Swampscott High School Physical Education I: Common Assessment Data Analysis ___________________________ September 2012 Fitness Pre-Test January 2013 Fitness Post-Test Instructors: Mrs. Lavender & Mr. P. Bush

PHYSICAL EDUCATION 1&2 CORE STANDARDS  Core Standard 1. Students will demonstrate responsible personal and social behavior in a physical activity setting.  Core Standard 2. Students will demonstrate competency in many and proficiency in a few movement forms of physical activity.  Core Standard 3. Students will strive to achieve and maintain a health-enhancing level of physical fitness.  Core Standard 4. Students will understand, value, and identify the many benefits of physical activity including: enjoyment, challenge, self-expression, social interaction, stress release, and physical fitness.  Core Standard 5. Students will be able to design (and maintain) personal fitness programs.  Core Standard 6. Students demonstrate critical and problem solving thinking skills in a physical education setting.

Data Focus: Core Standards 3,4 & 5 Over the past few years, the lack of fitness among our students, as well as the latest research linking fitness and brain function, has inspired many changes in our curriculum. We have now placed an even stronger emphasis on helping our students reach a healthy level of physical fitness.

Physical Fitness: A Daily S.H.S Physical Education Focus Every day in class, we focus on activities that help students improve their areas of health fitness including cardiovascular function, muscular strength & endurance, flexibility and body composition. In the process, we are exposing students to a variety of exercises they can use in their own homes to improve personal fitness.

Benefits of Healthy Fitness / Exercise Improved concentration Brain cell growth Decreased depression, stress, anxiety Improved self-confidence Improved test scores: Cambridge Public Schools found a connection between fitness levels and MCAS scores.

Naperville School District School District Highlighted in Book: SPARK, by John J. Ratey, MD, Harvard & Eric Hagerman (2008) -Naperville School District: 97% students healthy BMI Zero hour “am workouts” for students, found connection between fitness levels & test scores, began scheduling hardest classes after PE One of first U.S. schools to compete with, and beat Singapore, China on international Math and Science exams

Titusville, PA Added 10 min. school day, cut academic time for daily PE Test scores improved from below state avg. to 17% above in reading, 18% above in math Not one physical fight since started program (Source: Ratey, J.J., & Hagerman,E. (2008)

INCREASED DEMANDS + TECHNOLOGY= INACTIVITY IN YOUTH Deprogramming what bodies were designed to do for survival: MOVE Interestingly, only organisms that move have a brain. In one of our project adventure community building activities, students were asked how many text messages they send/receive each day. Answers ranged from Kaiser Family Foundation (2003, 2005) reports children watch nearly 4 hrs. TV, almost 2 hrs. computer or video games daily 61.5% age 9-13 do not participate in any organized exercise non- school hours (Pate et al. (2006))

ENCOURAGING S.H.S. PHYSICAL EDUCATION PROGRAM NEWS By the end of the semester every male and female who participated in both the Pre and Post test improved in at least one area of physical fitness.

PE I: Predominantly 9 th Grade Students Pre-test Entry Fitness Scores (Sept. 2012)

PE 1 STUDENTS SCORING IN “AT RISK” FITNESS CATEGORY UPON ENTERING SWAMPSCOTT HIGH SCHOOL (83% of all students, 88% male, 79% females)

PRE – POST TEST IMPROVEMENTS By the end of semester of PE1 The following graph shows the breakdown of improvements by gender by the end of our semester PE 1 program. Note: 66% of students improved in every category tested!!

FLEXIBILITY IMPROVEMENTS Flexibility is a key component of fitness that is often overlooked among those lacking fitness knowledge. A lack of fitness in this area accounts for many preventable injuries and health ailments. Our students have been scoring very poorly in this area upon entering our PE1 program over the past years. This past year, based on increased focus in our class, we have noticed great improvements. In 2011, 55% of our students left our program still “at risk” in this are. In 2012, that number decreased by 16%.

FLEXIBILITY PLAN (Implemented in 2012) After extensive research, our PE students are now being trained on the most up to date techniques for improving flexibility through the use of “Foam Rollers” and “Bands”. As a result, our post test scores dramatically improved OVER 90% OF OUR STUDENTS IMPROVED THEIR FLEXIBILITY ON THE POST TEST!!!!!!!!!!

Work Still Needed To Help Our Students Although improvements were significant, many students are still not meeting minimal fitness recommendations. Furthermore, we will not see those students again for another year. After the second semester of their sophomore year, we will not see them again in a required PE class at SHS.

Goal for Next year, although increasing flexibility training has proved to be effective, we now see a need to provide more education and experiences with cardiovascular and muscular strength training.

“AT RISK” GENDER BREAKDOWN Post End of PE 1

“AT RISK” BREAKDOWN BY AREA OF FITNESS: POST TEST

Have an opportunity to meet as a K-12 Wellness Staff to examine when student fitness declines are happening Find a way to connect with students during unscheduled PE time: Crossfit Training Program / Online Blog (training necessary) Provide Physical Education Opportunities for our Juniors and Seniors FUTURE GOALS OF OUR PHYSICAL EDUCATION PROGRAM/REQUIRED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

MIND & BODY: ONE BEING In order for man to succeed in life, God provided him with two means, education and physical activity. Not separately, one for the soul and the other for the body, but for the two together. -Plato (quote taken from: Ratey, JJ, & Hagerman, E. (2008).)