Congratulations to the Ask, Listen, Learn Challenge winners!

As we announced in March, The Century Council and the National Association for Sports and Physical Education (NASPE) collaborated to bring the Ask Listen Learn Challenge to schools across the country. The goal of the challenge was to raise awareness during Alcohol Awareness Month of the importance of saying “yes” to a healthy lifestyle and “no” to underage drinking. 

Administered by the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE), schools nationwide participated in the 3 week challenge.  Schools placing first received a $1000 voucher from Flaghouse, while schools finishing second and third in their respective grade-level divisions won a $500 (2^nd place) and $250 (3^rd place) voucher from Flaghouse for new physical education equipment.

All the schools that registered will receive a complimentary gift from our friends at Flaghouse as well.

We are delighted to announce that Abigail Vare Elementary School has swept first place in all categories of the challenge. Furthermore, Shawnee R-3, Capital City Charter School and Arlington Science Focus School will be rewarded with 2^nd and 3^rd place prizes respectively! 

On behalf of The Century Council and NASPE, we would like to thank all the participating schools, and congratulate the winners on their efforts. We hope that the students were able to enjoy the Ask Listen Learn Interactive game, stay physically active and learn about the dangers of underage drinking!

Watch this space for next year's Ask Listen Learn Challenge 2014!

A doubleheader with Congressman Dent

Today, Ask Listen Learn traveled to Hummelstown, PA to visit Lower Dauphin Middle School! Joining us for another fantastic event was Pennsylvania Congressman Charles Dent, who spoke to two groups of  6^th, 7^th, and 8^th graders about the importance of living a healthy lifestyle and the dangers of underage drinking.

As a member of Congress, Congressman Dent is lawmaker and sees how people's lives are negatively affected when they break the law because of alcohol. It's especially important for kids who are underage to take the drinking law seriously, because the choices we make today will impact the rest of our lives. Part of making good choices is talking to role models about living a healthy lifestyle. The Congressman said he talks to his own middle school children about saying NO to underage drinking a lot and encouraged the kids to talk to their parents about the peer pressures they face every day...

Kick off summer by Making Smart Choices

Last summer, I was the captain of the gold medal-winning U.S. Women's Gymnastics Team at the 2012 Summer Olympic and won two individual medals; however, what most people don't see is that I went through one of the hardest years of my life in 2012 finishing my decade-long goal of preparing for Olympic Trials and ultimately the Olympic Games. Between balancing training, traveling and competitions with my schoolwork, family and friends, I felt a lot of pressure and stress, but looking back on everything, I wouldn't have changed a thing. I was so proud when I graduated from high school, but I didn't have much time to enjoy it as I immediately turned all of my attention towards Olympic Trials. Since I was training so hard to make the team, my days were packed with workouts, rest, recovery and it left me with little time to do much else. 

The one thing I do always try to make time for is to talk with my sisters and brother.  Being the oldest sibling in my family, I understand the importance of setting a positive example and being there for them.  They watch my every move, whether it be in the classroom, the gym, or on Dancing with the Stars! 

I want to ask other older siblings to join me in standing up to support your younger sisters and brothers.  Summer time means a lot of freedom from typical school responsibilities and is a time when poor decisions can be made.  Encourage your brother or sister to make smart decisions, stay active, and say NO to underage drinking.  Take them over to my superstar page and together watch video messages from me! 

Want to know more, read on for my exclusive Q&A...

Get Happy: It's National Bike Month!

May is National Bike Month, and this week is Bike to Work Week!

Last April, we posted about Smart Biking in Spring, with great tips for bike safety, like:

“Obey traffic signals and signal your turns. For a left turn, hold your left arm straight out. For a right turn, hold your left arm at a 90 degree angle up or hold your right arm straight out. When coming to a stop, hold your left arm out and down with your palm facing back. "...

Join us in taking a Long Short Walk

Join us in celebrating National School Nurse Day this week!

I have heard the word “engage” used in many different ways. In my role as a school nurse I often hear staff discuss how to engage the students. In this circumstance I think they most often mean to hold the students' attention. But what if we, as school nurses, teachers, and parents engaged WITH kids as one engages a clutch in the car? Let's get those gears coming together!

Our students are already talking to one another about their lives and choices. I know they have opinions (about everything). As the school nurse I get to be another adult in their lives who cares what they are thinking. We know we can positively influence our kids' choices as parents, teachers and school nurses. We have the opportunity to engage in tough conversations. Most of the time I start talking to students about what they did over the weekend or how their after school class is going. When I challenge them with a different question “what is your plan to get to college?” “how do you say no to underage drinking?” that is when I see them engage. They are so ready with their thoughts and opinions. They know I am interested in them, in their health, and in their choices. I love to talk and listen to them about choices they make. I love being a part of their gears turning toward healthy choices like saying no to underage drinking. Engaging is a great way to encourage our kids in these positive choices...