GMS Changes
Changes have been made to the Gold Medal Schools program due to budget cuts. Read a list of program changes.

Not all changes apply to schools in the Davis, Ogden, and Weber school districts.

Please contact your local health department or the Gold Medal Schools program if you have questions.

SNAP Training
If you missed the SNAP Software training a recording of the training is now available for you to review. To view the training go to the Go To Meeting Web site.

Your computer will need to have Windows Media Player to view the recording.

You can also view the slides from the presentations.

Teacher, Faculty, and Staff Wellness
Is your school working on Silver #2 or Platinum #3 and need more ideas on how you can create a fun Teacher, Faculty, and Staff wellness program at your school. Here are some ideas of things you may want to consider:

• Host a Holiday Weigh-In. Let staff weigh in and try to maintain or lose some weight over the holidays.
• Encourage staff to walk to Gold Medal Mile every morning – or have a faculty Walk-a-Thon to see which teacher can walk the most
• Have a contest to see which staff member can eat the most fruits and veggies over the next month
• Or host your own “Biggest Loser” contest

For more ideas and documents to use for your school's wellness program look in the GMS Guide.

Bureau Resource Guide
The Utah Department of Health, Bureau of Health Promotion, has put together a resource guide for you to use while planning activities for your students. Resources include:

• Factsheets
• Worksheets for tracking nutrition and physical activity
• Information on Wellness Programs
• Education materials

Look at the Resource Guide to find information to use at your school.

Yoga
Yoga is an excellent exercise for kids and adults alike. It helps relieve stress, improve self-esteem, and can help improve learning. Kids who learn yoga learn skills that can help them maintain a lifelong healthy lifestyle. Some teachers have reported that their classes are calm after doing yoga.

If your school is interested in having a yoga instructor come to your school Smiling Light Yoga and Green Tree Yoga are two programs that specialize in teaching students.

Great American Smokeout
Thursday, November 19 is the Great American Smokeout. More than 435,000 Americans die each year from lung cancer, coronary heart disease, emphysema, and other diseases caused by the ingredients of tobacco and tobacco smoke. Do you know someone who wants to quit smoking but has had a hard time doing it?  If so here are some ideas on how you can help

• Pick a date to stop. Make sure that someone besides the smoker knows the date so it can’t be avoided.
• Be supportive. Avoid passing judgment about the person and don’t tell them what they are doing wrong.
• Talk about it. Be careful not to jump to any conclusions. Listen carefully.
• Help the person identify sources (ie: the Utah Tobacco Quit Line or Utah QuitNet) that may help them with the struggle

To order materials or find resources to help your school celebrate the Great American Smokeout visit the American Cancer Society Web site.

Healthy Halloween Treats, Non-Food Incentives
It’s time for the goblins, witches, and other scary creatures to make their way out of hiding. And nothing is scarier than planning a party for all of them. As you prepare your classroom party keep Gold Medal Schools in mind. Here are some ways to have a healthy Halloween party

• Instead of passing out candy try pencils, erasers, spider rings, or vampire teeth
• When planning your party ask parents to bring healthy food options such as apple slices or carrot sticks
• Have lots of fun games that get kids up and moving
• Encourage students to trick-or-treat in well lit areas and avoid homes of people they do not know
• Don’t display posters with unhealthy foods on them

After School Program Ideas
Does your school have an after school program? Are you a parent looking for new ideas on how to keep your kids busy after school? If so the California After School Resources Center (CASRC) is a great place to go for new ideas. You can search for materials on Nutrition, Physical Activity, Academics and so much more. You can find ideas for children and adolescents, grades K-12. The information can also be used in the classroom. Go to the California After School Resource Center Web site for more information.

Safe Routes to School Mini-Grants
The National Center for Safe Routes to School is offering Mini-Grants to schools. These grants are up to $1,000 each to help increase safe walking and biking to school. Successful applicants will include one or more of the following:

• Student-led activities
• Concern for the environment
• Promotion of physical activity

Funded activities must be part of a new or existing Safe Routes to School program. The application deadline is October 30, 2009. To get more information and apply for this grant go to the National Center for Safe Routes to School Web Site.

Announcements                              3:35
Bronze                                                6:00
Silver                                                  28:35
Gold                                                    49:00 
Platinum                                             1:13:00
Platinum Focus-Mental Health      1:27:50

To view the training please go to www.gotomeeting.com/register/746193986

You may receive teacher re-certification points for attending or viewing this training. Your district office will determine the number of points given for training attendance. If you would like a certificate of attendance please contact Jessica DeMill at jdemill@utah.gov. Please include your name and school in the e-mail.

If you have any other questions please contact Gold Medal Schools at gms@utah.gov or
801-538-6240.