Definition
Story Behind the Curve
Physical Fitness:
All children need to be physically literate. This means that all students will know how to enjoy lifetime physical activities for their overall health and wellness. Analyzing this data, Plymouth students need to increase their physical educational component and increase their daily physical activity. This will be accomplished through increasing physical education time during the school day, promoting moderate to vigorous activity during recess, providing before and after school clubs related to physical fitness and incorporating physical activity during class time.
Although we are monitoring State Fitness Requirements we know that this is not best practice in physical and health education. Best practice is assessing through pedometers in the elementary schools and Middle School and High School is assessing through heart rate monitors. Plymouth is currently moving in this direction.
Physical fitness is a critical component of a child’s health. We analyzed the data for fourth graders passing the physical fitness test. Exercise also helps young children to improve their gross & motor skills, social and personal skills. Daily physical activity can also greatly decrease children's risk of becoming obese and developing associated health problems, as well as promote better sleep, higher academic success, decrease behavior issues and absenteeism. There are many positive effects of play including social skill development, family bonding, and positive self-esteem.
Nutrition:
In addition to physical fitness, healthy eating is essential to improve a child’s overall health.The following strategies address not only physical fitness but also healthy food choices.For these strategies, we have engaged grocery stores to promote healthy foods for Plymouth families.We understand that it is going to take the entire community to promote and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
We also wanted to ascertain current health behaviors of Plymouth students.Although this survey looked at older children, we feel that it is instructive to study these results so that our strategies address the concerns raised while the children are young enough to have an impact.This Physical Activity and Nutrition survey, based on CDC’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey, was also completed in March, 2011 by the Plymouth School District, grade 4-12 students. This survey revealed several points:
ü 71% of students reported watching two or more hours of TV/computer use a day;
ü Only 12% of students are physically active for 60 minutes a day;
ü The vast majority of students (80%) report NOT eating a minimum of two portions of fruit a day; and only 13% report eating salad daily;
ü 47% of students reported NOT drinking milk every day;
ü Less than 21% of students avoid drinking sugar-added beverages; and
When asked the question: “I wish I had more PE,” only 66% of students said they would like more PE; with 9% stating, “NO,” and over 25% being neutral.We felt that we needed to develop a “constellation of strategies” to address the physical health of Plymouth’s youngest children.You will note that we have engaged a variety of partners in this work because we know that no one agency can address all of the factors that encompass children’s physical health needs.
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Partners
Plymouth Public School System
Education Connection
Plymouth Parks and Recreation
Carol W. White Physical Education Program Grant
Local Prevention Council
Strategy
By providing age appropriate physical activity experiences, early childhood caregivers can positively impact physical, intellectual and emotional development and plant the seeds for a lifetime of healthful practices and behaviors.We felt that we needed to develop a “constellation of strategies to address the physical health of Plymouth’s youngest children.You will notice that we engaged a variety of partners in this work because we know that no one agency can address all the factors that encompass children’s physical health needs.
● Strategy: Implement Carol W. White Physical Education Program (PEP) for the Plymouth Board of Education – This grant allows for the implantation of a new curriculum:
▪Implement K-12 SPARK PE curriculum in schools
▪Expand physical education equipment in schools
▪Expand after school physical fitness programs in schools
▪Track different data points, including BMI
● Strategy: Implement Activity Bursts in the Classroom/Home – to promote movement in school and home
● Strategy: Implement newly adopted Plymouth Public School Wellness Policy
● Strategy: Build upon breakfast program throughout the Plymouth School District
● Strategy: Promote Community Activity:
▪ Summer & Vacation Programs &
▪ Nature Trail at High School and New High School Track
What Have We Accomplished
What has been accomplished to date to address individual physical fitness and wellness: | |
Ensure that a PECC representative sits on Wellness Committee & Write new Health Policy | Health Policy was adopted by the Plymouth Board of Education January of 2014 |