Help your school go green this Earth Day

Did you know recycling one ton of plastic milk bottles reduces green house gas emissions and saves landfill space?

To celebrate Earth Day's 40th anniversary on April 22, schools across the Southeast are encouraged to help protect the environment by committing to use and recycle plastic milk bottles.

In fact, plastic bottles used for the New Look of School Milk are more readily recycled than paperboard milk cartons. Cartons, due to their wax lining, cannot be universally recycled, however some school systems are able to compost paperboard.

How can you get students excited about recycling their bottles?

Join the Drink It Then Sink It program, which provides schools with colorful posters and recycling bins to help teach your students about the importance of fueling up with milk and recycling, and makes it fun!

You also could create "Green Teams" that help encourage students to learn about Earth Day and how recycling positively impacts our environment.

Alabama's Morgan County School District recently developed a "Green Team" at each of its schools to build awareness among students. The addition of these teams has successfully impacted the schools' recycling programs. Students are now excited about making a difference and are drinking more milk.

Dairy farmers work to protect the environment for future generations

Dairy farmers take great pride in protecting the Earth's natural resources.

Not only do they live and work on their farms, but they also depend on these resources to help produce wholesome, nutritious milk. Most importantly, these efforts help preserve our environment for future generations.

To ensure the land, air and water are protected, dairy farmers work hard to employ a wide range of environmentally sound practices, which include water recycling systems and manure management programs.

For more information about environmental practices on today's dairy farms, visit www.dairyfarmingtoday.org.

Enrollment for the 2010-2011 Fuel Up to Play 60 program is officially open!

Each kit provides you with tools and messages to encourage students to play for 60 minutes each day and to "fuel up" with essential foods including low-fat dairy, fruits, vegetables and whole grains.

During the 2010-2011 school year, FUTP60 will work with First Lady Michelle Obama's office to expand the program's reach to more than 90 percent of our nation's schools. More than 9,700 schools in the Southeast have already joined in the fight against childhood obesity!

What's New With FUTP60?

The Web site now includes personal dashboards to allow program advisors to see:

• Who else has joined FUTP60 within their school.
• Who the program advisors are at their school.
• Which healthy eating and physical activity action strategies their school has chosen to implement.
• How many students are participating.

The dashboard is also where advisors can update their contact information and retrieve communication alerts about new resources and program incentives.

For more information about the FUTP60 program or to order your FREE kit, visit www.fueluptoplay60.com.

May is Osteoporosis Prevention Month

Americans tend to look at diseases such as osteoporosis and think, "that only happens to older people." Due to this common outlook, it's important to educate students at a young age about the importance of building healthy, strong bones.

Studies show that seven out of 10 boys and nine out of 10 girls don't get the recommended calcium they need.

To help encourage your students to build strong bones:

1. Make eating calcium-rich foods fun:
• Develop a taste-test activity that includes foods rich in calcium such as milk, cheese and yogurt. During the taste test, talk to students about calcium's role in building strong bones and teeth.
  
2. Encourage your students to be active.
• Regular, weight-bearing activity helps children build strong bones. Encourage students to participate in games including jump rope, hopscotch, freeze tag and Simon Says. Visit www.fueluptoplay60.com for additional activity ideas.

In this issue:

Help your school go green this Earth Day

Dairy farmers work to protect the environment for future generations

Enrollment for the 2010-2011 Fuel Up to Play 60 program is officially open!

May is Osteoporosis Prevention Month