Healthy Living Month
April 2026
Dear District 64 Families,
We are excited to kick off Healthy Living Month—a district-wide initiative dedicated to promoting wellness and healthy habits for our students and community! Our goal is to encourage healthy bodies and healthy minds through engaging activities, resources, and weekly challenges centered around the themes below:
Weekly Themes
📅 Week 1 (April 6-10): Health & Nutrition
🚶 Week 2 (April 13-17): Neat to Use Your Feet
🌱 Week 3 (April 20-24): Go Green
📵 Week 4 (April 27-April 30): Screen-Free
How It Works
Each student will receive a Healthy Living Month Bingo card, featuring a variety of health-related challenges. As students complete each weekly challenge, they will initial the corresponding box. At the end of the month, students who have completed all challenges will have their card signed by a parent and submit it to their classroom teacher on May 1, 2026.
All completed cards will be entered into a schoolwide raffle, where winners will have a unique opportunity to co-teach a P.E. class alongside their teacher along with other cool prizes donated from Advocate Children's Hospital.
A Special Thank You
This initiative would not be possible without the support of our incredible community partners:
Advocate Children's Hospital, City of Park Ridge, Village of Niles, Park Ridge Police Department, GoGreen!, Park Ridge Public Library, Niles Public Library, Park Ridge Park District, Park Ridge Friends of the Parks, Park Ridge Health Commission
Thank you for joining us in making health and wellness a priority for our students. Let’s work together to build healthy habits that last a lifetime!
Be Healthy! Stay Healthy!
District 64 Healthy Living Month Committee
Health and Nutrition Week 1 (April 6-10)
New dietary guidelines were released for Americans from the US Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Agriculture (USDA). They work together to update and release the Dietary Guidelines every five years. The Dietary Guidelines provides advice on what to eat and drink to meet nutrient needs, promote health, and prevent disease. The focus this week is fueling our body with whole foods.
The dietary guidelines emphasize simple, flexible guidance rooted in modern nutrition science:
- Prioritize protein at every meal
- Consume full-fat dairy with no added sugars
- Eat vegetables and fruits throughout the day, focusing on whole forms
- Incorporate healthy fats from whole foods such as meats, seafood, eggs, nuts, seeds, olives, and avocados
- Focus on whole grains, while sharply reducing refined carbohydrates
- Limit highly processed foods, added sugars, and artificial additives
- Eat the right amount for you, based on age, body size, and activity level
- Choose water and unsweetened beverages to support hydration
Click on the link for Dietary Guidelines for Americans to learn more.
Upcoming Community Events:
Saturday, April 11 Pedals for the Parks Bike & Trike Exchange (Donation Drop-Off) 9:00 am -12:00 pm
