12th Annual National Healthy Schools Day: April 8th

Compiled By: Keith Schneringer  |  April 3, 2014
Posted with permission from Healthy Schools Network, Inc.

Celebrate the 12th annual National Healthy Schools Day on Tuesday, April 8th during National Public Health Week! Since 2002 parents, teachers, school nurses, custodians, advocates, and agencies have promoted National Healthy Schools Day activities and events nationwide.

There are many ways to be involved in Healthy Schools Day, everything from distributing Indoor Air Quality information to hosting a green cleaning workshop at your local school. This grassroots day of awareness encourages everyone to get involved to make sure our nation's schools are healthy and productive environments for children.  

This year, National Healthy Schools Day is taking place within National Public Health Week, sponsored by the American Public Health Association (APHA). During Public Health Week, Tuesday the 8th is titled 'Don't Panic'. Don't Panic is focused on readiness and disaster preparedness for communities. Public Health agencies and advocates and Healthy Schools activists can use this day of awareness to address disaster preparedness and prevention in schools.  

With your help, National Healthy Schools Day can aid schools, children, parents, teachers, and communities in making sure they are providing healthy learning environments, and are prepared for the next big storm or natural disaster. For ideas on activities, visit www.nationalhealthyschoolsday.org and click the Activities Map button. Also, be sure to register your planned activity so it can be posted on the map!

Looking for a last-minute activity?

HERE ARE A FEW WAYS TO ADD YOUR VOICE...

NOTIFY: Distribute a poster or fact-sheet to your school, community, or elected officials:

• Take Back Your IAQ Tip Sheet (download)
• Green Cleaning for Healthy Schools Poster (download)
• Safer Pest Control Poster (download)
• Building Evaluation Walk-Through Guide (download)
• Chemical Inventory for Cleaning Products in School (download)

TWITTER CHAT: Join WAXIE Sanitary Supply (@WAXIEBuzz), Healthy Schools Network (@HealthySchoolsN) and Moms Clean Air Force (@CleanAirMoms) for a Healthy Schools Day Twitter chat.

• Tuesday the 8th at 2pm EDT.  
• Follow the hashtag #HealthySchoolsDay
• RSVP for prizes here: http://goo.gl/BRGG5o

ASK: Request that your public health and/or education agency distribute disaster preparedness information to your school! April 8th is also National Public Health Week's 'Don't Panic' day focused on disaster preparedness. Disaster-ready schools are healthy schools!

FIND YOUR STATE: Read the new State of the States report, Towards Healthy Schools 2015! What are your schools doing and what is your state doing to improve environmental health at school!

Keith Schneringer is WAXIE’s Director of Channel Marketing + Sustainability. He is a LEED AP O+M and CIMS-GB ISSA Certification Expert who has been a consultant on a variety of LEED and CIMS-GB projects, and has presented to audiences at USGBC, BOMA, IFMA and CHESC events (among others). He enjoys learning and sharing information on topics related to sustainability and green cleaning and can be found on Twitter @kschneringer.

READ MORE:
Global Handwashing Day & Hand Hygiene Education
School Is In Session, So Are Germs
Tips for Improving Indoor Air Quality