Buchanan School
GRAND RAPIDS PUBLIC SCHOOLS
KENT County
1775 Buchanan Avenue SW
Grand Rapids, Michigan 49507-1642
Enrollment: 484
Public School
Success Story Contact:
Madonna Saia
School Nurse
Phone: 616-819-5517
Email: saiam@grps.k12.mi.us
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Success Story Information:
Reach:
Duration: 4 to 6 months
Costs: - Materials/supplies
- $100 or less
Factors for Success: - Coordinated School Health Team
- Completing an assessment (such as Healthy School Action Tool Assessment, School Health Index, Changing the Scene)
- Funding
- Partnership with Calvin College School of Nursing
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EDUCATION FOR STAFF, STUDENTS AND FAMILIES ABOUT ASTHMA
SUCCESS STORY
Even the best teacher cannot guarantee success of a student struggling with asthma. In order to insure that asthma was not an individual burden or something to be ashamed of, Buchanan Elementary began an asthma education campaign in 2009 to assist each child in reaching their academic potential. If a child has asthma, managing the symptoms are necessary for success in school. Under the guidance of the school nurse, nursing students, and some supplemental funding the staff embarked on supporting asthmatic students through education and school-based activities about asthma.
To address the needs of students with asthma sessions were by grade for three 30 minute group sessions and a half hour individual assessments over a six week period. Learning was enhanced by the newly developed Asthma Education Toolkits prepared for the lower and upper elementary grades. The kits included developmentally and age appropriate informational handouts, books, DVDs, spacers, peak flow meters, and medication demonstrations to aid in supporting asthmatic students. By helping to learn how to avoid triggers, treating flare-ups, physical limitations, and proper precautions students learned how to prevent future emergencies. To assess the students’ knowledge of asthma treatment, at the final elementary group session a Jeopardy-like game was met with enthusiasm with prizes. A Certificate of Good Asthma Management and a Personal Asthma Management Plan was received by each student at the conclusion of the program.
In addition, asthma education and emergency procedures were provided for the 4th grade classes during a thirty-minute classroom session. The curriculum was derived from a National Institutes of Health publication on asthma. The Asthma Initiative of Michigan provided each school with clipboards with pre-printed guidelines for managing an asthma emergency for physical education teachers and members of the school Medical Emergency Response Team.
Finally, parents participated in a “breakfast talk” on asthma. The impact of second-hand smoke and toxic cleaning products as asthma triggers were among the topics discussed. The messages were well received by parents and appreciative of the healthy treats and “green” cleaning door prizes.
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Other Relevant School Information
Our Coordinated School Health Team/Committee has the following active members: School Administration (Principal, Assistant Principal, Superintendent);Nutrition Services (Food Service Director or Manager);Physical Education (PE teacher);Classroom teacher (not PE or Health);Health Services Provider or School Nurse;School Counselor, Psychologist or Social Worker;Family Involvement (Parent/Guardian);Community Involvement (Health Department, MSU Extension, Heart Association, Cancer Society, Asthma or Tobacco or Other Health Coalition, Safe and Drug-Free School Coordinator, Law Enforcement Representative)
Our Team/Committee met 1 time during the past 12 months.
Assessments* Completed: Healthy School Action Tools (HSAT)*
This School Success Story was submitted on 1/12/2010
*Since 2004, The Healthy School Action Tool Assessment is Michigan’s preferred assessment tool that is a combination of the School Health Index and Changing the Scene.
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The Michigan Healthy School Success Story website is brought to you by the American Cancer Society, Michigan Action for Healthy Kids,
Michigan Department of Community Health, Michigan State University Extension, and United Dairy Industry of Michigan
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