PPC Season 8 Winners

Saturday on my weekend long run, I literally "ran" into John Lowry on the Shades Creek Greenway.  He stuck out his hand, smiled and continued on his run and path to wellness.  That is a perfect example of what SCES has done on a consistent basis for the eight years of the Patriot Point Challenge.  The Patriot Pack Leader (PPL) there at SCES has a similar mindset.  If you know Genie Christian, you know that she is always good for a smile and continues on a consistent basis to lead, guide and direct the SCES team to success.  In the eight years of our PPC we have had only three teams rise to the top of the list.  HHS, HBOE and SCES.  All of the teams have enjoyed success along the way but overall, SCES has been on top more than any other team in our district.  Something special is happening at SCES.  Congratulations to all of the employees who continue to compete weekly to be the best they can be for themselves, their families and as a model of wellness for students on a daily basis.

Stepping back and looking at our school district as a whole, and as one big team of educators, HCS employees are way ahead of other school districts in the area of wellness.  We have a focus on wellness as part of our strategic plan, we talk about wellness in a positive light and we have a plan to encourage each employee to be their best so we can influence the students to be their best.  An example of our district being a leader in wellness was evident at Bham Corporate Challenge.  I spoke with the director of BCC, who explained to me that she had reached out to other Over The Mountain schools to try to get them on board to compete at BCC but could never get anyone to step up and commit.  We have made that commitment on a much broader scale.  We are committed to being the best.

Looking forward to the summer months I encourage each of you to take time away from school-work but spend some extra time in your pursuit of a healthy lifestyle.  Don't think of wellness as something you have to achieve in a certain time frame.  It's a lifetime pursuit not a countdown to a goal.  The goals you set should include steps toward improvement instead of a final achievement.  Come back for the next school year having improved in some area of wellness.  Taking a page from Edgewood Elementary's mantra, "Be the best me, I can be."  See ya next year!

Keep Moving...

Final Individual Leaderboard. 

We Love Homewood Recap and Final Chance to Post Patriot Points

Our end of the school year celebration of our city was a huge success.  We Love Homewood Day, once again, proved that Homewoodians really do love Homewood.  Congratulations to all of the finishers of the WLHWD 5K.  Lucas Lamb, one of our HHS students and cross country stars, won the overall race with a finish time of 17:34 which is a 5:39 pace.  The course record in the female division was broken this year by Hannah Cutshall, who came all the way from Nashville, TN to participate in our event.   We even had some award winners from our employees-Laura Mitchell and Pam White won their age divisions.   Here are the overall results.

Check out this video of the shotgun start sponsored by Coach Carter Doyle and the Duck's Unlimited Club at HHS.

Special thanks to Lisa Vickery who dedicates countless hours each year to this event as the technician behind all the technology, the organizer of registration and packet pickup and so much more.  She wants to be a behind-the-scenes assistant but in all honesty she is co-race director and keeps me on track every step of the way.  If you see Lisa today, offer her a chair.  She was on her feet many, many hours this weekend!

Thanks to all of the volunteers, including the band parents and staff but especially those people who aren't a part of the fine arts staff but come out each year to assist with our race.  Genie Christian, Laeri Boyd, Melonie McBrayer, Rebecca Shields, Georgia Miller, Merrick Wilson, Katie Tanguay, Jaz Powers and HHS girls' basketball, Michelle Cooley and HHS Patriot Pride.

Congratulations to SCES for winning week #32 of the PPC.
This will be the final chance to post Patriot Points this year.  Click HERE to post your points.

Click HERE to see Week 32 Leaderboard.

BCC Results and We Love HWD 5K THIS WEEK!

Bham Corporate Challenge

Thanks to all of the participants in this year's Bham Corporate Challenge.  We are the only school district that has stepped up to the challenge in the three-year history of this field day for employees.  We didn't place in the top three overall but we did win big in the following categories:

Bowling- 2nd Place
Obstacle Course-3rd Place
Dodgeball-2nd Place
Home run Derby-3rd Place

Click this video link and use the password: "park" to view the BCC highlight video from Knight/Eady.

Participants please complete a brief survey for BCC.  Knight/Eady, the team that created BCC, are both Homewood families.  It's great that we support their project and are willing to provide honest feedback.

WE LOVE HOMEWOOD 5K

MAY 6th at 7:30AM

This is the week we celebrate our city!  Homewood is a special place and the We Love Homewood Festival is such an awesome way to come together as a community and show some love.  The We Love Homewood 5K is the starting line for the day.  The race is walker friendly but this year also features chip timing just in case you are looking for a PR.  Click here for a course preview.

Don't miss out on the fun!  The post race party aka We Love Homewood Festival is INCREDIBLE!  Family friendly with stuff for the kids and the kid in you.  Carnival, bake sale, silent auction, live music, pep rally, parade and street dance/concert featuring Bonus Round!  

Here are some pics from last year's race:

BHam Corporate Challenge, WE ARE A LEGIT CONTENDER!

If you were part of BCC this year, you know how tough the competition was.  If you weren't there you missed an amazing event, fun time and great competition.  Talk to the folks who participated and go ahead and make plans to help our team out next year.  We will know our overall standings after the awards ceremony this Thursday.  I'll Tweet it and email it as soon as the results are in.  Shout-out to our Dodgeball Team who, once again proved that teachers have class!  We played through the loser's bracket all the way to the CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND of the winner's bracket and finished as the overall runner-up team in the biggest and baddest division.  Check out the BCC highlight video to see our athletes in action!  

Our next event is the www.welovehomewood5k.com  Be sure you register for this fun 5K.  Proceeds will support our fine arts program.  Don't miss out on the fun at We Love Homewood 2017!


Winners of the PPC for week 30 is Edgewood!

Individual Leaderboard for Week 30.

Post your Patriot Points HERE

BCC Week and Deadline for We Love Homewood 5K t-shirt

Birmingham Corporate Challenge

This is a big week for us!  81 employees have taken on the Bham Corporate Challenge.  If you haven't signed up to help our our team I can still get your name on the roster for the participation events which include the bike stroll, one mile walk and jump rope challenge.  Our team needs YOU!  Good luck to all participants in this year's competition.  Please wear your BCC shirt from last year or any Homewood gear to represent our school system.  Participants will get an email from me on Tuesday of this week explaining final details of the competition, timing of events etc.  Please carefully read that email!

WE LOVE HOMEWOOD 5K

T-shirt Deadline is Friday, 4/21

Best t-shirt ever.  Most fun you will ever have walking or running a 5K.  Great way to end the school year.  Awesome way to celebrate our city.  Have you registered for this year's end of the school year party aka the We Love Homewood 5K?  If not, do that NOW!  Don't wanna run or walk?  That's ok, you can still score an awesome shirt.  Just visit our online store at www.welovehomewood5k.com to buy a shirt and/or register for the 5K.  Don't mis out!!!  

BEST OF THE BEST:  Individual Leaderboard for Week #29

SCES Wins Week #29!  Go Owls!!  The trophy travels back up Hwy 31 to the Owl's Nest.

Post your Patriot Points for Week 30, CLICK HERE.

Bham Corporate Challenge, PICK YOUR EVENTS!

73 employees have decided to participate in the Bham Corporate Challenge.  Thanks!!!!  If you haven't joined the team you have until TUESDAY at midnight to decide to have some fun with family and co-workers on April 22nd.  If you aren't in town on 4/22 you can still help out our team by participating in bowling on April 20th or golf on April 21st.  WE NEED YOU.  The next step is for you to let me know exactly what events you would like to participate in.  You will also have to sign an electronic waiver.

CLICK HERE to complete the electronic waiver and to let me know what events you would like to participate in.  I will balance the events and notify you of your event times by Friday of this week.  It is really important that you participate in multiple events if at all possible.  We are few in number this year and need you to step up on several events!

Patriot Point Challenge Update:
HHS wins week 28!  Congratulations to the team from across the creek!

Individual Leaderboard:
Click here to find out which employees landed on the top spot systemwide.


Post your Patriot Points for week 29.  Here's the LINK.

Keep Moving.

April 22nd and May 6th

Two important dates are quickly approaching.


APRIL 22nd- The Birmingham Corporate Challenge.  So far, 45 employees have signed up to be part of this event.  To give us a chance to win the championship, we need at LEAST 100 participants.  The entry fee will be taken care of by The Movement so there is no actual cost to you as the employee.  Please sign up by Wednesday of this week to guarantee our entry to the BCC.  After you sign up, encourage your co-workers to join in the fun.  WE NEED YOU!

CLICK HERE to register for the BCC.

MAY 6th- We Love Homewood 5K.  Run or walk this fun 5K.  All proceeds benefit our fine arts program.  Last year over 500 participants  took part in our race.  The 5K is walker friendly but also will include chip timing this year to upgrade the experience for the more competitive runner.  You can expect to see the HHS band and other entertainment along the course in the Edgewood community.  There is a Spirit of the Streets contest which is a competition between neighbors of the Edgewood community to see which mile of the three mile race is the most spirited.  It's a great way for neighbors and race participants to come together to show how much we LOVE Homewood.

CLICK HERE to register for We Love Homewood 5K.

Bham Corporate Challenge. Countdown to revenge is ON!

BCC Video

Last year, we attempted to defend our title as BCC champs.  We can make a lot of excuses as to why we didn't get the job done but that's not what HCS is about.  We don't look at obstacles as excuses, instead we look at tough times as an opportunity to prove that we CAN overcome adversity.  The formula for success at BCC is really quite simple.  Here it is, in a nutshell, simply stated without any excuses.....

WE......
                Need......
                               YOU!

That's truly it.  The answer.  High participation wins the day.  Last year we had 106 participants.  That's really impressive but the fact of the matter is, that's only about 20% of our employees.  Those of you who competed last year or the year before, or both years can attest to the FUN that BCC delivers.  So, what's it gonna be?  Are you ready for some fun?  If you can walk, you can help our team win.  The list of events includes both skilled and participation.  (More on that in next week's blog update).  If you are wondering about the cost to participate, IT'S FREE!  The Movement will cover the entry fee for every employee.

Here's the LINK to let me know you are willing to help us win BCC.  Go ahead, click that link and sign up to help us beat Corporate America.

Last Week's Best of the Best:
Congratulations to HBOE for winning week 26 of the PPC.
Congratulations to the top 25 employees who landed on the PPC Individual Leaderboard.

Post your Patriot Points for week 27.  CLICK HERE.

Another reason to move.

Because we were meant to move.

It's worth 99 seconds of your life to watch the video linked below.

Click here.

I have nothing else to say, other than.....

Keep Moving.


Click here to post your Patriot Points.

Congrats to HMS for winning Week #25

Click here to view the individual employee leaderboard for week 25.

Who is your Caleb?

360 lbs - 100 = success.

Click on the link above to meet Caleb.  As you walk through the halls of your school today, locate one student who needs your help in an area that doesn't include your content or curriculum.  Who is your Caleb?

Educators have such an incredible opportunity to influence lives in more areas than just what is graded on standardized tests.  We are more than a score for sure.

"To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived, this is to have succeeded."
 -Ralph Waldo Emerson


PPC Update- SCES won week 24 and continues to lead the pack for the year.  Edgewood and HHS are too close to call for second and third place categories.

Keep moving and post your Patriot Points.

500 day streak. Nutrition Journal

This is the caption from my timeline on www.myfitnesspal.com

I've been streaking for 500 days.  It's become a habit that I'm not ashamed of.  The streak I'm speaking of is logging everything I eat and drink in the free version of www.myfitnesspal.com.  I have an app on my phone so the accessibility is easy.

 Here are some things I've learned over the course of 500 days:

1. Losing/Maintaining/Gaining weight: The number on the scale is 80% relative to nutrition and 20% relative to my workout routine. 
2. Drinking calories: Calories can add up in a hurry if you drink them.  I don't drink alcohol or sugary drinks daily but if I did I would have a tough time balancing my nutrition.
3. Real food:  I lose weight when I eat "real" food.  I have a habit of grabbing a protein bar too often to make up for not getting enough lean meat in my diet.  Protein bars are a great supplement but shouldn't be a mainstay. 
4. Calories and macronutrients:  My goal is 1400 calories daily with a breakdown of 45% carbs, 30% protein and 25% fat.  It's challenging to reach those goals even after 500 days!
5. The unknown:  Before I began journaling my nutrition, the unknown was my biggest downfall.  Journaling keeps me on target for my goals.

To date I've lost 6% body fat and gained 4 lbs of muscle.

If you have started a journal and given up because you didn't find success, I encourage you to try again.  Set a goal to journal for a week (you won't see immediate results).  Once you complete the week, set a goal to continue for a month.  You will see results!  One final note about the journal.  You have to be honest about portions.  If you aren't honest you will never achieve success.  I think that's a good point to end on.  Read this one more time:  If you aren't honest you will never achieve success. 

Congratulations to the Edgewood team for winning week #23 of the PPC.  

Post your Patriot Points HERE.

120/80

Do you recognize those numbers?  If your blood pressure immediately spiked because you read the title of this blogpost then you may need to keep reading.  Let's be honest, TeamUp for wellness hasn't really improved wellness for educators.  If your wellness screening this year didn't result in favorable results in the category of blood pressure, I have good news for you.  Once again, the YMCA of Birmingham is stepping up to the plate.  Free gym membership is just one of the perks offered to any HCS employee who joins the blood pressure management program offered by the YMCA.  Email me if you are interested in the blood pressure management program.  I'll share the information on how to get set up, get started and get those numbers back to where you want them.  

The Patriot Point trophy will remain at Hall Kent Elementary School!  Great work from the WeHo team.

Post your Patriot Points HERE.  

Have a great week and KEEP MOVING.

Here we go WeHo! Hall Kent takes the trophy!

Did you miss it?  Hall Kent Elementary teachers were on stage recently and through the magic of YouTube, you all have a chance to see their awesome performance.  Click HERE!

Thanks to hours of practice and thanks to the fitness focus of the faculty and staff, the PPC trophy will land in WeHo on the campus of Hall Kent Elementary School for this upcoming week.

Quick shout out to everyone who participated in Mercedes Marathon Weekend.  Please share any photos you have from the race weekend.  I would love to feature those pics on The Movement Blog.

Check out the bling from one of our employees who finished up the half-marathon.  Last week, I created a weekly schedule and training plan for her as she pursues her fitness goals with a focus on winning wellness by the end of the school year.  She won the medal, now she's on her way to winning wellness.

Hope you have an awesome week.  Happy Valentine's Day and as always keep moving.

POST YOUR PATRIOT POINTS

Exercise quick hitters

Last week I had the opportunity to visit Rebecca Smith's 4th grade classroom at SCES.  Students in her class are working on Passion Projects, which is designed based on the Google concept of 20% time.  Rebecca and I follow kind of the same idea on this.  In fact, my high school Health class had a similar project based learning experience each semester.   I asked the kids in my Health class to focus on something relative to health and wellness.  One of my students last semester worked on the odor problem in West Homewood!  Maybe he should have helped our city council in this effort!  HA! Not only do Rebecca and I follow the same basic format for teaching 20% but we also share a common goal-exercise in the classroom!!!  One of the first things I noticed when I walked in her room is that students have the option to sit on stability balls.  It was a natural element in her room.  I'm sure the first day that 4th grade students were introduced to the balls there may have been some behavior management that needed to be addressed, but at this point students were just naturally seated on the balls unknowingly creating core stability and balance all day/every day!  Check out the video that my high school kiddos created last year to promote use of stability balls and movement in the classroom setting.  CLICK HERE to view video if you can't see the video below.

Here's another example of exercise in the classroom-How about this image from Carter Doyle's classroom?

Notice anything that may be considered out of place but instead should be considered a practical solution for a long-time problem.  Problem-we have become more sedentary.  Solution-MOVEMENT

Or how about the fact that I found out last week that several elementary school teachers are asking to have their teacher desks removed!  What an awesome idea.  It creates more space for crowded classrooms and it promotes something that we should all do-STAND UP.  Or "rise up" if you are a Hamilton or Atlanta Falcons fan.  

One more example.  I met with an HCS employee last week who will begin her personal training journey with me next week.  One of the components in the plan I have designed for her is to become more like a "New Yorker", in other words-walk more often.  I've challenged her to bring her tennis shoes to work and find 10-15 minutes throughout the day to step away from her desk and go for a walk.  The 50-60 kcal burn experienced during the walking break is great, but the afterburn due to increased metabolic rate is awesome AND the mental break is a necessity for all of us.  

If you don't have exercise balls handy, or a bike for your room or time for a walk.  How about this?  The YMCA is promoting heart health for the month of February.  Locate the word of the day from the first image then complete the exercises listed that match up with the letters from the word of the day.  If you don't have dumbbells handy for the few exercises requiring weight, just grab two heavy books or simply do the movement without weight!  For the 400 meter run/walk, leave your classroom for a quick trip down the hall or take a few laps in your room.  

Bottom line, get moving!

and..

POST YOUR PATRIOT POINTS- Click here.

HMS won week #20 and will host the trophy.  Who will win week 21?

Physical and Fiscal Fitness

I sat down yesterday and planned my training schedule for February.  Planning and scheduling is part of physical and fiscal fitness for me.  I'm currently operating on a bit of a budget reduction as a result of retirement.  No complaints though!  Retirement is kinda awesome.  In the past, I paid a personal coach who emailed my workouts to me.  It was easy, I didn't have to think or prepare, I just followed his lead.  As a retiree it's necessary to save money.  One of the ways I'm saving is creating my own plan instead of paying a coach-even so, the follow-through is critical!  It does no good to have a plan, join a gym or even buy new workout gear if the follow-through doesn't happen.  Follow-through is up to you.

Nivada's weekly training plan-

Schedule:  

• Monday-AM: 20 minute Run Session/sprint intervals.  PM YCross Strength and YPower
• Tuesday-AM 4:40-9am shift work at the Y and cycle class, PM-Functionals and Recovery swim
• Wednesday-Cycle Class
• Thursday-AM 4:30-9am shift at the Y, PM-strength session
• Friday-AM-Functionals/Rest
• Saturday-35 minute run/Tempo
• Sunday-Rest

Speaking of planning, I want to give my sister a shout-out!  Another result of retirement budgeting is the need to plan and prepare meals at home.  My sister, who lives in Ohio is helping me plan meals and we meet online once per week (thanks to Google Hangout) to cook together!  Again, wanting to save money and eat healthy isn't enough, the follow-through is up to you.

One of our recent meals we prepared via Google Hangout, spinach salad with chicken paillards.

I know what you are thinking, Nivada has all the time necessary to plan workouts, focus on fitness and prepare meals at home.  Yes, that's partially true, but even so, there are definitely things that everyone can do to make small steps to save money and focus on fitness.  Think about your schedule, where is the wiggle room that might allow you to make some progress?

Want/need some help in the kitchen or with a training plan?  Interested in physical and fiscal fitness?

1. Food-Take the time to plan/prepare meals at home.  It's much cheaper and much healthier.  Start with something simple, making small changes that will help you begin to adjust your habit of grabbing meals on-the-go.  
2. Fitness-I'm always ready/willing to help you with your fitness goals.  I can help you set up a plan and get started.  

The follow-through is up to you.

What are you waiting on?  Get a head-start on summer fitness.

Spring Break is 53 days away.  

PPC Update: 

HHS will give up the trophy to SCES.  

Current Big Scoreboard standings:
1st Place SCES

2nd Place HHS

3rd Place EES

4th Place HMS

5th Place HBOE

6th Place HKES

Keep moving and POST YOUR PATRIOT POINTS.

1/3 employees are Poster Children for wellness

One out of every three HCS employees are logging their Patriot Points weekly.  That's good but not great.  I'm an old coach, if that were free throw percentage I wouldn't be pleased!  Baseball/softball coaches, hush up for now. Batting averages are just different.

This week, I'm throwing out a challenge.  If you are reading this, talk to at least three employees today and ask them if they posted their points.  Make an impact by sharing the accountability factor.  Let's see what our percentage looks like after we encourage each other.

POST POINTS HERE!

and

Keep Moving.

Be the best me, I can be.

Last week Dr. Kiser and I had a walking meeting at the Edgewood Elementary School track.  Several things stood out to me as we walked and talked.

Here are just a few:

1. Dr. Kiser's sock game is "on fleek".  A student ran up to us from the playground and asked to see what socks Dr. K was wearing, yep they were cool. 
   
2. The students at Edgewood can quote their school mantra "Be the best me I can be."
3. Teachers who take their students to the playground don't all sit while the kids are playing.  Some do, and that's understandable, but most were up and at 'em.  Walking around, talking to other teachers and students.
4. Students when asked, can explain their individual fitness goal which is to complete 25 push-ups outside of the school day.  Check out Josiah Batson, son of former Lady Patriot, Emily Sockwell Batson.  
   
5. Dr. Kiser eats lunch alongside students on a regular basis at EES.

My takeaways from the walking meeting.  We are modeling wellness for students, co-workers and family from choosing to stand during PE/recess to what/where we eat lunch, to how we conduct meetings/choosing to walk instead of sit and finally all the way down to the socks we wear!

                              What kind of "me" are you choosing to be?

Keep Moving.

Post your Patriot Points HERE. 

Winter Olympics

Hope you enjoyed the three-day weekend and took advantage of some winter weather wellness in the form of sledding.
Check out one of our employees who is training for the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics in driveway sledding.

HCS Employee Future Olympian, Click HERE

Keep Olympic dreams alive, POST YOUR POINTS and Keep Moving.

PCC UPDATE-  HMS gave up the trophy to SCES for week 16.  

CURRENT BIG SCOREBOARD UPDATE after 16/34 weeks of competition:

1. SCES=295
2. HHS=236
3. EES=233
4. HMS=213
5. HKES=170
6. HBOE=115

Hello 2017

Welcome to a new year, the midpoint of the school year and an opportunity to start over or continue progress toward your personal goals.

Plan for success starting today!

The YMCA of Bham has extended some awesome discounts to HCS employees.  If you would like information about membership email me and I'll get you connected.  There are some exciting things happening at the YMCA.  Several of the branches now have completely new cardio equipment and new classes are popping up on the schedule.  Check out the image below.  Small group training will begin soon which will allow the trainer/coach to specifically meet your needs.  The classes are 45 minutes in duration and include interval work based on strength, cardio, flexibility and endurance.

And don't forget...

• Free group exercises classes are available to fit your schedule at every location.  
• Free childcare is available at every location.
• Mountain Brook location offers specific class times for educators.  4PM on Monday- Y Cross and 4PM on Tuesday- Y Core

2016 RUN/WALK STREAK:

If you completed the one mile run/walk streak you have earned another event to qualify for The Movement Medal.  Give yourself a 3 point bonus when you tally up your Patriot Points this week.  Click HERE to confirm completion of the Run/Walk Streak.

POST YOUR PATRIOT POINTS:

This entry will include all point earned from Dec. 12-Jan. 2.  Click HERE to log your Patriot Points.