quarterback Drew Brees, Steelers safety Troy Polamalu and Cowboys linebacker DeMarcus Ware in a special public service announcement aired during each of the three NFL games played on Thanksgiving. The 90-second PSA is a joint effort of the NFL's PLAY 60 campaign, a leaguewide effort to fight childhood obesity by getting kids active for 60 minutes a day, and United We Serve.

The Hammond students are in no particular order Brianna Kozak, Issac Worku, Victor Lalwani, Brittani Stowe, Salay Kamara, David Worku, and Brittany Kozak.

Drew Brees, quarterback New Orlean Saints and Dennis Burstein, Alexandria City Public Schools, NVHKC member.

Click here to see the PSA at NFL.com