PCPS Health and Physical Education

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PCPS Health and Physical Education

• Presentation to Health Advisory Committee
• March 31, 2009

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A matter of perspective.

• "Exercise and recreation...are as necessary as
  reading. I will rather say more necessary,
  because health is worth more than learning."
  Thomas Jefferson

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Health is not valued until sickness comes. Dr.
Thomas Fuller

• Health is the foundation for all that we do
• Impact on attendance, behavior, and academic
  achievement.
• Numerous studies indicate that students who are
  physically fit do better in school.

PCPS Health and Physical Education Promoting
Healthy Choices and Healthy Lives
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PCPS Wellness Policy

• Outlines strategies and procedures for promoting
  wellness in our school division
• The Powhatan County School Board recognizes the
  link between student health and learning and
  desires to provide a comprehensive program
  promoting healthy eating and physical activity in
  division students.

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Staffing, Class Size, Student Class Time
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Student Fitness-a nationwide concern

• Less emphasis on exercise and healthy lifestyles
  (average child spends over 2 hours per day in
  front of a screen)
• More emphasis on academic achievement has
  diverted attention from health and physical
  education

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PCPS Wellness Test Results Spring 2009
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PCPS Data Summary

• Composite elementary (grade 4) scores are lower
  than state average on 7 of 8 reporting
  categories.
• Middle school (grades 5 and 6) scores are lower
  than the state average on 15 of 16 reporting
  categories and significant lower in upper body
  strength and flexibility.
• Junior high school (grades 7-8) scores are lower
  than state averages on 15 of 16 reporting
  categories.
• High school (grades 9-10) scores are lower than
  state averages on 14 of 16 reporting categories.

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Childhood Obesity

• Rates of overweight and obesity remain high with
  31.9 of children and adolescents aged 2 through
  19 years at or above the 85th percentile of the
  2000 BMI-for-age growth charts.
• The rates of obesity increased in all childhood
  age groups over the past three decades.

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PCPS has no specific obesity data

• DOE lists Body-Mass Index (BMI) as an important
  data source is assessing student wellness, but
  does not mandate that divisions collect that
  information.
• PCPS HPE teachers are recommending that we resume
  collecting BMI and reporting that information to
  parents.

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What do schools do with BMI data?

• Surveillance To determine the percentage of
  students in a given school population at risk for
  weight-related problems. Surveillance data is
  analyzed in aggregate.
• Evaluation To determine the impact of programs
  and policies designed to address weight-related
  problems. For example Does an implemented
  physical education program affect student weight
  gain or loss?
• Program development Similar to surveillance, BMI
  can be used to justify the need for a school to
  implement policies and programs that address
  student weight problems.

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What do schools do with BMI data?

• Screening
• This is one of the more controversial uses of
  BMI data. In this example, BMI data is given to
  families with guidance about whether the family
  should contact a health care provider about a
  potential weight problem based on student BMI.
  When sharing individual student data, it must be
  emphasized that ultimately BMI is really a
  screening tool, and not a final diagnosis.

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Student Nutrition

• This is another area that needs increased
  attention if we are going to make progress in
  reducing childhood obesity and improving student
  wellness.
• Possible strategies for raising awareness
• Educating all staff and parents developing
  cooperative strategies and lessons
• School and PTO newsletters
• Healthy Virginians Scorecard

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Student Nutrition
Should we be working to develop more rigorous
school guidelines for PCPS (cafeteria, snack
machines, parties and treats)?
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Family Life Education

• Current curriculum guide developed in late
  eighties implemented through mid-nineties My
  Choice My Future was used in lieu of FLE
  curriculum in grades 6-9
• Focus on academics and accreditation led to a
  decreased emphasis on FLE
• Beginning anew
• Curriculum revision
• Need HAC review of potential guest speaker

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Cooperation with Powhatan County and local
service providers

• New recreation director for county
• YMCA girl force, swimming program, after school
  program
• 4H- VA Cooperative Extension
• Richmond Ballet Minds in Motion
• Grant opportunities bicycle grant, walk-to-school

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Student wellness

• takes a cooperative effort from parents, the
  community, and all school staff

PCPS Health and Physical Education Promoting
Healthy Choices and Healthy Lives