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Physical Education, Activities Director

St. Aloysius Physical Education 2010/2011

 “Knowing is not enough, we must apply. Willing is not enough, we must do.” Anonymous

Pete Hanson, St. Aloysius School PE Teacher: BA Recreation, MA in Teaching, Physical Education Endorsement; Principal Endorsement; Current President Washington Alliance For Health, Physical Education, Recreation & Dance

Obesity is a serious health concern for children and adolescents. Data from a national surveys (1976-1980 and 2003–2006) show that the prevalence of obesity has increased: for children aged 2–5 years, prevalence increased from 5.0% to 12.4%; for those aged 6–11 years, prevalence increased from 6.5% to 17.0%; and for those aged 12–19 years, prevalence increased from 5.0% to 17.6%.^{1, 46}

Obese children and adolescents are at risk for health problems during their youth and as adults. For example, during their youth, obese children and adolescents are more likely to have risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease (such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and Type 2 diabetes) than are other children and adolescents.²

Obese children and adolescents are more likely to become obese as adults.^{3, 4} For example, one study found that approximately 80% of children who were overweight at aged 10–15 years were obese adults at age 25 years.³ Another study found that 25% of obese adults were overweight as children.⁵ The latter study also found that if overweight begins before 8 years of age, obesity in adulthood is likely to be more severe.

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The Challenging News Nationally:

· Only 34.7% of children meet physical activity recommendations of increasing their heart rate and breathing hard for 60 minutes at least 5 days per week (Youth Risk Survey, 2007)

· Only 21.4% of children eat 5 or more vegetables per week (Youth Risk Survey, 2007)

· 35.4% of children watched television for more than 3 hours a day (Center For Disease Control, 2009)

· 33.8% of children have a soda/pop at least once per day (Youth Risk Survey, 2007)

· Overweight children can experience social discrimination (Center For Disease Control, 2009)

The Good News Regarding Physical Activity:

· Participating in at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity on most days can help a child maintain a healthy weight. 

· Improves health risk profile

· Helps maintain good muscle tone.

· Improves appetite and digestion and facilitate quality of sleep.

· Improves immune function and help prevent cold and flu.

· Increases energy, endurance and clarity of thinking (there is a correlation between fitness and test scores).

· Builds self confidence and positive attitude.

The Good News at St. Aloysius School:

 · Varied play equipment for recess play.

 · A Fitness test (push ups, sit ups and the Fitnessgram 20 Meter Pacer Test) for grades 4 – 8 testing reported only to parents in a confidential manner – once in the fall and once in the spring.

· For 4^th grade and higher, weekly physical activity calendaring homework will be required.

· Nutritional lessons taught in class

Homework Information:

 Nationwide, 43% of the time/opportunity for children to participate in physical activity occurs before school, after school, in the evenings and during weekends (Center For Disease Control 2009). 

The St. Aloysius School PE Department is requiring weekly exercise/physical activity homework from The forms may be picked up by students at the front counter or in class and must by dropped off in the “PE Homework” container at the front office counter by 3:00 p.m. Friday.  

 Students must participate in physical activity (as denoted on calendar) for at least 15 minutes each day at least 5 days per week (team practices can count towards this total). Because parent modeling of participation in physical activity positively correlates to child participation (Journal of Physical Activity, 2009), 1 extra credit point will be awarded to the student if their parent participates with their child in physical activity at least one day a week. 

Physical activity homework is worth 15 % of class grade.