The Safety Committee was formed in 2000 working towards the goal that all children should be able to safely and stress free walk or bike to their neighborhood school. A local Safe Routes to School Coalition including, amongst others, local government officials, school administrators, law enforcement, and parents have been and will continue to work together to achieve this goal. Highlights over the years have been high visibility crosswalks, fluorescent signs, flashing beacons, and the law that doubles traffic fines in school zones and applies the money to pedestrian safety programs around schools.

Besides assistance with concerns regarding traffic safety issues at your school, SR2S is also your resource to organize Walk/Bike to school events or to provide bicycle safety training and assistance to obtain low-cost helmets at your school.

Kim Stanley-Zimmerman
Safe Routes to School Coordinator
Coalition for Sustainable Transportation
kim@coast-santabarbara.org

Health Committee Mission Statement and History

In 2004, a law was passed that required school districts to establish a local school wellness policy by the beginning of the 2006/2007 school year. This law was the result of growing concerns from health care professionals and parents about the health of our children and it recognizes the critical role that schools must play in helping to raise healthy kids. Locally awareness regarding school lunches was raised through www.sCoolfood.org an Orfalea Fund Initiative. Parents increased involvement in issues regarding their children’s health was reflected in adding the monitoring of topics related to their well-being to the Councils mission.

Dear PTA Members,

Let 2010 be the year to truly lead your children and parents into a healthy and fit decade. It is time to empower everyone to be in charge of their health!!

Here are some useful links to get you started:

For information on Free or Low-cost Health Coverage contact (877) 814-1861 or

North County: Diana Cronin or Alma Ramirez 739-0992

South County: Josefa Rios 965-8751

Lompoc: Julissa Solorio 735-8967

Tara L. Dooley Children’s Health Initiative Program Manager 964-4710 x 4460

Santa Barbara School District Nurse (&PTA 15th District VP Health& Community)

Deborah Pentland dpentland@sbdk12.org (805) 967-4506 x122

The Wellness Council was formed to monitor the implementation of Wellness policies, address concerns and make recommendations for the Santa Barbara School district. If you have questions/suggestions please direct them to 2009/10 Chair Debi Badger dbadger@sbsdk12.org

Business Information:

Title: Nutrition Services

Office: 963-4338 ext. 386

Fax: 805-962-7835

American Heart Association

http://americanheart.org in the sidebar click on Children’s Health

Programs designed to get students physically fit are ‘Jump Rope for Heart’, Hoops for Heart and empowerMe. The Youth Market Director for the Tri-Counties is Jessica LaRoe jessicalaroe@heart.org (805) 236-5614. They have ready to go programs for free!!

The empowerMe program is designed for youth to be in charge of their health; they pledge a personal commitment to be active.

Here are just a couple of examples to excite your heart:

- Kangaroo Jump: tape a string on the floor in a vertical line, stand on one side with both feet together, count to 3 and jump over repeat 10 times, take a break and do it again.

- Dance…Dance: put on your favorite song and dance it from start to end

General Tips related to Heart Smart living to be implemented at school or home can be found at

http://www.healthiergeneration.org/

On information regarding Diabetes go to the following website http://www.sansum.org/ the ‘Prevention and Education’ tab has some good info

Diabetes Resource Center http://www.sbdrc.org/index.htm http://www.sbdrc.org/programs_drc.htm hasn’t been up-dated to include the same program currently taking place at Franklin School

SBHS ‘Ready to Move’ encouraging tens to live a healthier life style tpalmer@sansum.org

Environmental Working group: Pesticides in Produce http://www.foodnews.org/

Materials to teach children about their health can be borrowed for free from the California Health Kids Resource Center www.californiahealthykids.org

Content areas include

• Nutrition and Physical Activity

• Growth, Development and Sexual Health

• Injury Prevention and Safety

• Alcohol, Tobacco and Drugs

• Mental, Emotional and Social Health

• Personal and Community Health

For information on the Governor’s Challenge for schools to stay active collectively and get a chance to win award money go to http://www.calgovcouncil.org/

Direct questions or suggestions to Andrea Garza VP Health & Safety 2009/10