Find out the latest information about professional development events, special announcements and legislative issues affecting our profession.

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 February 1/2013

EXECUTIVE BOARD NEWS

Congratulations to our 2012-13 Champion Schools!Click here to see the list!

NJAHPERD Executive Board members are passionate, high-energy and committed individuals, just like YOU! 

The NJAHPERD 2013 Nominating Committee is seeking nominations for Executive Board positions.  Do you have the leadership skills to enhance the professional growth and development for NJAHPERD?   Do you want to make a difference for our students and professionals? Please consider becoming involved at a higher level. Submit your name or that of a qualified colleague as a candidate for one of the following positions.

President Elect, Vice-President Elects of Health, Physical Education, Physical Activity, Dance

Most terms are a 2 year commitment and meetings are required. Please contact the NJAHPERD office if you would like more information or visit the NJAHPERD website for position descriptions. Help us make a difference! 

NJAHPERD ANNUAL CONVENTION ANNOUNCEMENTS 

Donate 5 items or more and receive a raffle ticket to win a NJAHPERD sweatshirt and a flipcam! Winner will be announced at the Grand Finale Give away on Tuesday.  Your donation will be brought directly to The Food Bank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties.

• Pre-Convention Sessions
• Project Adventure
• Best Practices/Fitnessgram Training 
• Awards Banquet

• Jump/Hoop Coordinator Breakfast
• Opening Session by Cheryl Richardson, AAHPERD
• Over 50 current topic sessions with a focus on lifetime sports and activities, fitness education, technology, dance, nutrition, health, inclusion, assessment, teacher evaluation and many other topics to provide you with 21st Century resources. 
• NASPE,  EDA and NJAHPERD Teachers of the Year will share their expertise and will motivate you to return to your students with new ideas to promote lifetime wellness.  
• Driver Education Tract
• President's Evening Social

• Additional 50 current topic sessions and TOY presentations
• Grande Finale Equipment Giveaway 

NJAHPERD ANNUAL CONVENTION AWARD RECIPIENTS

Judy LoBianco, Supervisor of Health, Physical Education and Nursing Services in South Orange-Maplewood School District, NJ has been awarded the Channing Mann K-12 Physical Education of the Year Award by NASPE!

This award is the given by the Physical Education Steering Committee and NASPE and honors those individuals who have dedicated themselves to excellence as administrators or supervisors, in contributions to their profession, and in service to the mission of NASPE and school leadership. These individuals exemplify the highest standards in accomplishment and innovation, in strong and vigorous leadership and in significant scholarship within the field. Congratulations, Judy!

INTERNSHIPS AVAILABLE 

NEWS YOU CAN USE

In response to the nation's current childhood obesity epidemic, there  is a sound rationale for investigating how Physical Education (PE) teachers may be taking action steps to effectively respond to the epidemic.  Through my doctoral dissertation research at Teachers College, Columbia University, there is an opportunity for PE teachers to participate in an online, anonymous, confidential survey. The research investigates how PE teachers would rate themselves as teachers with regard to their knowledge, ability/skill, as well as their education and training/preparation; whether they perceive any barriers to being an effective PE teacher; and, how they would rate themselves and their schools for taking action steps to address the childhood obesity epidemic. Your participation in this research will contribute to efforts to improve the education and training of PE teachers, and improve strategies for effectively addressing the nation's childhood obesity epidemic.

LINK TO SURVEY

This would be a great help to my research and I would appreciate any help you can offer.

Thank you!
Kristie Lynch

The Directors of Health Promotion and Education (DHPE) is now accepting applications for the 2012-2013 School Employee Wellness Awards Program(SEW). SEW recognizes schools and school districts that demonstrate commitment to the health of their employees by implementing quality school employee wellness programs.

Awardees will receive special recognition for their efforts that include grants to be reinvested in their employee wellness programs (Bronze $250, Silver $500, Gold $1000).

To apply for DHPE's School Employee Wellness Awards Program or to learn more about school employee wellness programs, click here.

Applications must be submitted by February 4, 2013. No paper submissions will be accepted this year.

If you have questions, please contact Aryka Chapman at achapman@dhpe.org for program assistance, or Wendy Sahli at wsahli@dhpe.org for technical assistance.

The first of the year seems to always come with the hope of something better in the New Year, a resolution of some sort or another. A new diet, a new workout, a new chance to break an old habit and other similar sentiments are as common place as the ball dropping in Time Square.

"It's a human quality to want to reduce your pain and increase your pleasure." Becker-Phelps said of the top three resolutions (1st lose weight, 2nd exercise, 3rd quit smoking, save more, spend less, and be an overall better person were all tied). "I think they're often culturally determined: If you look at us as a culture we certainly have an obesity problem, and we value youth, young bodies, and the physical appearance of health."¹

In light of this common trending one might imagine that individuals would see the 'writing on the wall' and begin to improve throughout the year, or simply set better goals, more attainable ones, leading to greater rates of success.

Perhaps SMARTer goals are the answer. SMART stands for goals that are...MORE

Get in the game this new year with Fuel Up to Play 60, the free in-school wellness program from the National Dairy Council and the National Football League, in collaboration with the USDA. Here's a look at what we'll be featuring in 2013.

Funds for Fuel Up to Play 60. Deadline soon! The competitive funding initiative provides money to help schools jump-start and sustain healthy nutrition and physical activity improvements. The next and final application deadline this school year is January 15.

Student Challenges. Challenges let students show off how they, their friends and their school eat healthy and get active. And when students submit Challenges (such as video entries), they have the chance to earn cool prizes like an NFL Player visit. Upcoming Challenges include the Student Ambassador Draft Challenge (now-February 8) and the Scavenger Hunt Activity Challenge (March 4-May 3).

State Program Advisor of the Year. Once again, we'll be recognizing outstanding Program Advisors in each state. Nominations for your state's Program Advisor of the Year are due by March 1.

Fuel Up to Play 60 Contests. There are two new exciting opportunities for educators to win prizes for their schools in 2013. Program Advisors who "Refer a Friend" to join them as an in-school leader now -January 31 will be entered to win a Fuel Up to Play 60 Prize Pack. And in February and March, we're looking for the best ideas for a brand new Healthy Eating and Physical Activity Play, an easy-to-implement activity for making healthy changes in your school. Program Advisors can submit their school's idea for a new Play, and two winners will be selected and added to the official Fuel Up to Play 60 online Playbook.The deadline for submitting a Play is April 1.

Fuel Up to Play 60, now in nearly 73,000 schools across the nation, encourages students to eat healthy, be active and implement long-term, positive changes for themselves and their schools.  More information about the program can be found at FuelUpToPlay60.com.

HEALTH EDUCATOR NEWS YOU CAN USE 

Does your school do something fun and unique to inspire students to be physically active? 

How did you get started? Why do you think it inspires your students? If so, LMIS wants to hear from you.

Christine Baccarella, NJAHPERD, Jump/Hoops Coordinator

DJ Priore (r) and Garrett Klurman (l). Garrett has been the school's highest fundraiser the past two years, both times exceeding well over $1000.

On April 24, 2012, The Winston School (with a student-body of 70) raised $8,895 in their annual Hoops for Heart Event. That impressive total earned the school the National Highest Per Capita Award for the FIFTH straight year. 

DJ and the Winston School have partnered with the American Heart Association to raise roughly 72,000.00 in the 8 years he has run the event.

The event at Winston isn't your average "Hoops" program. With a small student population and an even smaller gym space, DJ is forced to get very creative. The students are divided into teams and given team colors. Teachers are assigned to each team to serve as "coaches" for the experience. On the day of the event teams are encouraged to make signs and banners to display in their section of the gym. The activities offered are not "normal" basketball games. They are replaced with games like Hot Potato, Target Toss (with a hula hoop), Dribble Tag and an Over/ Under Relay. While the kids are having fun participating,  DJ (who is a Deejay) adds his music to the event. The enthusiasm of the whole school community on that day is a sight to be seen!

Fundraising is also done in a unique manner. After Winston has the "Kick-Off" assembly about a month before the event, students are encouraged to set an individual goal. Additionally, they are urged to create an on-line account and send out e-mails to family and friends (On-line donations can make up half of Winston's yearly total). DJ insists his students NOT ask mom and dad for the whole goal total. After students describe to family and friends the importance of what they are raising money for, then ask parents for a small contribution. He tells the students, if you get a $5-20 amount from 4-5 people then you may already be halfway to your goal. This philosophy has clearly worked, as the students at Winston have been extremely successful over the years. 

WELCOME!!  click here... 

Links of interest:
Jump Rope and Hoops for Heart Grantwww.aahperd.org/jump  

NASPE Standards linking Physical Education to JRFH 

Register YOUR event: http://www.aahperd.org/jump/AboutJump/eventregistration.cfm 

The PULSE online newsletter

RESEARCH RESULTS

ADVOCACY

RESOURCES

KanJam meets all the AAPHERDs physical education class requirements and, more importantly, kids love to play!

This limited time free offer will equip your school with 6-8* games sets depending upon your school's size. MORE

Diamond Canyon Motor Speedway Warm-Up and Olympic Warm-Up
Looking for some new warm-up activities? Jeff Tiedemann not only describes two different activities that motivate his students, but also shares PowerPoint presentations that he projects while his students are moving.

The first warm-up called "Cars" is based on the movies of the same name. Jeff challenges his students to perform different locomotor movements while listening to the song "Life is a Highway." The second warm-up, called "Olympics Warm-up" features selected images from the 2012 Olympics.MORE

TEEN DRIVER RESOURCES

A Driver Education/Teen Driving/Traffic Safety session block is scheduled at the Annual Convention on Monday, February 25 from 8 a.m. -3:30 p.m. A summary of the five sessions is available here.

GRANTS & CONTESTS

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Fitnessgram Trainings for In-service Days 

NJAHPERD will provide Fitnessgram training for your staff at your site. Fee: $650
Please call/email the NJAHPERD office.

Events Listing:

• Regional Workshops Fitness Education
• Lake Conference
• Teacher of the Year Conference
• Communities and Schools in Motion: Working Together for Healthy Active Kids
• Engaging Strategies for Teaching Adolescent Health
• Adapted Health & Physical Education Conference
• NJEA Convention
• Mary Jo Young Hands on Health Conference
• 2013 Annual Convention
• Pre-Convention Workshops

Details are available on the NJAHPERD website for all professional development events.

Disclaimer: The ideas in the FYI do not necessarily reflect NJAHPERD's official position on the issues. NJAHPERD assumes no responsibility for any statement as fact or opinion presented, nor does acceptance of advertising imply endorsement of any products or services by the Association.