1. education
2. school

VOLUME VI, ISSUE 3 • October 14, 2011
e-connections
A publication of Santa Fe Public School District
Office of the Superintendent
What is the A-F Grading System?
Dear Faculty, Staff and Colleagues,
I am sure you have been hearing bits and pieces about the
A–F Grading System our Secretary of Education Designate,
Hanna Skandera, will propose to the Federal Government
in November. The A–F Grading System will replace the
current AYP School Designation Model that has been in
effect in New Mexico for almost a decade. I have been asked
in recent weeks, “Bobbie, what is the A-F Grading System,
exactly?” Currently, the A–F System is still evolving and
changing at the state level, but described in this article is
what we know based on the most recent information we
have received.
NMPED describes the A–F Grading System as an
“accountability model” that will hold schools accountable
for facilitating learning. It will capture important differences
regarding achievement while avoiding classification
of schools based on outside circumstances, providing
useful information for school improvement, and creating
motivation for improvement.
Another question frequently asked is, “How is A–F different
from AYP?” AYP provided clear and concrete goals. It
created some motivation. AYP focused as much, or more, on
enrollment characteristics as it did on performance there
by creating unintended consequences.
In the A–F Grading System, Elementary and Middle Schools
will be rated based on:
• Proficiency
• Growth
• Potential Other Academic Indicators
Currently, NMPED is considering two models for calculating
the A–F Grading System. These are called Thing 1 and Thing
2. In Thing 1, NMPED denotes the following:
• Easy to calculate
• Transparent
• Schools receive credit long spectrum of performance,
not just a single cut point
• Result seem to be less biased by school enrollment
than AYP
• Results do not account for uncontrollable school
characteristics
• Students without two scores cannot be included
Thing 2 is described by NMPED in the following way:
• Results are least affected by uncontrollable school
factors
• Does not require complete information from students
• School reliability estimates are high
• Consistent estimation strategy with potential teacher
evaluation student performance component
• Produces results with considerable face validity
• Provides specific grades related to score components,
which is more difficult to estimate
• Not possible to calculate by hand
There are public hearings scheduled for the week of
October 31. I will be in attendance at the Public Hearing
scheduled in Mabry Hall at NMPED on Monday, October
31, and I will continue to share information as it becomes
available. We have many unanswered questions about the
A-F Grading System.
Improving our lives through education,
High Schools
• Proficiency
• Growth
• Graduation Rate
• Student Engagement Indicators
• Career and College Readiness Indicators
Bobbie J. Gutierrez
Superintendent
Sources: Considerations and Options for A–F School Grading;
NMSBA Fall 2011 Region Meetings; Considerations and
Options for A–F High School Grading; NM Superintendents
Advisory Council, September 20, 2011.
Heroic Leader in SFPS
www.sfps.info
Diane Garcia-Piro is the Principal at De Vargas Middle School.
She is a brave fearless leader who is dedicated to providing
educational excellence to her students. She works tirelessly,
above and beyond what is required and is passionate about
creating the best opportunities for her middle school students.
Middle school is tough for most kids and Diane knows that. She
is constantly seeking new ideas to make that important middle
school experience engaging, impactful and an effective experience
for all of her students to set them on a path to graduation. It takes
a brave leader and pure hard work to lead change as Diane does,
but she is relentless and committed. She is a true education hero
in our community.
–Sue Goodwin, Executive Director, Citizen Schools New Mexico
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Earth Care – Programs to Enrich Students Lives
Taste, touch, feel, smell, think, reflect, understand, voice your opinion, find your passion,
work together, serve, make change. These are all experiences that students are guided
through in Earth Care’s interdisciplinary enrichment programs in Santa Fe Public Schools
that work to empower children and youth to create healthy and sustainable schools,
communities and education.
Garden-Based Education Program
Hard New Mexico dirt, it can seem daunting to chip away at such dry, compacted ground.
But last year, students broke ground and grew armfuls of food at five new school gardens in
SF Public Schools.
Amy, an AmeriCorps Food Cadre member placed at Amy Biehl Community School last
year recalls with a smile, “the SFPS District was a huge help to our garden. They brought
backhoes to level out the soil and install fencing. They also helped move a truckload of
soil.” Custodians, cafeteria workers, and parents became invested in the garden’s progress.
The school also started a compost, bird habitat, planted fruit trees, and allocated an
outdoor classroom area in the garden.
2
When students enter their school
garden, they seem to understand it
is a special place. Allie, AmeriCorps
Food Cadre Member at Aspen
Community School, noticed that
students are very careful not to
allow any litter in the garden. She
also sees classes who normally
have a difficult time cooperating
do teambuilding exercises in the
garden and figure out how to work
well with each other. Students
who otherwise have behavior
problems tend to have excellent
participation during garden classes. Students may naturally become more attentive to
something they care about, like finding worm cocoons or tracking the growth of seeds they
planted. Gardens are also a great place to nurture compassion. Liana, Salazar Elementary’s
AmeriCorps Member, observed, “kids have stopped killing things as often. There seems to
be a stronger respect for all living things expressed by students and observed by teachers.”
This year, Earth Care will provide six AmeriCorps Volunteers to serve as School Garden
and Sustainability Coordinators in schools through our Food Cadre program. These young
professionals teach sustainability education curriculum including gardening, eco-conscious
practices and nutrition education. AmeriCorps members will start or expand Garden-Based
Education programs at Tesuque Elementary, Salazar Elementary, Aspen Community School,
Amy Biehl Community School, Santa Fe High and Capital High.
www.sfps.info
Eco-Schools Outreach Program
Earth Care’s AmeriCorps volunteers also work with K-12 schools to offer an Eco-Schools
curriculum and support student-led environmental service-learning projects and
conservation efforts at schools. Eco-Schools is a free program from the National Wildlife
Federation. Students do audits to evaluate the environmental impact of school facilities and
design and carry out service-learning projects to reduce their school’s eco-footprint. The
Eco-Schools program partners with Lisa Randall, Energy Conservation Program Coordinator
for SFPS, to support the District’s sustainability initiatives and offer this program in K-12
schools. Interested teachers can contact Earth Care to invite this program into their
classroom.
Sustainable School Awards
Earth Care, SFPS, and the City of Santa Fe partner to offer the Sustainable Schools Awards.
Nominations are accepted in March for projects completed during the school year that
reduce schools’ impact on the environment in the following categories: Consumption &
Waste, Water, Energy, Food, Transportation, School Grounds & Outdoor Habitat, Green Hour
and Global Dimensions. In April 2011 we presented 26 Sustainable Schools Awards to 16 SF
Public Schools. Way to go Santa Fe!
More about Earth Care and the Food Cadre AmeriCorps Program
Earth Care’s mission is to educate and empower young people to create healthy, just and
sustainable communities. We do this through sustainability education, service-learning,
community organizing and urban agriculture.
Since 2001, Earth Care has been investing in the
students and staff at SFPS. Earth Care’s school
programs are standards-based, and incur no direct
cost to SFPS. Last school year alone financial
support through Earth Care staff time, training,
materials, tools, and office costs totaled $131,767
plus 12,590 hours of human power by AmeriCorps
Volunteers.
AmeriCorps Volunteers are provided to the schools
by Earth Care’s through our Food Cadre Program.
Dedicated, service-minded Food Cadre members
participate in an 11-month leadership development
program designed to train the next generation of
food advocates, urban farmers, educators and
leaders. They serve non-profits, schools, and local
government.
3
At schools, Food Cadre Members create, improve
and expand education programs that develop
student leadership, integrate sustainability
education, and address hunger, health and
environmental issues in the school community.
Interested principals, staff, students, and sites can
visit www.earthcare.org to learn about how you can
bring Earth Care’s enrichment programs to your
school.
The National Institute on Drug Abuse
The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) invites you to participate in its fifth annual
Drug Facts Chat Day on Tuesday, November 1, 2011. Hosted by top scientists from the
NIDA, the lead Federal agency for research on drug abuse and addiction, this annual
event is a unique opportunity for teachers and students to ask expert scientists honest
questions about drugs and their impact on the brain and body.
www.sfps.info
Register today! Although Drug Facts Chat Day is open to everyone for use as a learning
tool in a view-only, real-time format, only the first 100 schools that register will be able to
submit questions. We encourage you to sign up as soon as possible at
www.nidachat.org/register.aspx.
Drug Facts Chat Day is a component of National Drug Facts Week (NDFW), a health
observance week for teens that aims to shatter the myths about drugs and drug abuse.
NDFW 2011 is the week of October 31–November 6, 2011. Make a difference in your
community by hosting an event or activity during NDFW to help teens learn the facts.
To help you plan, NIDA provides a step-by-step event toolkit with a list of suggested
activities and free resources such as the 2011 drug facts booklet for event distribution.
Reprinted with permission from the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
UNM Prevention Research Center Announces
New Mexico SRTS Funding Opportunity
The University of New Mexico (UNM) Prevention Research Center (PRC) in collaboration
with the New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) Safe Routes to School
(SRTS) program is offering ten $1,000 honoraria through a competitive process to start or
enhance SRTS activities in NM. Eligible applicants are elementary schools, middle schools
or non-profit organizations that work with a school to improve safety and/or increase the
number of children who safely walk or bicycle to school. The application is attached.
In order to offer this funding opportunity
to qualified schools in NM that have not
yet received funding for SRTS activities, the
following schools are NOT eligible to apply for
this honorarium: schools currently receiving
NM SRTS funds; schools that have received NM
SRTS funds in the past; or schools that have
received mini-grants from the National Center
for SRTS. Please check the application packet
included in this email and also available on the
NM SRTS website at www.nmsaferoutes.com
for eligibility requirements and project ideas.
Applications are due Monday, October 17 by midnight. Questions about the application
or application process can be directed to Leona Woelk at lwoelk@salud.unm.edu or
Jessica Frost at Jessica.frost@state.nm.us.
We look forward to receiving your application!
4
Leona Woelk
UNM Prevention Research Center
lwoelk@salud.unm.edu
505-272-4462
Jessica Frost AICP
NM Safe Routes to School Coordinator
NM Department of Transportation
www.nmsaferoutes.com
505-476-2155
Literacy Initiative
Please help Santa Fe School for Arts and Sciences earn a $10,000
grant for our citywide Alliance for Literacy Reading Campaign that
will benefit all schools and students in our community. Due to our
community partnership with Albertsons, we are eligible to earn a
grant to help our entire community; however, we have to be one of
six organizations who get the most votes! Please help by voting five
times a day through Saturday, October 15.
www.sfps.info
Our code is 0671
1. Go to albertsonspchallenge.com and login, by entering your email address.
2. If this is your first time to the site, you will be taken to the email verification page.
3. Once your email is verified you can login and vote using just your email.
4. Enter Charity Code #0671 in the upper left hand corner, click Go.
5. When you see our entry, click on vote.
You can vote up to five times per day through Saturday, October 15. Please spread the
sword to your family, friends and co-workers. Thank you for your support!
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Register NOW!
For the CESDP 20th Annual Back
to School Family and Youth Institute
November 3-4, 2011
Buffalo Thunder, Santa Fe Conference Center
Up to 400 participants from throughout New Mexico are expected including parents,
grandparents, youth, teachers, principals, counselors, and other school staff. All
participants will be eligible to win one of 10 laptop computers including I-Pads and other
door prizes.
The agenda is packed full with inspiring speakers, exhibitors, and over 40 workshops to
support parents and educators in school implementing programs such as Title I, Bilingual
Education, Indian Education, Special Education, PTA and more. Celebration of the rich
culture and diversity in New Mexico schools and communities as well as opportunities to
address challenges and solutions for challenges will dominate this 20th Annual Event.
Child Care will be available in the new facilities designed just for the kids with a guest
visitor: The Cat in the Hat!
Visit the link below for more information on how to register as a participant (parents,
youth, teachers, counselors, social workers, principals, administrators, school board members,
community members, state leaders, extended families, etc.) Information about registering as
presenter, exhibitor, or advertiser is also available.
www.cesdp.nmhu.edu/backtoschool/backtoschool.asp
Hope to see you there!
Rodolfo Chavez
Institute Coordinator, Senior Associate CESDP, NMHU • 505 426-2273
5
E
V
SA ATE!
www.sfps.info
the
D
Albuquerque’s 36th Annual
New Mexico College Fair
Sunday, October 16
Noon–3pm
Times & details of free Informational
College Sessions TBA
Albuquerque Convention Center, Fran Hill NE Exhibit Hall
401 Second Street NW, Albuquerque, NM 87102
Please Encourage Students of All Grades to Attend!
• Please add this to your Student Agenda/Planner for the 2011-12 school year. If
possible, please make sure the event, date, time, and location are published
on your school calendars and resource/career publications.
• Please share this information with your colleagues, students, parents and
administrators. If you or your colleagues have feedback regarding this event,
see www.rmacac.org or contact velhagen@aps.edu.
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI)
Nonviolent Crisis Intervention®
REFRESHER COURSE
(Autism Spectrum Disorders: Application of NCI Training)
Saturday, October 15, 2011
8:30am to 3:00pm
BF Young Professional Development
Center
Sierra Vista Room
To Register through the Professional Development
Academy. On SFPS Web page, www.sfps.info or
http://sfps.howtomaster.com. Contact Virginia
Barreras if you need assistance: vbarreras@sfps.
info or 505.467-2550.
We are limited to 25 participants. This training is tailored to address the unique needs of
staff that support individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders or related communication
disabilities. However, anyone needing a refresher may attend. Strategies to promote care,
welfare, safety and security® for the individuals in your charge, even in violent moments,
are taught. Please wear comfortable clothes and closed-toe shoes with non-skid soles.
6
Reprinted with permission from the Crisis Prevention Institute
SFPS Music Education Division News
SFPS Summer Music Camp a Success!
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.sfp
ww
s.in
SFPS Summer Music Camp was a four-week experience held at Capital High School
during June for fifty elementary music, strings, and band students. Experiences
included performances, rehearsals in large and small group settings, master classes
with renowned musicians, music theory, marching, symphonic orchestra, and solo
performances. Student ages ranged
from kindergarten through high school.
Instructors were SFPS music faculty
members Todd Hansen, Elementary
Music; Steven Iliff, Band; and Carla
Kountoupes, String Orchestra. Two
culminating public performances were
held in the Bryan Fant Theater at
Capital High and on the Santa Fe Plaza
Bandstand during the July 4 Pancakes
on the Plaza celebration. This was the
second annual expanded SFPS Summer
Music Camp, a tradition in Northern
New Mexico that will continue.
fo
SFPS New Music Faculty Introductions
Miller Asbill, Ph.D.
Dr. Miller Asbill serves our district as Band Director at Aspen
Community Magnet School, E.J. Martinez Elementary, and
Salazar Elementary. He completed his undergraduate studies
at Arizona State University and has a Master’s and Doctorate
degree in Instrumental Conducting from the University of
Michigan. Miller taught instrumental music education and
instrumental conducting at the university level for 8 years, most
recently Texas Tech, and is published in the Instrumentalist
Magazine. His student ensembles at the middle and high
school level in South Carolina were nationally recognized for
excellence in musical achievement.
Robert Chrisman
Mr. Robert Chrisman teaches elementary band at Acequia
Madre, Carlos Gilbert, Kearny, and Wood Gormley elementary
schools. He teaches elementary music at Tesuque Elementary.
A native of Farmington, Robert re-located to Santa Fe from
his most recent home in Durango, Colorado. Robert earned a
Bachelor’s Degree in Instrumental Education from Fort Lewis
College in Colorado and New Mexico State University. He has
served as a long-time member of the Blue Knights Drum and
Bugle Corps, a world class, competitive drum corps which tours
nationally.
Additional faculty members will be introduced in a future edition of e-Connections.
7
Holiday Cards for the Troops!
This year, as in every year, members of America’s military will be deployed overseas
during the holiday season. The holidays are a time for friends and family, and it’s an
especially hard time for our troops to be away from theirs.
www.sfps.info
We can help spread holiday cheer to these heroes by sending our good wishes. Once
again, Soldiers’ Angels is preparing 140,000 holiday packs to send to the troops overseas.
We invite your students to join us in sending holiday wishes to our troops by writing
cards to our men and women in uniform. These cards will be included in our packs.
Choose a stocking-stuffer address depending on your school location.
Pacific Time
Mountain Time
Central Time
Eastern Time
v Soldiers’ Angels
AeroScope, Inc.
Soldiers’ Angel
Kathy Dean
Soldiers’ Angels
Dianne Moore
GA State Coordinator
1792 East
Washington Blvd.
Pasadena, CA 91104
11901 Allison Street
Broomfield, CO 80020
4408 North PanAm
Exprwy. San Antonio,
TX 78218
4290 Willow Ridge Rd.
Douglasville, GA
30135
Including AK, HI &
Pacific Territories
Including PR & VI
• Cards may be made from ordinary paper or art supplies. Please, though, no glitter.
It gets everywhere.
• Store bought cards can be used. Most 99¢ stores sell holiday cards.
• A variety of cards and coloring sheets for younger students maybe downloaded
from the project site at www.teachspace.org/soldiersangels/holidaycards.html.
• Do not place cards in envelopes. If you are using purchased cards, please include
the envelopes separately. All cards must be reviewed.
• Some soldiers may wish to contact the students who write to them. If you like,
you may include the school’s address on your cards. (Not on the envelopes,
please.) Please do not include the children’s home address. (Soldiers’ Angels
permits children to adopt a servicemember only with the permission of a parent or
guardian. However a teacher can adopt a soldier on behalf of his or her class. To
adopt a soldier, e-mail groups@soldiersangels.org.)
• The deadline for cards is November 15, but we begin mailing November 1, so the
sooner your cards get in the better.
Although we have tried to reach at least one person in every school district, we know
that we have missed some. We don’t want any student to miss the opportunity to thank
our troops personally. Please pass this information on to colleagues and help us reach
as many students as possible. In addition, we welcome the participation of anyone else
that might be interested, such as members of civic organizations, houses of worship, and
other groups.
For more information, please contact
Lauren Eve Pomerantz, Manager, Project Thank You Notes Soldiers’ Angels
AngelCards@teachspace.org or 909-450-4444
8
Soldiers’ Angels in a 501-(c)-3 non-profit foundation dedicated to the support of our
troops and their families. Founded in 2003 by the mother of a soldier deployed in
Iraq, it has grown to be the largest military support organization in the US, with
members in all fifty states and twelve other countries. In July 2011, Soldiers’ Angels
facilitated its 350,000th soldier adoption. Soldiers’ Angels is approved by Our
Military.mil and is part of the Combined Federal Campaign (#25131).
For more information, visit www.soldiersangels.org.
Reprinted with permission from the Soldiers’ Angels
nm
ae
New Mexico Art Education Association
association
www.newmexicoarteducators.org
Enrich. Create. Integrate. The Art of Art Education
NMAEA
Annual
Conference,
Agenda
2011
The
Lodge
at
Santa
Fe,
Santa
Fe,
NM
NMAEA
provides
the
only
content‐specific,
professional
development
conference
for
art
educators
in
New
Mexico.
This
year,
the
national
trend
of
integration
with
the
arts
is
threaded
throughout
the
weekend.
Presenters
were
asked
to
make
connections
to
other
arts,
or
other
core
contents,
in
order
to
strengthen
overall
cross‐curriculum
standards
of
instruction
while
fortifying
high
quality,
licensed
art
education.
All
attendees
need
to
register
via
our
website
at
www.newmexicoarteducators.org.
th
A
$20
late
fee
will
apply
after
Sept
30 .
Friday
9‐11:30
Friday
11:30
–
12:30
Friday
12:30
–
1:00
NM
Education
Secretary‐Designate
Address
Friday
1:00
–
2:50
Watercolor
Sampler
Glass
Fusing
in
Elementary
Classroom
Science
and
Art:
Kinder
Centers
Let’s
Get
Physical
…
and
Mental
Friday
3:00
–
3:55
Integrating
Arts
Across
the
Curriculum
Icing
on
the
Color
Wheel
A
Passion
for
Sharing
Art
Weaving
in
the
Classroom
Beautiful
Bali
&
Terrific
Turkey
Friday
4:00
‐
5:20
Imagination
Panel
&
Imagination
Stations
Friday
5:30
–
6:50
Reception
or
Dinner
on
your
own
Friday
7:00
–
8:50
Fused
Glass
and
Jewelry
Ornaments
How
Poetry
Empowers
Teaching
Across
the
Curriculum
Build
a
MC
Escher
Kaleidocycle
Oceans!
Early
Registration
All
Lunch
on
Your
Own
All
Hanna
Skandera
TBD
Lynn
Felts
Brooke
Gold
Phyllis
Roybal
Jaci
Hanson
NAEA
HS
Director
RRPS
SFPS
Davis
Publications
Shelly
Norris
Cynthia
Hanna
Kirk
Clark
Judy
Harney
Mary
Olsen
&
Stephanie
Morris
Roni
Rohr,
Coordinator
SFPS
Member
Booth
Sales!
All
Vendor
Booth
Activities!
All
Paul
White
Alex
Traube
Woody
Duncan
Michelle
Lemons
Clovis
Gallup‐McKinley
Artist,
Taos
NMSD
SFPS
Artist,
SF
SFPS
Retired
APS
FA
Reprinted with permission from the New Mexico Art Education Association
Friday
9‐10
Saturday
9:00
–
10:50
Make
a
Journal/Sustained
Silent
Drawing
So
your
school
wants
to
do
art
integration…
Museums
can
help!
Monotype
for
all
ages
Wood
Burning
Santos
Creating
Drawings
with
Depth,
Volume
and
Perspective
Saturday
11:00
–
11:55
Art
in
the
Details
Public
Art
Scavenger
Hunts
TAB
Discussion
Pre‐AP
Ideas
Personal
Mandala
Color
Wheel
NAEA
Conference
Highlights
Lunch
12:00
–
1:55
Keynote
Luncheon
Saturday
2:00
–
2:55
Integrated
Arts
Elementary
Fine
Arts
Academy
Phase
1
of
3
Art
Saves
Lives/Saves
Art
Education
Fractals:
Making
Art
from
Math
Tye
Dye
Made
Simple
Saturday
3:00
–
4:50
Modular
Origami
Polish
Szopkas
Avatar
Sculptures
Ktazome:
The
art
of
Japanese
Rice‐Paste
Resist
Cool
Collage
Saturday
5:00
‐
5:25
Saturday
5:30
–
6:50
Silent
Auction!
All
Lynn
Felts
Jackie
M
Ron
Pokrasso
Cynthia
Gail
Janine
Shafer
NAEA
HS
Director
O’Keeffe
Museum
Indp
Educator
SF
Grants
RRPS
Becky
Holtzman
Rohr,
Hees,
Olson,
Birkan,
Morris
Cynthia
Gail
Nancy
Brady
Matt
Reddington
Gerald
McDermott,
author
/
illustrator
Luis
Delgado
Tyson
Ledgerwood
Nancy
Walkup
Jonathan
Wolfe
Chuck
McIntosh
APS
Hobbs
School
Arts
Magazine
Fractal
Foundation
ABQ
Academy
Alida
Tustison
Denise
Rudd
Janine
Shafer
Dietta
Hitchcock
Michael
Cellan
Bernalillo
APS
RRPS
Roswell
Colorado
Membership
Meeting
Awards
Dinner
Members
All
Peter
Andrew
Michelle
Lemons
Roni
Rohr
Dr.
Joyce
Centofanti
Robin
Wolfe
Liquitex
APS
SFPS
Colorado
Colorado
Raffle!
All
All
Members
Welcome
All
Welcome
(Limit
60)
Instructional
Packets
Provided
Saturday
7:00
–
8:50
The
Amazing
Palette
Bug
Off!
Graffiti
as
Art
Mimicking
the
Lithographic
Process
in
Clay
Tin
Tangs
Saturday
9:00
–
10:50
Sunday
9:00
–
11:00
am
Board
of
Directors
Meeting
O’Keeffe
Museum
Guided
Tour:
45
min.
“From
New
York
to
Corrymore:
Robert
Henri
&
Ireland”
N ew M exico
nm
ae
association
NM
Public
Art
RRPS,
Panel
Grants
ABQ
JCC
SFPS
BOD
Art Education
Reprinted with permission from the New Mexico Art Education Association
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Reprinted with permission from the University of Texas Arlington
The 2020
Impact Goal
By 2020, to improve the cardiovascular health of all
Americans by 20 percent while reducing deaths from
cardiovascular diseases and stroke by 20 percent.
My Life Check
This tool is based on the latest cardiovascular science interpreted by
American Heart Association medical experts. It will help a person assess
their individual needs and develop unique steps to change their behavior
and move closer to their individual health goals.
• Answer 18 questions about “Life’s Simple 7” health factors and health
behaviors. These include cholesterol, blood pressure, blood sugar,
smoking status, weight, physical activity and diet.
• Get a heart score: Overall cardiovascular health is assigned a number
from 1 to 10 based on information you supply.
• Create an action plan: Seven simple action plans are available.
Life’s Simple 7
For the first time, the American Heart Association has defined what it
means to have ideal cardiovascular health, identifying seven health and
behavior factors that impact health and quality of life. We know that even
simple, small changes can make a big difference in living a better life.
Known as “Life’s Simple 7,” these steps can help add years to your life:
• Stop smoking
• Manage blood pressure
• Maintain a healthy weight
• Take charge of cholesterol
• Engage in regular physical
activity
• Keep blood sugar, or
glucose, at healthy levels
• Eat a healthy diet
Take Action!
• Take the My Life Check Assessment. Go to http://mylifecheck.heart.org for your personalized health assessment.
• Create an action plan. Choose one of the seven simple action plans that are available on the assessment. Print it out
and start working on it. Review some of the basics on the back of this sheet. Remember, small steps make a big
difference.
• Tell someone about your commitment. Think of seven people you care about who may smoke, have high blood
pressure, diabetes or a family history of heart disease and stroke. People with these risk factors are at increased
risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke and may benefit from the Simple 7 Steps and the My Life Check Assessment. Send at least one health message to these seven people and encourage them to send the message on to
seven other people they know.
Contact Us:
Reprinted with permission from the American Heart Association
Get Active
Finding time for exercise in our overscheduled lives is a
challenge for all busy Americans. Especially for those who are
parents or are working full-time or both. But the benefits far
outweigh the sacrifices. The facts are clear: by exercising for as
little as 30 minutes each day you can reduce your risk of heart
disease. Without regular physical activity, the body slowly loses
its strength and ability to function well. Physical activity = living
a longer, healthier life.
American Heart Association Guidelines
We suggest at least 150 minutes per week of moderate
exercise or 75 minutes per week of vigorous exercise – or a
combination of moderate and vigorous. Physical activity is
anything that makes you move your body and burns calories,
such as climbing stairs or playing sports. Aerobic exercises
benefit your heart, such as walking, jogging, swimming or
biking. Strength and stretching exercises are best for overall
stamina and flexibility.
Control Cholesterol
Cholesterol is a soft, fat-like, waxy substance found in the
bloodstream and in all your body's cells. It's normal to have
cholesterol. Cholesterol is an important part of a healthy body
because it's used for producing cell membranes and some
hormones, and serves other needed bodily functions. But too
much cholesterol in the blood is a major risk factor for coronary
heart disease (which leads to heart attack) and for stroke.
American Heart Association Recommendations
It's important for all people to know their cholesterol level. Total
blood cholesterol is the most common measurement of blood
cholesterol. It's the number you receive as test results.
Cholesterol is measured in milligrams per deciliter of blood
(mg/dL). A cholesterol level of 200 mg/dL or higher puts you in
a high-risk category and is cause to take action.
Eat Better
The simplest, positive change you can make to effectively
improve your heart health is to start walking. It’s enjoyable, free,
easy, social and great exercise. Check out the Start Walking
program to get going with expert advice. (startwalkingnow.org)
A healthy diet and lifestyle are your best weapons to fight
cardiovascular disease. However, there are a lot of mixed
messages and myths out there regarding healthy eating. It’s not
surprising that a lot of us are confused about the different types
of fats. We have lots of questions regarding sodium and meat
and dairy. With all the differing opinions, it’s best to get
informed from credible sources, so you can make smart
choices in your diet for long-term benefits to your heart and
health. It's the overall pattern of your choices that counts most.
Head to the American Heart Association Nutrition Center for
guidelines and suggestions (americanheart.org/nutrition)
Manage Blood Pressure
High blood pressure is the single most significant risk factor for
heart disease. Uncontrolled high blood pressure can injure or
kill you. It's sometimes called "the silent killer" because it has
no symptoms. Blockages and blood clots mean less blood can
get to our vital organs, and without blood, the tissue dies.
That’s why high blood pressure can lead to stroke, heart attack,
kidney failure, and even heart failure.
American Heart Association Guidelines
While there is no cure, high blood pressure is manageable.
Even if your blood pressure is normal (less than 120 mm Hg
systolic AND less than 80 mm Hg diastolic) and your goal is
prevention only, lifestyle modifications provide a prescription
for healthy living. These changes may reduce your blood
pressure without the use of prescription medications: eating a
heart-healthy diet, which may include reducing salt; enjoying
regular physical activity; maintaining a healthy weight;
managing stress; limiting alcohol; avoiding tobacco smoke.
Lose Weight
Among Americans age 20 and older, 145 million are overweight
or obese (BMI of 25.0 kg/m2 and higher). That’s 76.9 million
men and 68.1 million women. This is of great concern
especially since obesity is now recognized as a major,
independent risk factor for heart disease. If you have too much
fat — especially if a lot of it is at your waist — you're at higher
risk for such health problems as high blood pressure, high
blood cholesterol and diabetes.
If you're overweight or obese, you can reduce your risk for heart
disease by successfully losing weight and keeping it off. When
coming up with a fitness and nutrition plan to lose weight, it’s
crucial to understand your recommended calorie intake. And
then the amount of food calories you’re consuming verses the
energy calories you’re burning off with different levels of
physical activity. It’s a matter of balancing healthy eating
(caloric energy) with the (molecular) energy that leaves your
body through a healthy level of exercise.
Reduce Blood Sugar
The American Heart Association considers diabetes one of the
six major controllable risk factors for cardiovascular disease. In
fact, adults with diabetes are two to four times more likely to
have heart disease or a stroke than adults without diabetes.
Diabetes is treatable but even when glucose levels are under
control it greatly increases the risk of heart disease and stroke.
In fact, most people with diabetes die of some form of heart or
blood vessel disease.
American Heart Association Guidelines
When diabetes is detected, a doctor may prescribe changes in
eating habits, weight control, exercise programs and
medication to keep it in check. It's critical for people with
diabetes to have regular check-ups. Work closely with your
healthcare provider to manage your diabetes and control any
other risk factors. For example, blood pressure for people with
diabetes should be lower than 130/80 mm Hg.
Impact of Smoking on Health
Smoking is the most important preventable cause of premature
death in the United States. Smokers have a higher risk of
developing many chronic disorders, including atherosclerosis —
the buildup of fatty substances in the arteries — which can lead
to coronary heart disease, heart attack (myocardial infarction)
and stroke. Controlling or reversing atherosclerosis is an
important part of preventing future heart attack or stroke.
Reprinted with permission from the American Heart Association