CHAWK-Championing Health And Wellness in Kids

WHAT HAS CHAWK DONE?

CHAWK was founded in the second semester of the 2004-05 school year. In the short time since it began, this group of parents at Ashlawn Elementary School has accomplished the following

Encouraged Ashlawn's principal to allow children to go outside during the winter more days than did students at many other area schools

Designed space for added blacktop in back of the school to allow children to have more easily-clearable space outside during snowy weather; presented this idea and received principal's approval; design and proposal are currently with the school district for consideration

Conducted a teacher survey to assess views of recess

Introduced CHAWK to the PTA and asked to be a group supported by the PTA, which was approved

Introduced CHAWK to Dr. Alvin Crawley, Arlington Public Schools assistant superintendent for student services, and offered ideas for his Comprehensive School Health Committee

Introduced CHAWK to Ashlawn parents through one-pagers sent home with students in Friday folders

Posted information about CHAWK on the PTA's yahoogroups list

Requested and received bulletin board space at school allocated to CHAWK; maintain a regularly-changing CHAWKboard with news and information listings

Met with Ashlawn parents to share concerns and ideas

Regularly publish articles about CHAWK in Ashlines, Ashlawn's newsletter

Developed brochure about CHAWK

Met with parents with similar interests at other Arlington schools

Received mention by a school board candidate at candidates' night event

Staffed a booth at Ashlawn's Fun Fair

Received coverage in an article in the Arlington Gazette

Held two One-Mile Family Fitness Fun Run & Walks--the first drew more than 100 people to walk, run, picnic, play on a moon bounce, run through a sprinkler, and enjoy a summer's evening (see article and photos); the second was attended by 135 people, who ran, walked, played with sports equipment, and picnicked on a cool fall evening (see article and photos).

Launched a website

Contributed to informal parent group working to draft guidelines for improved school lunches

Published a flyer for parents on healthy packed lunches

Worked closely with Extended Day Program staff in support of more physical activity and better snacks

Held a CHAWK film night with a screening of "SuperSize Me" and a talk from pediatric nutritionist on how to provide healthy quick food for families

Submitted to Principal Mr. Miranda a proposal to put recess before lunch, resulting in a pledge to pilot a recess-first schedule this spring

Provided background information to Washington Post reporter for article on school lunches

CHAWK members met with a group of classroom teachers to introduce the group and share suggestions.

CHAWK helped organize the December 6 PTA meeting on school lunches. Assistant Superintendent Alvin Crawley and Arlington Public Schools Nutritionist Sandra O'Connor talked about how school meals are chosen, what's new with food offerings, and the county's work to develop a wellness policy.

CHAWK members were instrumental in organizing a countywide meeting on December 8 to discuss health and wellness. Sponsored by APS's Comprehensive School Health Committee, the forum, called "Keeping Students Healthy," drew together 45 school and county staff, parents, and school board members to exchange ideas about ways to promote health and wellness in our schools and improve the health of our students. Ashlawn reps were Nurse Marian Harmon and parents Cara Panzarella-Tarr and John Charles. CHAWK's Anne Bridgman helped organize the event. A booklet listing all the schools' initiatives in this area will be published by APS.

Fielded numerous calls from parents in other APS schools interested in learning more about CHAWK and replicating activities in their schools

Produced a pamphlet on how to start your own CHAWK for area parents

Produced a flyer on making Valentine's Day a heart-smart celebration, which was distributed with a cover letter from the school nurse to all teachers; the extended day staff and room parents also received copies of the flyer

Conducted a school-wide petition drive to gain support for extending recess to 30 minutes (from 15)

Decorated the CHAWKboard with ideas on how to make Valentine's Day a heart-smart holiday.

Presented a proposal for extending recess to 30 minutes to Mr. Miranda

Helped P.E. teacher Mr. Pototski with Jump Rope for Heart, a fundraiser for the American Heart Association. Students in grades 1 through 5 raised funds and jumped rope in P.E. classes the week of February 13; CHAWK supplied healthy snacks for the children and made parent volunteers available to help in class.

Based on CHAWK's request for a recess-before-lunch pilot program at Ashlawn as well as CHAWK's providing parent volunteers to help with the project, Mr. Miranda determined that the schedule was a success and instituted the program on a permanent basis starting in mid-April of 2006.

Organized a CHAWK work day to help beautify Ashlawn's courtyard. [pictures]

Worked to encourage passage by the School Board of a Wellness Policy that features increased recess for elementary school students (for more details, see RECESS page)

Held CHAWK's third One-Mile Family Fitness Fun Run and Walk, on June 2 [more...]

Helped organize parent volunteers for Mr. Pototsky for Ashlawn's Field Day on June 5

In September 2007, launched Fruit Fridays, which encourage children to bring fruit for snack every Friday. Whole Foods donated fruit for the kickoff.

Also in September 2007, started Feet Friday, which encourages children to walk or bike to school every Friday (with adult supervision, as needed), as they are able.

CHAWK hosted a PTA meeting on backpacks on Tuesday, February 5. Dr. Marshall Dispenza, a local chiropractor, spoke about the dangers associated with children carrying too heavy backpacks. He said children should not carry more than 10-15 percent of their body weight. He also demonstrated the right ways for children to carry backpacks.