As a result of a Wellness Grant from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) Child Nutrition Unit (CNU) has thirty-two (32) sets of “CATCH K-5 Classroom & PE” available to Arkansas school districts. To receive a set of these materials, a $635 value, the school district must attend a training workshop and agree to use the materials in at least one elementary school of grades Kindergarten – 5th Grade or any combination of Kindergarten – 5th Grade. (NOTE: Additional funding for the training workshop is provided by the Office of Coordinated School Health (CSH), Arkansas Department of Education through a grant from the Centers for Disease Control.)
CATCH is a coordinated school health program that builds an alliance of parents, teachers, child nutrition personnel, school staff and community partners to teach children and their families how to be healthy for a lifetime. CATCH reinforces positive health behaviors throughout a child’s day and makes it clear that good health and learning go hand in hand.
The CATCH program has scientifically demonstrated that school environments can be created that effect healthy behavioral changes in children. Implementation of the CATCH program can be an ACTION in the school or district Arkansas Consolidated School Improvement Plan (ACSIP) WELLNESS PRIORITY.
Districts must make application for the CSH/Wellness/CATCH team to attend the CATCH training on Friday, August 10, 2007, at Agora Conference Center in Conway in order to receive the FREE CATCH K-5 Classroom & PE set. The attached application form must be completed and returned to the Child Nutrition Unit by NO LATER THAN JULY 1, 2007. Only one (1) application per school district will be accepted. Only one (1) set of CATCH materials will be distributed to each participating school/district. Applicants that are accepted to attend the training and receive the materials will be notified by July 15, 2007. Every effort will be made to accommodate participants from all areas of the state, as well as from various sizes of districts. Applications will be evaluated on the basis of SY 2007-2008 ACSIP Wellness Priority for the school/district. Each school/district participating must agree to incorporate the CATCH program into the ACSIP for the 2007-2008, 2008-2009 and 2009-2010 School Years.
There is NO CHARGE to attend this training workshop. Applications must be accepted for attendance. NO funds are available for travel, food or lodging for this training. Lunch will be provided.
WHAT:
CATCH Teacher Training Workshop
AUDIENCE:
Elementary classroom teachers in Grades K-5 (3 suggested), plus district curriculum specialist, district federal coordinators, elementary principals and school ACSIP coordinators.
DATE:
Friday, August 10, 2007
TIME:
9:00am – 3:00pm
WHERE :
Agora Conference Center, Conway, Arkansas