Elements

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Program Element #1: Implement TriFit Fitness Assessment. Individualized Planning & Monitoring System so students learn to monitor their fitness levels and develop individualized fitness plans. A critical element of this project is the purchase and use of TriFit software and wireless data collection instruments. These tools allow equipment users and teachers to continuously assess fitness and health levels and develop a computer-generated plan for improving cardiovascular status, BMI, strength and flexibility. The TriFit packages include: 1. Wireless Heart Rate Monitors 2. Meal Planning Software 3. Blood Pressure 4. Health Risk Appraisal 5. Group Reporting Software 6. Polar Companion Pocket PCs for fitness data collection We have purchased two TriFit systems this school year to use at Marion High School and Vernon Middle School. The students have access using the TriFit machines and are learning how to develop their own personal fitness plans when using the data of the TriFit systems. Our next goal is to develop a network for all the systems to interact with each other. In the future the elementary schools will be involve in this process. For more information regarding the TriFit, Heart Rate Monitors, PE Manager or other Polar fitness equipment visit: http://education.polarusa.com/education/default.asp

Program Element #2: Upgrade PE equipment in Elementary/Intermediate Middle School & establish school-community wellness center. This project will purchase and install state-of-the-art fitness equipment at each school across the three years. Each piece of equipment is designed to improve BMI, cardiovascular endurance, strength and/or flexibility. The equipment purchased with grant funds includes: • Stationary bikes • Treadmills • Stair steppers • Traversing Walls • Elliptical machines • Fitness Testing Equipment including Heart Rate Monitors, Ergo meter and Blood Pressure Monitors. By using these pieces of equipment, we hope to: 1. Broaden the PE activity options/choices for students; 2. Increase availability of equipment that focuses on fitness rather than competitive sports; and 3. Improve student engagement and acquisition of movement standards/benchmarks.

Program Element #3: Provide ongoing professional development on using the TriFit system/equipment, developing individualized fitness plans, implementing research based instructional strategies and PE Manager for student assessment. All PE and health teachers will participate in an ongoing program of PD designed to prepare them to use the TriFit assessment system, engage students in using the equipment, revising health/PE standards and benchmarks and integrating health and PE. This PD program will consist of site visits to exemplary programs, PD sessions facilitated by community partners, collaboration with Grant Wood Area Education Agency (GWAEA) curriculum consultants and the Iowa Dept. of Education PE consultant and ongoing best practices study groups facilitated by the Project. Some action steps in Element #3 include: 1. TriFit Training from Polar 2. In-service from Polar 3. Follow-up consultation from Polar. 4. Monthly best practice study group to improve instruction 5. Attendance at annual IAHPERD convention 6. Participation in OSDFS conference 7. Annual national/regional conferences/workshops

Program Element #4: Involve our students in community recreation activities at the YMCA, recreational centers, bowling alleys ect. Marion is fortunate to have a number of health and fitness related community agencies. We will develop partnerships with the area hospitals, U of I Coalition of Diabetes, Hy-Vee Food Stores Dieticians, Kirkwood Community College, Arts ala Carte, U of I Health Care Weight Management and Grant Wood Area Education Agency (GWAEA). We also plan to host a “community collaborator summit” to recruit other partners. Together, these agencies and MISD will work together to: 1. Integrate community expertise and resources into health and PE coursework through mini-courses, guest instructors and consultation with teachers. 2. Increase community service provision, including Hy-Vee Dietician programs, health fairs for students, staff, parents and the community. 3. Establish interagency agreements to continue collaboration after the grant ends. Several of the potential community collaborations include: • School-community wellness center operating 20 or more hours/wk in the evenings and Saturday mornings and staffed with Kirkwood Community College (KCC) students training to be fitness instructors. Students staff and parents could obtain fitness assessments and exercise/diet plan advice • Fitness mini-camps, in collaboration with community organizations. • Nutrition fairs and other community-wide wellness events developed in collaboration with partners. • YMCA memberships to increase PE time for students with full class schedules • Bowling/golfing/other lifelong recreation options through PE activities offered at those facilities or use of instructors for units in these areas.