Fitness study Holland Patent Middle School

Essential Question What are the fitness trends? What can the school system do to effect the trends? Is it the responsibility of the school to effect the fitness levels of the students?

Boys Curl Ups (Core Strength) The Curl Up test registers the number of curl ups the student does in one minute.

Girls Curl Ups (Core Strength)

Boys Sit and Reach (Lower back and hamstring flexibility) The sit and reach test measures the distance that the students can reach forward from a sitting position with their knees straight. The test is measured in centimeters and the score of 23cm is even with the bottom of your feet.

Girls Sit and Reach (Lower back and hamstring flexibility)

Boys Pull Ups (average of the middle 80%) Pulls up start from a straight arm hang.

Girls Pull Ups (average of the middle 80%) Since a majority of girls can not do one pull up, a criteria for scoring arm bend was used. A small bend is one quarter pull up. A 90 degree bend is one half pull up. Any pull above 90 that does not reach the bar with the chin is three quarters of a pull up,

Students that can not do one pull up

Boys Shuttle Run (test of agility and quickness) Student runs 30 ft. and picks up eraser. Runs back and puts eraser down. Runs back and picks up second eraser. And finishes by running through the starting line. Even with the years 2000 and 2007 removed because of possible inconsistent facility conditions, the trendlines remained the same.

Girls Shuttle Run (Test of agility and quickness) Even with the years 2000 and 2007 removed because of possible inconsistent facility conditions, the trendlines remained the same.

Boys Mile ( Test of cardiovascular and running endurance) Test is scored in seconds, ie. 600 = ten minutes

Girls Mile (Test of cardiovascular and running endurance) Test is scored in seconds, ie. 600 = ten minutes

What are the fitness trends? All school : 26 downward trends, 4 upward Boys: 14 downward, one upward Girls: 12 downward, 3 upward

Steepest declines per test: 6 th grade boys three, 8 th grade girls three, 7 th grade boys two, 6th grade girls two, 7 th grade girls none and eighth grade boys none. Inclines: 7 th grade girls two

What can the School system do to effect the trends? Practical Solutions Develop local “Golden Knights” or “Knights of the Round Table” Fitness Awards that may be sponsored by a school/community consortium. Increase elementary PE contact time. Develop a noninvasive program for ‘in classroom’ reinforcement of positive fitness ideas. For example, wall posters or exercise area. Develop a curriculum for elementary teachers that would require some minimal presentation and planning. For example, survey students TV or Computer sit-down time at home and encourage other fitness related pursuits. Use ‘in house’ communication to recommend to teachers the importance of stretching and calisthenics to stimulate cognitive processes. Develop a fitness newsletter for elementary and middle school parents. Develop a fitness web page for our district. This could be a high school project. Build a state-of-the-art fitness center in the new construction plans that would be used by students, athletes, staff and community. Start an intramural program for 4 th to 6 th grades that spans the entire year. Open gyms and the pool on weekday nights and weekends for specific groups. Focus on 4 th to 6 th grade. Start a parent/teacher committee for the appropriation of playground equipment. Actively supervise recess or play periods and target sedentary students. Start a parent/teacher/administration group for the appropriation of fitness equipment. Start a fitness program for teachers and other school personnel. Recommendations from 2002 study:

Benign ways of effecting fitness? Don’t remove equipment, ban activities, change curriculum or change facilities without input from PE staff.