A Message from the Health Chairman:
Now more than ever, across America, the physical and mental health needs of children have increased. Consider, for example, the fact that teachers report how common it is for many of their students to come to school without the benefit of breakfast or adequate sleep. We know that students who don’t eat well or don’t get enough rest; students who are anxious or depressed can’t work to their fullest potential in school.
The Illinois PTA believes in a focus on the whole child. We want our children to be “safe, healthy and successful in school and in life.” The PTA understands that health and education are inextricably linked. In addition,
to this understanding, historically we have joined with teachers, community members and others to help positively impact programs and conditions intended
to insure that the “ whole child” is educated to the fullest.
Consequently, the Illinois PTA’s Board of Managers includes a health chairperson.
In our case, the health chairperson is a master’s prepared, registered nurse who has a strong public health background and has worked as for many years as a school nurse as well as a school nurse educator. The Health Chairperson’s duties include:
• communicating with local PTAs across the state regarding health concerns and programs
• broadly network in order to gather appropriate ways to implement federally mandated wellness programs: http://www.fns.usda.gov/tn/healthy/108-265.pdf
• serve as an evidenced based health program resource for local PTA units and the school community.
The Illinois PTA is confident that our collective energies and collective Intelligence quota ( IQ) will benefit the diverse populations that we serve. It is our hope and expectation that together we will continue to make our health and wellness focus culturally sensitive, current and contagious!!! We invite you to join us in these efforts. If you haven’t joined your local PTA yet you still can! Click on our membership link (http://www.illinoispta.org/Membership.html) so you complete this important step today.
For more information, contact: Illinois PTA Health Program
Director Pat Nelson-Hayes
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Health and Wellness
Healthy Lifestyles It is important for children to come to school emotionally and physically healthy. Studies have shown that children’s physical well-being has a significant effect on their learning and long-term success. When children are well-rested, well-nourished, and physically fit they are more ready to learn.
Every parent wants his or her child to be happy and healthy. Parents share the responsibility of ensuring their child's well-being with teachers, the community, its members, and all its services. Learning the facts about various health concerns is key to this common effort. National PTA is committed to building healthy families and healthy communities, and believes we all have an important role to play in making sure parents, schools, and communities have the support and resources they need.
Go to the Health and Wellness topics page for more information on child health, nutrition, and wellness topics. PTA has put together PTA Healthy Lifestyles: A Parent's Guide, which contains up-to-date, reliable information on nutrition, physical activity, and more. Download PTA Healthy Lifestyles: A Parent's Guide as a PDF.
La Asociación de Padres y Maestros (Parent Teacher Association, PTA) con el apoyo de GlaxoSmithKline, orgulloso patrocinador nacional de PTA, presentó “Estilos de vida saludables de PTA: Guía para padres” (PTA Healthy Lifestyles: A Parent’s Guide), que contiene información actualizada y confiable sobre nutrición, actividad física, y más. Descargue la guía en formato PDF.
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Resources
GSK Parent's Guide Booklet
My Pyramid for Kids
Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution
Healthy School Celebrations: Let's Party
Healthy School Birthday Parties
Healthy Holidays: February to June
Healthy Holdays: September to January
SNAP Toolkit
School Network for Absentee Prevention
Health Resource Center
Your PTA can help educate millions about H1N1
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