The School District of Palm Beach County, Florida - Other School Department Based Activities
Celebrating 10 Years Of Wellness
Melanoma Foundation
- Health Science standards for the Florida Dept. of Education has been updated!
- "The standards we sent to FDOE were accepted by the committee and we are meeting one more time to finalize objectives. The course is Medical Skills and Services. 8th graders and high school students take this course throughout Florida and it will impact every county that has a medical academy or health science program.
- For Playground Safety Week in April of 2015, the Foundation, in conjunction with the School District of Palm Beach County, Troy Wilkinson, CMP, CPSI (safety and facilities), and Brian Thomas (teacher at Okeeheelee Middle School, who has melanoma), created a five-minute video for sun safety and melanoma prevention and early detection.
- RAY – Florida’s first automatic Sunscreen Dispensing Unit in High Risk Venues. RAY was rolled out at the South Florida Fair in January 2016, with Baseball Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt. Mike supports the work of the foundation, and his Winners Circle Charities, have helped us to advance our mission, and get more properties protected. These are being placed at some schools and Parks and Recreation around Palm Beach County. Our SAM (Students Against Melanoma) Clubs are bringing them to events at school and in their communities, and created fundraising opportunities to keep RAY filled! Have your SAM Club or PTA call and find out how to get one for your school!
- We will be providing a quarterly newsletter on our website that will then be uploaded to the School District, Nurses, Wellness Promotion Task Force, PTA, Coordinated School Health Partners, and others that can make a difference by sharing our mission.
- Our Melanoma Monday Art Contest in Schools reached districts statewide. We had two winners that were from: Daytona and Spring Hill. TEN (the education network), in conjunction with WPEC Anchor Ric Blackwell, and teacher Diana Absatz, from Pine Jog Elementary, created a not to miss video about the importance of teaching Sun Safety to all children.
- The Second Annual SAMposium™took place at The Palm Beach Post building in September 2015. SAM Club members from around the county interacted in an engaging, fun, and educational three hour seminar, lead by Executive Director Lisa Richman, Audrey Jacobsen, MD/MPH from the University of Miami, melanoma survivors and volunteers. A PowerPoint presentation, games, lunch, a social media campaign, and awareness bags, made up this life-changing day. The most amazing surprise came when the pre and post testing was tabulated We learned:
Pre/Post Testing
Before the SAMposium™, 78.3% of students believed that a change in size, color of shape of a mole was a warning sign of melanoma. After the SAMposium™, that number increased to 93.9% of students.
Before the SAMposium™ 30.9% of students were not concerned or not very concerned about developing melanoma in their life. After the SAMposium™, that number dropped to 18.2%.
Before the SAMposium™ 37.5% of students strongly agreed that they intend to avoid deliberate tanning. After the SAMposium™, 52.5% of students strongly agreed that they intend to avoid deliberate tanning.
Before the SAMposium™ 9.4% of students were very confident in knowing the warning signs of melanoma. That number increased to 53.5% after the SAMposium™!
After the SAMposium™
93.9% of students agreed or strongly agreed that they “feel confident that I can educate others on the warning signs of melanoma”.
93% of students agreed or strongly agreed that they “plan to change my personal sun safety behaviors based on what I learned today”.
94% of students agreed or strongly agreed that they “feel confident that I can educate others on the importance of sun safety”.
