OSKALOOSA HIGH SCHOOL PHYSICAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AWARDED PE4LIFE GRANT
Left-Right: Cyndy Gray, Jen Neubauer - PE4life Program Delivery Specialist, Mark Schilb, Nick Reed, Andy Fuhs, & Ginny Foster (submitted photo)
On April 10-11, 2012 a specialized team of educators from Oskaloosa High School attended a PE4life Implementation Workshop in Ankeny, Iowa. The team consisted of Ginny Foster, Physical Education Teacher; Andy Fuhs, Assistant Principal; Cyndy Gray, Physical Education Teacher; Nick Reed, Biology Teacher; and Mark Schilb, Physical Education Teacher.
This was all made possible by funding that PE4life had received from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) with support from Iowa Senator Tom Harkin. The Oskaloosa High School Physical Education Department was one of ten schools selected in a competitive grant process to be awarded the following:
* A $5,000 equipment award
* Up to $2,250 for travel-related expenses and sub pay
* Admission to a PE4life Implementation Workshop
Over the course of the 2-day workshop, the team learned how to integrate PE4life Core Principles into their program; how to model physical education best practices; and completed action plans for a Cardio/Wellness Room and Physical Activity (Brain Breaks) that will be started in the 2012-13 school year. They had the opportunity to view the PE4life Core Principles in action at Northview Middle School, Parkview Middle School and Ankeny High School, which are all PE4life Model School Sites. Upon returning home, the group will work together to make the Cardio/Wellness Room a reality and the implementation of Brain Breaks.
The next steps for the Oskaloosa High School Physical Education Department is to continue to apply for grants and seek out community support or any potential funders who would like to partner with them, and continue to make a difference in the health and wellness of the students at Oskaloosa High School. To learn more about how you can get involved in their efforts, please contact one of the PE4life team members.
PE4life is a regionally focused organization with a national reach. Their mission is to advocate for improved fitness, social behavior, and learning readiness of children by inspiring, empowering, and educating school and their community partners to be catalysts for change in establishing quality physical education as the foundation of a comprehensive school physical activity program. To learn more about PE4life, visit www.pe4life.org.
