Friday Beat
February 17, 2017 Edition
The newsletter that takes a Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child approach.
Announcements
2017 Awards for Excellence in Texas School Health (AFE)
Applications for the 2017 AFE Program have been posted to the Texas Department of State Health Services website. Now is the time to start thinking about applying for one of the three awards: Reaching for Excellence, Discovery, or Vanguard. Eligible applicants also will be automatically entered into competition for the Award of Achievement. Applications are due in August 2017.
National Low Vision Awareness Month (LVAM)
February is National LVAM, and the National Eye Institute offers several educational resources in English and Spanish. Also, this eSchool News article, introduces the Digital Accessibility Toolkit—What Education Leaders Need to Know and its related infographic 5 Things to Know About Your Role in Ensuring Accessibility, which outlines how educators at all levels can help those with visual and other disabilities.
Tobacco Use in Texas
According to the 2016 Texas School Survey of Drug and Alcohol Use (TSS), the use of tobacco significantly increased between 2014 and 2016 among Texas youth in grades 7-12. This is because the TSS added vaping as a measure of tobacco use in 2016. Nearly 25 percent of all students reported that they had vaped at some point in their lives, and 8.9 percent reported vaping within the past month. Rates were highest among students in grades 11 and 12.
Professional Development Opportunities
SHAPE America® National Convention and Expo—March 14-18, 2017
The 2017 Society for Health and Physical Educators (SHAPE) America National Convention and Expo will be held in Boston, Massachusetts. The Convention program is now available; search by track for a current listing of sessions and abstracts.
National Conference on Tobacco or Health (NCTOH)—March 22-24, 2017
The NCTOH will be held in Austin, Texas. It attracts a diverse set of public health professionals to learn about the best practices and policies for reducing tobacco use. The registration deadline is February 27.
Texas Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy—March 29-31, 2017
The Texas Campaign’s 6th Annual Symposium will be held in Grapevine, Texas. The early bird registration rate is in effect through March 1. Opportunities to earn continuing education will be available at no additional charge for social workers, licensed professional counselors, certified health education specialists, and Texas educators. Numerous resources can be found on Texas Campaign’s website.
Funding Opportunities
Presidential Youth Fitness Program (PYFP) Grants
Schools may request up to $1,000 in supplemental resources through the PYFP. Schools that have completed the Let’s Move! Active Schools assessment will receive priority consideration over those not enrolled in the program; Let’s Move! Active Schools also may request an additional $1,000 in resources. Applications will be considered through March 24, 2017, or until funds are exhausted.
Physical Education Physical Activity
Modified Tackle Football
As reported in HealthDay, U.S.A. Football is developing a tamer version of youth football to address safety concerns. This new format, called modified tackle, will be instituted in a small number of leagues across the country and then nationally if deemed effective. The intent of modifying several of the rules is to fashion youth tackle football to be more like flag football. Although participation in flag football increased by 8.7 percent last year, participation in tackle football declined by 20 percent since 2009 for boys aged 6-12. Professional players are hopeful that modified tackle will provide a safer alternative and peace of mind for parents.
Webinar: Time for RECESS!—February 28, 2017
From 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. CST, Action for Healthy Kids will host SHACs in Action – Partnering for School Health. The webinar will address what a strong recess policy looks like and how a school health advisory council (SHAC) can make recommendations to the district regarding recess.
Nutrition Environment & Services
School Breakfast Scorecard—School Year 2015-2016
This week the Food Research & Action Center (FRAC) released its annual School Breakfast Scorecard and companion report for large districts. The scorecard ranks all 50 states on the participation of low-income children in the School Breakfast Program. FRAC measures breakfast participation by comparing the number of low-income children who eat school breakfast with those who receive school lunch. In 2015-2016 nationally, 56 students ate school breakfast for every 100 participating in school lunch. However, Texas was one of the top 10 states that reached 60 low-income students or more per 100 during that year (see page 8)!
Health Services
Twitter Chat: SBHCs and Child/Adolescent Health—February 23, 2017
At 1:00-2:00 p.m. CST, the School-Based Health Alliance will conduct “Back to the Basics: School-Based Health Centers (SBHCs) and Child/Adolescent Health.” Please email Anna Burns at if you plan to participate and follow the conversation at #SBHCmonth17.
Social Emotional Climate
California School Safety Toolkit
This new resource can help leaders improve the conditions for learning and well-being in schools during implementation of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) plans. Drawing on research and best practices, the California School Safety Toolkit allows any school or district to assess its safety system.
Webinar: Incorporating Gratitude Into Schools—February 23, 2017
At 7:00 p.m. CST, the Greater Good Science Center will host How Gratitude Can Improve Students and Schools: Educating Hearts and Minds in the 21st Century. Giacomo Bono, Ph.D. will offer practical strategies and exercises to help educators connect more deeply with students and turn schools into caring communities.
Family Engagement
Understanding Federal Laws
There is a timely policy update on Inservice, the official blog of the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD). The brief article explains how federal law impacts districts with regard to the enrollment of immigrant children.
National Parks: No Fees on Presidents’ Day
Families can enjoy the history and beauty of our national parks while also exercising together. On February 20, 2017, fees will be waived at Texas’s 14 national sites!
Community Involvement
Webinar: Education as a Social Determinant of Health—February 23, 2017
At 12:00-1:00 p.m. CST, The Network for Public Health Law will host Education as a Social Determinant of Health: The Roles of Laws and Policies. The federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), as well as emerging legal and policy approaches at the state and local level, provide opportunities for schools and other educational programs to more fully engage with their communities and encourage the development of well-rounded students and citizens.
Quote to Note
“Labor to keep alive in your breast that little spark of celestial fire, called conscience.”
— George Washington, U.S. President
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The articles and hyperlinks to external websites appearing in Friday Beat are intended to be informational and do not represent an endorsement by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS). Other websites may not be accessible to people with disabilities. External email addresses may also be provided as a courtesy. If you choose to correspond, please be advised that DSHS policies may not apply. For information about any of the programs listed, contact the sponsoring organization directly. For comments or questions about Friday Beat, email the School Health Program at or call (512) 776-7279.
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