According to a report produced for the Hispanic Health Coalition of Georgia (HHCGA), Latino students in Georgia have the lowest levels of physical activity, when compared to other groups. The state of Georgia recently ranked number 2 in the country for childhood obesity. In efforts to reduce this number, state officials are reaching out to school districts, through the Shape Georgia initiative, and asking them to grant elementary school children an additional 30 minutes of physical activity throughout the day. 30 minutes of Daily Physical Activity They are asking schools to implement the 30 minutes of physical activity on a voluntary basis, in addition to the time children already spend in PE class. Schools like Sope Creek and Yargo Elementary have already seen great success by ...
During 2006-2007, the North Carolina State Board of Education implemented a policy--Healthy Active Children--to improve physical activity standards and reduce the risk of obesity among children. The policy requires that each school district maintain a School Health Advisory Council (SHAC) to help plan, implement, and monitor the Healthy Active Children policy. It also recommends that elementary school students move towards 150 minutes of physical education (PE) and middle school students towards 225 minutes a week of Healthful Living Education, taught by certified health and PE instructors. For recess and physical activity, the policy recommends that recess not be taken away and that exercise not be used as a form of punishment. It also recommends a minimum of 30 minutes of ...
San Antonio Mayor Julián Castro appointed the Mayor’s Fitness Council (MFC) in May 2010. The mission of the Mayor’s Fitness Council is to transform San Antonio into a healthier and more active community in which citizens, groups, and organizations achieve targeted health and fitness goals through initiatives in the following areas: media and promotions;
fitness;
nutrition;
healthy schools;
work-site wellness; and
policy. The MFC is also encouraging youth to be health ambassadors through the Mayor's Fitness Council Student Ambassador program. These outstanding kids are committed to bringing healthier lifestyles into their schools and communities. Watch the video to learn more about the Student Ambassador Program. To learn more about the Mayor's Fitness Council ...
The Dallas Mayor’s Youth Fitness Initiative (MyFi Dallas)—a public/private partnership led by City of Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings and community and business leaders—is making long-term improvements in the way Dallas children eat, play and live. MyFi Dallas is uniting government with local leaders to evaluate and leverage existing projects, and design and implement new activities supportive of healthy eating and active living in kids. Through a partnership with the Dallas Parks and Recreation Department MyFi Dallas delivers programs to promote healthy lifestyles for children. The program was developed in 2010, when programs at recreation centers across Dallas were in jeopardy of being closed. Fortunately, city leaders joined with Oncor--a corporation who decided to contribute $1 ...
Minneapolis schools are changing their food offerings to provide a healthier environment for students. They have hired three extra kitchen employees to create a new menu and offer more variety to students. New menu items include orange chicken, wheatberry salad, black bean burgers, and roasted red potatoes- instead of fries. The way the food is prepared is the biggest and greatest change being made in Minneapolis schools. Instead of using all prepared and packaged foods, they are making more food fresh in their kitchens. Previously they only heated up pre-made pizzas, but now they now make pizzas by hand with a variety toppings like roasted vegetables and pepperoni. In order to create a new menu, and keep up with the preparation and cooking, the district had to hire two new prep cooks ...
Karin Drakenberg from Bronxville, NY is an example of anyone being able to start a movement in their community. Drakenberg was just an ordinary mom living in Bronxville, NY, but she couldn't help but wonder why more children in her community did not walk to school. In order to get more students walking Drakenberg, a mother of two, and her friends proposed that schools in Bronxville walk to school on Earth Day. When others learned of Karin Drakenberg's plan, they too wanted to participate. To futher promote Walk to School Day, Drakenberg gathered support from local shop owners and the mayor of Bronxville. Now Walk to School bumper stickers, posters, and other promotional items can be found throughout the Bronxville community and many families have decided to opt for walking to school ...
The Let's Move! Active Schools national initiative encourages schools to help children get at least 60 minutes of physical activity throughout the day. First lady Michelle Obama announced the launch of Let's Move! Active Schools in Chicago on February 28, 2013 and already schools in Illinois, New Jersey, and Massachusetts, have been recognized for providing their students with the opportunity to get at least 60 minutes of physical activity a day. According to the Let's Move Active Schools Campaign an active school is one that seeks to increase opportunities for: physical education;
physical activity during school;
physical activity before and after school;
staff involvement; and
family and community engagement. Let's Move! Active Schools will leverage opportunities offered through ...
A shared use agreement (joint-use agreement) at Chula Vista High School allows over 1,000 children to use the school's soccer field during after school hours. The partnership between a local soccer league and the school, has brought an affordable means of promoting physical activity, among the community's children. On weekdays children who participate in the soccer league use the field after 4pm, when after-school activities are over. During weekends, the league hosts games on the field, and residents from the community come out to walk along the field. In exchange for being given permission to use the school's field, the soccer league agreed to maintain it. As a result, the agreement has been beneficial to the both parties involved and more importantly, children are given the ...
Since 2008, students enrolled in Texas Public Schools have had their fitness levels assessed using FitnessGram--a tool that provides useful information to parents, teachers, and administrators and helps inform decisions about physical education and physical activity requirements for students. FitnessGram is an annual fitness test that yields a fitness report card, with information about a student's aerobic capacity, muscular strength, muscular endurance, flexibility, and body composition. It can help decision makers decide what type of physical activity programs are needed and where funding for programs should be allocated. Lauren Dimitry of Texans Care for Children speaks on why it is important to keep FitnessGram in Texas ...
