Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #116955

Allison Slade, Namaste Charter School, 3540 S. Hermitage, Chicago, IL 60609, (773) 715-9558, aslade@namastecharterschool.org

Namaste Charter Elementary School (NCES) is built on findings demonstrating that student achievement is fostered by a combination of rigorous academic instruction, training in health and nutrition, and regular physical activity (PA). Namaste students (NS) spend 60 minutes daily in PE (vs. < 40 minutes per week in other Chicago schools). To facilitate learning Namaste teachers (NT) use instruction methods that are based on movement (e.g., Reading in Motion). In addition, NS receive healthy, well-balanced breakfasts and lunches, rich in fruits and vegetables. With the Family Nutrition Center at La Rabida Children's Hospital and Loyola University Chicago, Namaste is developing a nutrition curriculum for inclusion in classroom lesson plans and activities. NCES is also a participant in the Chicago Food Service Collaborative pilot program designed to increase fruit/vegetable consumption and teach healthy eating habits. Namaste is partnering with the Center for Obesity Management and Prevention at the Children's Memorial Research Center to document baseline and interval NS anthropometry and activity, and family and NS knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors. Preliminary Results indicate: 100% of classrooms have demonstrated 0.6 grade level (GL) improvement on the DIBELS assessment after the first trimester (on pace for 1.5 GL literacy improvement); 92% of parents have participated in >1 parent program; over 50% of NS have tried the salad bar at least once; and during the first trimester 97% of families reported they tried a new fruit. This paper will demonstrate that NCES is a model public primary school-based immersion intervention to promote healthy lifestyles.

Learning Objectives:

• Learning Objectives
• 1.Articulate research that identifies the ways in which children who are healthy and active perform better in the classroom.
• 2.Identify ways that schools can partner with districts, neighborhoods and community based organizations to bring healthy programming to the school.
• 3.Recognize ways schools can integrate health, nutrition and physical fitness into the traditional curriculum.
• 4.Analyze preliminary results from first year of charter school with emphasis in health and nutrition programming on their health and academic performance data.

Keywords: Children and Adolescents, Community Collaboration

Related Web page: www.clocc.net;; www.namastecharterschool.org

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.