John Venturino, Author at Thriving Schools | A partnership for healthy students, staff & teachers

Kaiser Permanente and NBA Wrap Up 2015 NBA FIT Clinics At Three SoCal Schools

November 24, 2015

Kaiser Permanente and the National Basketball Association wrapped up a series of 14 NBA FIT clinics held this year, with three Southern California schools holding events in late September. The clinics are an integral part of Kaiser Permanente’s groundbreaking partnership with the NBA, WNBA and NBA Development League.

When It Comes To Playgrounds, Is Risk Its Own Reward?

November 3, 2015

Dialogue on playground design has been going on for decades. And while the larger trend in the U.S. has been toward durability and safety, all along there’s been an undercurrent advocating challenge and greater risk-taking opportunities, particularly in Europe, where laws limit liability.

Fire Up Your Feet! Gets Families, Students, Schools More Active

September 22, 2015

Fire Up Your Feet offers free resources, an online activity tracker healthy fundraising and more, all aimed at increasing physical activity before, during and after school for students, parents, school staff and teachers. This year’s Fall Activity Challenge runs October 1 - 31.

Thriving Schools Mines Back-To-School Gems to Make Your School Year Shine

August 18, 2015

This time of year there’s a whole lot of chatter out there about kids going back to school with much advice-giving on how families, teachers and schools can prepare for a smooth transition. Thriving Schools has pulled several “trending” topics from the back-to-school dialogue. For each topic, we provide a resource we feel provides information that shares our vision and perspective.

Decline in Extra-Curricular Budgets Contributes to Student Health and Discipline Challenges

August 11, 2015

School sports, arts and music programs bear the brunt of spending cuts induced by persistent state and local government budget shortfalls. But, we should understand cuts to team sports and arts curricula come with their own set of costs. The good news is that the issue appears to be garnering attention.

Behavioral Studies Look at Link Between Parenting and Child Obesity Rates

August 4, 2015

Many factors – some not well understood -- influence people’s ability to maintain healthy weight. Two recent studies support the importance of parental behavior, particularly early in children’s lives, in establishing good eating and physical activity habits that carry through to adulthood.

Taking Back Streets and Sidewalks So Kids Can Walk or Bike to School

July 28, 2015

Safe Routes to School National Partnership published a report titled Taking Back the Streets and Sidewalks earlier this year. The report provides a resource parents, schools and communities can use to reduce the threat of crime and violence and create safer trips to school for their children.