Hi everybody:
It appears
school district budgets will be slashed even more in many states. SPARK wants
to help YOU find the $ to maintain, and even enhance your programs.
PEP (Physical
Education for Progress) grant applications will be released within the next few
weeks. We hope you'll consider submitting this year and writing SPARK into your
plans. Did you know over 125 successful PEP awards have implemented
SPARK? Click Here to see why past winners have chosen
SPARK. SPARK's evidence-based approach is well-respected and aligned with PEP's
MVPA requirement. And, SPARK's Nutrition Education program aligns with the new proposed priorities for 2010 PEP Grants, so make sure to contact us soon for
assistance with your grant!
Click Here for "3 Helpful Tips for 2010 PEP
Grant Writers".
In addition to
the terrific PEP opportunity, our "Grant-Finder Tool" is a clearinghouse that "Shows
you where the money is!" for PE, After School, Early Childhood and
Coordinated School Health. Let us know if you need any assistance - and good
luck!
Finally this
month, we're very happy to announce the official launch of our SPARKfamily.org
site! We've been busy building it for a long time, and now, it's ready
for elementary physical education teachers to use. See the SPARKfamily.org
section below for more information and log-on soon - it's a fantastic resource
that will surprise you with relevant and robust content!
Hope to see
many of you at AAHPERD - attending our presentations and visiting the
booth.
Be well,  |
 
More Good News!
By Dr.
James Sallis
After
my excitement about the President and First Lady announcing multiple strategies
for combating childhood obesity on February 9, I did not imagine the next good
news would come so soon. Two weeks later, on February 24, 2010,
CA Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger held a summit on health and
obesity. He was joined by Bill Clinton, which made it a star-studded and
bipartisan event. The
real action came at the press conference after the summit... Click Here to read the rest of this article. |
SPARKfamily.org is a special, password-protected website
where YOU can access a library of digital tools to support your program.
SPARKfamily members can:
- View video clips of SPARK activities
- Use interactive alignment and assessment tools
- Access hundreds of skill/task cards - English &
Spanish
And SPARKfamily provides:
- SPARKfit - New fitness & nutrition focused lessons,
circuit training videos, goal setting tools, and more!
- Academic Integration section (G.Y.M. - Great Young Minds)
Click Here to watch a
video showing SPARKfamily.org in action!
For more information or to sign up for a FREE trial, Click
Here.
Annika & SPARK Celebrate Statewide Adoption of SPARK
PE in Arkansas!
Annika Sorenstam and SPARK's own Kymm Ballard visit with Arkansas
Governor Mike Beebe & First Lady Ginger Beebe to celebrate statewide use of
SPARK PE to fight childhood obesity!
Click Here to read the Press Release
Why We Should Not Cut PE
Educational Leadership Report from Jan 2010 issue of Health
and Learning
"Eliminate physical education to increase time for
reading and math, the theory goes, and achievement will rise. But the evidence
says otherwise..."
Click Here to read the entire report
PE & Skill Development
Did you know that SPARK is the only physical education
program to demonstrate statistically significant student improvement in skill
development?
Click Here for humorous slant on
why skill development is important in physical education...
NASPE To Honor Longtime SPARK Trainer
John Hichwa
RESTON, VA, March 10, 2010 - Longtime Redding resident John
Hichwa, who retired after teaching physical education at the John Read Middle
School for 35 years, will be honored with the Joy of Effort Award by the
National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) during the
national convention of the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education,
Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD).
Click Here for the rest of the
article.
Help NASPE Lobby for Quality Physical
Education and
Activity!
NASPE's 2010 SPEAK Out! Day will be held April 14-15,
2010.
Participation by experienced and novice advocates is
welcome. Your voices are important to NASPE's public policy efforts and are key
to educating lawmakers about quality physical education and physical activity.
Click Here for more information.
Physical Education Research for Kids
(PERK) Report
Released
On February 4, 2010 the Wellness Task Force released
research findings and policy recommendations regarding physical education in
California's k-12 schools.
This document and related resources are available for download below or on our
website. We encourage you to use these materials to advocate for physical
education. Spread the word!
Downloads
Executive Summary
[PDF]
PERK Report
[PDF]
Presentation on
research findings [PPT]
Presentation of policy
recommendations [PPT]
Tape recording of
briefing [WMA]
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Don't Miss April's FREE Webinar:
Teaching Students a "Lifestyle Budget"
(Balancing Nutrition and Physical Education)
Are your students currently mired in a physical activity
"recession"? Do they go "over budget" by eating too
many calories from unhealthy foods? Let's teach our students the
importance of maintaining energy balance through healthy eating (energy in) and
participation in daily physical activity (energy out). This webinar will
introduce you to our SPARK "health accountant," who has prepared a
diverse menu of delicious activity ideas and tasty teaching
strategies.
We all want a balanced budget! Now's the time to
balance YOUR students' "lifestyle budget" and prepare them for a
happy, healthy retirement!
When: Wednesday, April 21st at 12:30pm
Pacific, 3:30pm Eastern. Note the new time!
Duration: 45 minutes
Cost: Free!
Registration: Click Here to
register
Click Here for recordings of previous SPARK
webinars
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2010 SPARK Institute Dates Announced!
Each spring and summer, SPARK conducts 2-3 day
"Institutes" for each program in beautiful San Diego that are similar
to the SPARK Premium Program -- yet offer an even richer, in-depth SPARK
experience.
Top program presenters and authors lead the interactive
sessions, a professional family is created, a terrific time is had by all, and
attendees leave inspired and motivated to take their programs to the next level.
2010 Dates:
After
School: April 6 & 7
Early Childhood: June
24 & 25
High
School PE: June 29th & 30th
K-6 PE
Level 2: July 8 - 9
Middle
School PE: July 27 & 28
K-2 PE: August
2 & 3
3-6 PE: August
4 & 5
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2's and 3's for YOU and Me! Organizing Students Into Pairs and Groups
Month 2: Forming Pairs and Groups
Here are two methods SPARK recommends to organize students
efficiently, equitably, and quickly:
Pairing
- "Back
to Back." While music plays, students fast walk (jump, gallop,
skip, etc.) within the activity area. Teacher stops music and
calls," Back to Back." Students quickly find a partner
(whoever's closest) and stand with backs softly touching, and hands by
their sides.
- Establish
a "Lost and Found" in the middle. Prompt students looking
for a partner to move to the Lost and Found & pair up.
- If
there is an odd number of students pair with the last one.
- Extension:
In time, once the pairing skill is mastered, try: Toe to toe; elbow
to elbow; thumb to thumb, etc.
Grouping
- "Mingle-Mingle":
Teacher says, "Mingle-Mingle" starts music, and students hop (
leap, side-slide, etc.). Teacher stops music and calls a number
(3's!). Students hurry to form a group of that size. When they
have their group, they squat to show they're ready.
- Teach
students to always invite someone looking around to join their group -
it's always fine to have one more.
- Extension
I: Once students have mastered quickly forming groups play
"Body Parts." On music stop, teacher calls a number, then
a body part (3's! Knees!). Groups race to be first with 3
people touching their knees in the middle.
- Extension
II: Like Body Parts, but when teacher calls "High-Low" one
body part touches in the middle (high) and the other touches the floor
(low). Imagine students in a group of 3 with 1 knee touching high
and the other down on the floor! Think of it with 4's - Elbows!
Have fun and let us know how your students like SPARK
pairing and grouping activities!
Come back next month for Part 3 of our series...
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Now you can follow SPARK through your favorite social media sites! Are you on Facebook? Become a fan of The SPARK Programs! Like to Tweet? Follow SPARK on Twitter! Looking for discussions on interesting health-related topics? Subscribe to the SPARK Blog!
Join SPARK through any of these sites and you'll be able to:- Get updated on the latest SPARK resources and events
- See what other SPARK Stars are doing & saying
- Let SPARK and the SPARK family know what you think
- Connect with other educators/organizations in our industry
Click on any icon below to visit the SPARK account for that site...
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Don't see a grant below that fits your program? Check out our new Grant-Finder Tool for a complete list of national and state-specific grants...
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Healthy Generation Grants
WellPoint Foundation
(National)
Funding is available to address key health issues (childhood
obesity, diabetes prevention, adult physical activity) included in the State
Health Index. Sites are required to demonstrate measurable, sustainable impacts
and should be able to implement large-scale program interventions. For more
information on eligibility and requirements, visit the Well Point Foundation
website.
Click
HERE for more information about this grant.
Deadline: April 3, 2010
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Next Generation Nutrition Grants
Dannon
(OH, UT, NY, TX)
In 2010, Dannon will donate a grant of $30,000 to one
program nurturing healthy eating habits among children in each of the
communities where a Dannon facility is located. To qualify, organizations must
need funding for a current nutrition education program for children up to age
18 or be able to launch such an initiative by late 2010. Programs should be
creative in their approach, involve community partners, include professional
nutrition staff or consultants, and be designed to impact children's eating habits
today for a healthier tomorrow.
Click
Here for more information
Deadline: March 31, 2010
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Tobacco Cessation & Obesity Prevention Grant
Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth
(VA)
Thanks to the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth, $1.2
million is available for youth programs to improve tobacco use prevention &
cessation programs and obesity prevention initiatives! SPARK and its partner
Healthy Lifestyle Choices are recommended programs, and can help you meet the
supplemental obesity prevention goals of this grant. Contact SPARK today for
your free cost proposal and help including SPARK in your proposal. Together we
can improve the lives of Virginia's youth and teach healthy habits that will
last a lifetime!
Click
Here for more information about this grant.
Deadline:
March 29, 2010
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Anderson Children's Foundation Grant
(CA)
The Anderson Children's Foundation makes grant money
available to any non-profit organization in the Coachella Valley whose purpose
is meeting the unmet needs of the youth of the Coachella Valley, CA. Past grant
recipients include local elementary, middle & high schools, YMCA, Boys
& Girls Club, Community Health Foundation, Early Childhood Education, and
running programs. Contact SPARK today for help with this grant!
Click Here
for more information about this grant.
Deadline: May 20, 2010
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Growing Up Healthy: Kids and Communities
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota Foundation
(MN)
The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota Growing Up
Healthy: Kids and Communities grant program supports organizations that work to
create nurturing environments to support healthy growth and development of
children under the age of five. The new Healthy Eating/Active Living component
incorporates work in the policy environment and the built environment in
Minnesota counties, municipalities and neighborhoods to increase organizational
and community capacity, readiness and advocacy for environments that help make
accessing healthy food and physical activity a routine part of daily life for
young children and their families.
Click
Here for more information about this grant.
Deadline: March 31, 2010
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Run
For Something Better
School Awards Program
ING
(National)
ING Run For Something Better, in partnership with the National Association for
Sport and Physical Education (NASPE), seeks to increase physical activity in
students and help fight childhood obesity nationwide through the creation of
school-based running programs. The
school awards program will provide (50) $2,000 grants to schools that desire to
establish a school-based running program or expand an existing one. Awards are
available to programs that target grades 4th through 8th in public elementary
or middle schools.
Click
Here for more information
Deadline: April 15, 2010
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Finish
Line Youth Foundation
(National)
The Finish Line Youth Foundation supports youth programs that are effective and
inclusive, funding opportunities for participation in youth programs that place
an importance on youth development and an active lifestyle. Grants generally
range from $1,000 to $5,000 and applications are accepted throughout the year.
Click
Here to take the eligibility quiz and view application guidelines.
Deadline: Rolling
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School Challenge Grant
Highmark Healthy High 5
(Pennsylvania)
The Highmark Healthy High 5 School Challenge grant program
is designed to support Pennsylvania schools in the effort to introduce programs
that will create healthier, more successful students. Through the School
Challenge grant program, Highmark invites schools to submit proposals for
innovative programming to improve nutrition education, nutrition services,
increase opportunities for physical activity or education, self-esteem, or
bullying prevention. Contact SPARK for help with your cost proposal today!
Click Here
for eligibility information and to access the grant application.
Deadline: Rolling
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