October 17, 2007
Sandy Frasch – Assistant Principal Williamsport Elementary School
Warren County PEP Grant Program
Sandy Frasch, Assistant Principal of Williamsport Elementary School gave the Attica-Williamsport Rotary Club’s program on October 17, 2007. Mrs. Frasch described the PEP Grant program that has been active in the Warren County School system since December 2006.
The Physical Education Progress Grant Program (PEP) was set in motion by grant authors Dr. Stroud and Mr. Roderick of Warren County in response to the obesity problem children in the state of Indiana have been facing. Mr. Stroud and Mr. Roderick wrote the grant and were awarded monies to implement a progressive and technological savvy physical education program to help Warren County youth become physically fit and live a healthier lifestyle.
The PEP Grant was awarded through the Carol M. White foundation that promotes physical fitness in youth. This PEP program allows school districts to address serious weight and health concerns facing our youth and future leaders in our communities. Studies have shown that 51.4 % of Indiana students are overweight. Likewise, 90% of students receive no additional physical exercise outside of the typical school curriculum programs. The Carol M. White foundation helps schools realize the epidemic of childhood obesity and a way to promote a healthier and active lifestyles.
The PEP program in the Warren County school district (MSD of Warren County) consists of education, technological advanced equipment and the adults in the community excited to help implement the program. Before and after-school programs have been offered to the students of the Warren County School district and allow students to use a variety of health strategies to manage their activity levels and awareness of their health. Students are offered heart rate monitors and they are educated on what their target heart rate should be for moderate to vigorous exercise. Students are then given the opportunity to monitor their own activity levels and to do them safely. Physical Education teachers and educators are able to use their own monitors to help supervise students so they are working out in their appropriate heart rate zones.
Goals of the Warren County PEP Grants include:
q Move school curriculums from sports oriented to a more health awareness curriculum in the classrooms.
q Improve the BMI, flexibility, strength and endurance of students.
q Provide individual fitness plans for students.
q Incorporate technology into the fitness plan.
q Offer more programs and opportunities for physical exercise.
q Educate staff and the community on the benefits of exercise and learning.
q Collect data to verify the connection between exercise and learning.
q Collect data as to what kind of exercise is working.
q Offer before and after-school programs.
q Offer summer activity programs / activity clubs.
q Educate parents and families of the benefits of exercise.
q Be a team of educators, staff, parents and community to help our children become more physically fit.
Mrs. Frasch detailed the many tools the PEP program uses to encourage children to embrace and enjoy physical fitness. Heart rate monitors allow children to take an active role in their activity levels. The TriFit assessment equipment measures ones blood pressure, BMI index, flexibility and arm strength. The use of Dance, Dance Revolution (DDR) dance pads and music to get everyone moving. An interactive technological tool named FITLINXX, allows children to input their physical activities on the computer and keep a track of their progress. This FITLINXX program once begun may be used into adulthood for children to continue their lifelong dedication to being physically fit. Fun activities in the PEP program include: wall climbing activities, track walking and running, Adventure Clubs, weight training, before and after-school programs and community involvement. Additionally, the PEP program promotes healthy lifestyles through classes offered to students in areas of: nutrition education, health issues program offered by the local St. Vincent Williamsport Hospital doctors and nurse practitioners, and collaborations with St. Vincent and Purdue University for additional health programs and education.
Mrs. Frasch was thanked for her very informative program and dedication to the children of our communities. It was noted by a club member that Mrs. Frasch was a Physical Education teacher in the MSD of Warren County School District and therefore, has a great interest in supporting and promoting the PEP Grant Program.
Rotary Article - written by Kathy Poston