thanks for the chocolate donations

Thanks to the many families that have sent in Hershey kisses or Tootsie Rolls for our running test days. I have plenty until the next testing, so please hold off if you were going to send any more. This really helps to cut down on nurse visits when they exert themselves and have a small drop in their blood sugar. It was getting quite expensive to buy on my own, so I really appreciate it!

Welcome back! News from the gym

I need parent volunteers in the gym for fitness testing and for our track and field event.  If you scroll below, I have listed the volunteer opportunities for both events.  You can contact me at terri_andrews@ipsd.org to volunteer.    I have a link above where you can find my PE schedule, and a link above where you can find the information for fitness testing volunteers. .

Welcome back to school! This year we are looking forward to a great year in PE Here are some of the new things in the gym:
1. Mrs. Ganger will be helping out with double classes on Mondays and on Friday aftternoons.  Mrs. Ganger was our adapted PE teacher a few years ago, and now is back teaching PE at three different schools.
2. Thanks to the Jump Rope for Heart fundraiser, we were able to replace a lot of worn out equipment, and purchase a few new things as well.

We will be starting this year with a Track and Field unit for 3rd-5th graders, and a locomotor and low organized games unit for K-2.
3rd-5th Track and field will include:
Running events(cardio) Throwing events(strength) Specialty Events(flexibility/coordination)
50 yd. dash,   Shot put,   Running long jump
1/4 mile (400m.), Discus, Hurdles
1/2 mile (800 m.), Javelin, High jump
1 mile (1600 m.),
1/4 mile relay (400 m. relay)

These events allow practice of fitness, coordination, and introduce a wide variety of new skills to students. This allows them to find an area in which they enjoy participating. It also opens up great opportunities for them to practice sportsmanship and strategize as a class to create the strongest plan for their team. I will be asking for parent helpers on Monday,  September 26 for a special fourth and fifth grade Track and Field day competition.

K-2 will include:
Locomotors: These skills are the building blocks for all future sports and movement activities
run jump hop gallop skip slide leap

Low organized games:
Games that require careful listening, following directions, applying safety rules, and using equipment that is new to them.

The new Fitnessgram is here! We piloted the fitnessgram fitness testing four years ago, and now it has been fully implemented across the district and in most schools across the nation. It takes the best parts of the Presidential Fitness testing and replaces some of the tests that were not valid and reliable.
Running- we used to do a timed test for a set distance. In this old format, everyone started at the same time and ran until they completed the entire distance. This left children who have a hard time with running struggling out on the field while the rest of their class was finished. It was always run outside, so wetaher was a huge factor in the testing. We will still do some running on the field with modifications, but our main test is done in the gym with the PACER. We run short timed laps across the gym and back, and stop when they can't maintain the pace.

Curl-ups- This exercise is a more safe and valid test of abdominal strength and endurance than the full sit-ups. Sit-ups work the back and hip flexors, and do not isolate the abdominals. We do this in a timed cadence for safety and proper form.

Push-ups- This upper body strength exercise allows children to progress throughout the year. In the old test of pull-ups, most kids could not even complete one. Push-ups can be practiced every day, and can be done with a whole group instead of one at a time.
Sit and Reach- This one leg at a time test is safer on the back and measures the flexibility of both legs.

We will need a lot of parent help in the gym during fitness testing! We are scheduled to start September 26th!

2011-2012 fitness volunteers needed

Dear Parents,

     I am in desperate need for help in the gym with fitness testing.  This year we have more double classes, and will have less time for fitness testing.  I have attached a schedule with our volunteer opportunities.  No experience is necessary!  Duties will include timing, simple data entry,, assisting students with questions and recording scores, organizing small groups, etc.  We need help every day, all day!  Each volunteer basically saves us one day of testing, so that will allow children to enjoy other fun and exciting activities in the gym.  Please fill out the form below with the time(s) and date(s) that you can help.  If you cannot come in during the school day, we can always use help with entering and organization before or after school. 

Fitness testing begins Sept  26 and will run through Oct 14                            

                                                       9-10:30                 10:30- 11:55                 12:25-2                     2-3:25

Mondays   Sept 26                              track and field event                 ___________             _____________                

                        Oct 3             ____________            _____________          ____________            ___________

Oct 10- no school

Tuesdays    Sept  27         ____________             ____________                _____________            ___________

                              Oct 4         ____________             ____________                _____________            __________

                             Oct 11        ____________             ____________                _____________            ___________

Wednesdays Sept 28        ____________           ____________                _____________            ___________

                               Oct 5         ____________             ____________                _____________            ___________

                               Oct 12        ____________            ____________               early dismissal

Thursdays,       Sept 29      ____________             ____________                _____________              ___________

                                  Oct 6       ____________          ____________          _____________            ___________

                                 Oct 13       ____________           ____________           _____________         ___________

Fridays,            Sept 30       ____________          ____________           _____________            ___________

                            Oct 7         ____________          ____________             _____________            ___________

                            Oct 14      ____________             ____________           _____________            ___________