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...

Take our Daughters and Sons to Work Day RECAP!

As you've probably seen from our tweets and pictures on Facebook,our 6^th annual Take our Daughters and Sons to Work Day was a grand success!

We were so happy to have Superstar Aly Raisman in town between her tough Dancing with the Stars rehearsals to join Washington Spirit defender Aly Krieger, Tommy McFLY and Dan Hellie in encouraging kids on Capitol Hill to 'say YES to a healthy lifestyle and NO to underage drinking'!

Around 300 attendees, including 70 kids, nearly 30 TCC partners and seven members of congress packed the Cannon Caucus Room for a crazy, educational carnival complete with skeeball, basketball, a giant inflatable football toss and the Ask, Listen, Learn interactive game...

AAHPERD was a great success!

It has been a few days since AAHPERD 2013 wrapped up in Charlotte, NC, and we are still feeling the good vibes from attending the conference!

Both current and aspiring PE teachers from all over the U.S. and outside the country stopped by our booth to hear what Ask, Listen, Learn is all about. Many were really excited to try out our interactive game!...

Our final Alcohol Awareness Month event!

After visiting schools in Michigan and Arizona, Ask, Listen, Learn went back east to Branchburg Central Middle School in Branchburg, NJ. We were so happy to have Attorney General Chiesa join us, especially since his son and daughter are students at Branchburg Central!

Close to home, AG Chiesa got a special introduction by his own son, Al, who is not only a student but also class treasurer for Branchburg Central Middle School! After a fantastic warm welcome, Attorney General Chiesa spoke to the students about two ways to respond to bad decisions. He explained that students can say NO to bad decision, and also help someone else say no, too.

He then shared an important story of a 13 year old girl. This young girl was afraid to tell her mother about a bad situation she was in. Luckily, her best friend was able to stand up for her and talked to a law enforcement officer, who was able to get the help her friend needed. Because she had the strength, she was able to help best friend. With this story, Attorney General Chiesa encouraged the students – and the teachers too – to have the strength to say no to bad decisions, but to stand up for the right things, as well.

Attorney General then talked with the kids about sports. He shared that we need our brains, hearts and lungs to perform on the field and in school, too. He reminded them that if they drink alcohol, every part of their body is negatively affected. He then challenged them to do their very best every day, both on and off the field, and to have the strength to say NO to underage drinking, and YES to a healthy lifestyle!

It was an incredible morning at Branchburg Central Middle School. We want to extend a warm thank you to Attorney General Chiesa, and the great staff and teachers. You guys are awesome!

 As we close Alcohol Awareness Month, we've had a really incredible journey. We loved visiting students all over the country, including Norwalk, Connecticut; Montgomery, Alabama; Washington, DC; Mesa, Arizona; Standish, Michigan; and of course, Branchburg, NJ. Thanks for helping us to bring special attention to Ask, Listen, Learn— because kids and alcohol DON'T mix!