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 April 1/2013

EXECUTIVE BOARD NEWS

NJAHPERD President's Message - Advocacy on the Move

My Dear Colleagues and Future Professionals,

I want to thank you all from the bottom of my heart for the support you gave NJAHPERD on Wednesday, March 20th when you took the time to make phone calls and send emails to Senators Lautenberg and Menendez and to your District Representatives. While waiting to meet with Senator Lautenberg, it was evident that the calls were pouring into his office expressing support from our NJAHPERD members. We were told by an aide that the Senator's office received many calls from health and physical educators asking the Senator to support the PHYSICAL Act and PEP funding. Kudos to all of you!

Diane Glover and I represented NJAHPERD at the 5th Annual NASPE Speak Out! Day on Capitol Hill - Supporting Quality Health & Physical Education K-12. Yes, I do believe your voice was heard in the offices of the Capitol and I am proud of all of you who contacted your legislators to support the 2013 "ASKS" to support legislation that would elevate both physical education and health education to core subjects under Senate Bill 392 (PHYSICAL Act) and to protect the PEP grants by keeping it as a stand-alone program with level funding at $78 million.

Diane and I had the opportunity to meet directly with Congressman Scott Garrett, Congressman Rush Holt's Legislative Assistant, Senator Frank Lautenberg's Legislative Correspondent and Senator Robert Menendez's Legislative Assistant. Our "leave behind" packet included NASPE information as well as NJ specific information regarding ShapingNJ. We also hand delivered the packets to the offices of Congressmen William Pascrell and Christopher Smith.

I definitely feel we had a very positive impact on all we spoke to during our meetings and I am confident that we will be able to continue the dialogue to promote quality health and physical education programs. It is my hope that many of you will join us next year on our trip to DC and experience first-hand how you can make a difference for your profession and your students at the Federal level.

With advocacy as the theme for my year as president, I have an additional request for all NJAHPERD members regarding the new evaluation regulations proposed in TEACHNJ. You recently received an Advocacy Alert e-blast from NJAHPERD regarding contacting the State Board of Education. Although I realize many of you are on spring break this week, I request that you write a letter to the NJ State Board of Education expressing your concerns with the teacher evaluation process as proposed by the NJDOE. We have provided you with a sample letter and encourage you to add your own personal message. I will be giving oral testimony on behalf of our NJAHPERD members at the State Board meeting on Wednesday, April 3, 2013 at 2:00 PM. I sure can use your support. You can help by sending your letter and asking your colleagues and parents, to do the same. Better yet, you can attend the meeting! The more letters sent and professionals in attendance, the more impact we will have on the decision. This is ADVOCACY on the MOVE! Please also attend your own district's School Board of Education meetings to keep informed and have your presence felt.

Thank you in advance for all you do each and everyday to help make Every Child Stronger and Every Life Longer.

Sincerely yours,

JoAnn Doherty

NJAHPERD President

                                                       SEE BELOW

NEW EVALUATION REGULATIONS PROPOSED AT STATE BOARD MEETING ON APRIL 3

BACKGROUND 

• TEACHNJ, the new tenure law that went into effect August 2012, requires all school districts to implement new evaluation systems by September 2013. Regulations to govern the new systems were introduced at the March State Board meeting.
• NJAHPERD has concerns about the proposed regulations. They create different standards for teachers in tested grades and subjects, place too much emphasis on standardized test scores, don't seem to take the school and classroom context into account, and are developing a two tiered system of evaluation. They use Student Growth Percentiles (SGPs) and Student Growth Objectives (SGOs) as a main measure of student achievement.

WE NEED YOU TO TAKE ACTION NOW!

NJAHPERD needs you to get involved to ensure the new evaluation system is fair, developed with input from educators, and provides educators with the kind of feedback and support that helps them do their jobs better.

•  ATTEND THE STATE BOARD of EDUCATION MEETING! The New Jersey Department of Education State Board will meet on April 3 to discuss the proposed evaluation regulations and listen to public testimony. We encourage you to attend.  The meeting begins at 10am with public testimony at 2PM and is held in the First Floor meeting room in the DOE Buidling.
• WRITE A LETTER! Letters are a powerful and important part of this process and State Board members need to hear from you NOW! We have provided a sample letter for your convenience. You can use this letter as a template or create your own, but we need to send a strong message to the state board that Health and Physical Education must be included as a "CORE ACADEMIC" content subject area and educators must have input into developing a viable evaluation process. We will keep you informed about any changes to the proposed evaluation regulations via email and our website.  

Sample Letter to State Board

State Board of Education members

Send to:

State Board Office
Riverview Plaza
PO Box 500
Trenton, NJ  08625

Register for the Future Professionals workshop on Sunday, April 7, 2013 at East Brunswick High School. You must be a currrent NJAHPERD member to attend and registration is FREE!

More information

"EVERY CHILD STRONGER, EVERY LIFE LONGER" continues to provide the foundation for NJAHPERD's advocacy initiatives! FIT2ECSELL is the most recent of many NJAHPERD targeted movements to promote quality Health and Physical Education in New Jersey schools.

This initiative focuses on developing the first ever state- wide centralized data base for student health-related physical fitness. This collaborative effort between NJAHPERD, Rowan University, the YMCA State Alliance/Healthy U, and the Horizon Foundation of New Jersey has created a sustainable model for evaluating the health-related fitness status of New Jersey youth.   The project goal is to provide a comprehensive data profile of student fitness levels. The analysis of this data will lead the way for the development and implementation of viable fitness education and assessment programs in the future. The first year pilot includes 20 schools that are implementing the FitnessGram to assess local student fitness level. Local Health and Physical Education professionals as well technology staffs have been in-serviced regarding program implementation and data collection and reporting. The plan includes recruitment of additional schools each year. If you are interested in adding your school to this initiative, please contact NJAHPERD Executive Director, Jackie Malaska.

Grant funding is available for training and web based FG school site license.

Application

NJAHPERD extends an invitation to Athletic Director/Supervisor of Health and Physical Education to join NJAHPERD. If your AD is also the Supervisor of Health and Physical Education, please send his/her name and email address to the NJAHPERD office. We will formally invite them to join NJAHPERD and send you a special thank you gift.  

Please let us know if you will be attending the AAHPERD Convention in Charlotte in April. If enough NJAHPERD members are interested, we will arrange to meet one evening to network and socialize. NJAHPERD also invites you to join us at the EDA/SDA social on Thursday, April 25th. Time and place to be announced.

NJAHPERD recommends that you include all the professional development events you would like to attend for the 2013-14 school year in your Professional Development Plan now so that you are not denied the content specific professional development you need to be a highly effective teacher.

Dates are listed on the NJAHPERD website.

Space is still available for the Nutrition Conference on Friday, April 12, 2013 at NJSIAA headquarters in Robbinsville. This PD event is a collaborative effort with the NJDOE Coordinated School Health Project. More info and registration 

Best Practices Fitness Education/FitnessGram Training dates are Monday, April 15, 2013 in Egg Harbor and Friday, June 7, 2013 in Ocean Township, Monmouth County. More info and registration

CONGRATULATIONS!

Judy LoBianco, Supervisor of Health, Physical Education and Nursing Services for South Orange-Maplewood School District for over nine years, will be honored with the Channing Mann Physical Education Administrator of the Year Award by the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) during the 128th Annual National Convention of the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD). A tireless leader and worker at the local, state and national levels for quality physical education in schools, LoBianco embodies the Channing Mann Award criteria of leadership, service, advocacy and contributions to the curriculum. MORE

NEWS YOU CAN USE

No doubt, the biggest appeal of exercise is to build biceps, heart muscle, and perhaps some definition in those abdominal muscles, but how about using exercise to build your brain?

It's been known for some time that exercise can lift your mood, ward off depression, and help the brain age more gracefully -- free of memory loss and dementia.

But now researchers have found that even just one bout of exercise can -- even better than a cup of coffee -- improve your mental focus and cognitive performance for any challenging task you face that day. MORE

Every school day, the students at Good Shepherd Notre Dame House School spend the morning at the James Street YMCA. They spend the first half of their morning doing independent exercise: some lift weights, others take a turn with the punching bag and a pair of gloves.

Around 10 a.m., they move into the gym where the whole class plays several rounds of volleyball. They shout, laugh and dive. By lunchtime, they have yet to spend a single minute inside a classroom.

It's not your typical school day, but this isn't your typical school. MORE

HEALTH EDUCATOR NEWS YOU CAN USE 

The twelfth annual National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy will take place on May 1, 2013. On the National Day and throughout the month of May, teens nationwide will be asked to visitStayTeen.org to participate in the popular National 

Day Quiz, which delivers teen pregnancy prevention messages and challenges them to think carefully about what they might do "in the moment." The message of the National Day is simple and straightforward: Sex has consequences.

Organized by The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, the National Day has widespread support from nearly 200 national organizations and media outlets that serve as official National Day partners. For more information and free National Day resources, please visit the National Day section of our website.

Let's Move! Active Schools 

We know that schools today are facing all sorts of challenges.  They're balancing multiple priorities and dealing with shrinking budgets while striving to do every single thing they can to help our children learn and grow. 

Let's Move! Active Schools is designed to address these challenges by spurring innovative solutions and offering customized support every step of the way.  We know that our kids need 60 minutes of physical activity daily, not only so they can grow up healthy, but also because we know it helps them succeed in school.  That's why this program empowers schools to find free or low-cost ways to incorporate movement before, during, and after the school day.  We'll help connect schools to grant opportunities, online resources, personal assistance, and hands-on professional development.

There's just one thing we're still missing-you. 

We're looking for school champions to lead this effort in communities across the country.  Every school needs a champion, and anyone can be that champion.  From P.E. and classroom teachers to administrators, staff, and parents, all it takes is one dedicated person to step up and start making a difference.  

All you have to do is sign up at LetsMoveSchools.org and follow a simple, six-step process to create an active school environment and build support among leadership, staff, families, and other community members.  Along the way, you'll have access to free tools and resources to help you take action.

Remember to indicate NJAHPERD for "How did you hear about us?" Register NOW!

To read the First Lady's remarks in Chicago, click here. 

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

Jim Presbrey (AHA), Kathy Fritz (NJAHPERD)

New Jersey AHPERD's Jump Rope and Hoops for Heart coordinators continue to prove that their "hearts are in the right place!" At the Opening Keynote session Mr. James Presbrey, AHA Representative, presented a check to NJAHPERD from AAHPERD/AHA in the amount of $82,353.14. This amount represented 10% of NJ's total AHA event earnings. The American Heart Association recognized the following three New Jersey coordinators and their schools with NATIONAL AWARDS:

D.J. Priore and The Winston School of Short Hills, NJ was named "Highest Per Capita Hoops for Heart event for the 5th time; Lynne Landis and Ed Davis from the Mahala Atchison Elementary School received the "Faye Biles Educational Award" for their outstanding efforts incorporating the true message of the AHA; and Tracy Williams, Todd Lawrence, and Amy English from  the George J. Mitchell Elementary School in Little Egg Harbor, were named as the "Outstanding Jump Team of the Year." Although these coordinators received these awards prior to convention, NJAHPERD was proud to recognize them at the Opening Keynote session on Monday, February 25, 2013.

Something NEW at this year's Opening Session was the recognition of ALL of "New Jersey's Top Ten" events in three categories: Top 10 Jump Rope for Heart; Top 10 Hoops for Heart; and Top 10 Combined (JR/HFH). Another group lauded was the " #1 Jump Rope" event in each of NJ's 21 counties. Congratulations to H.B.Whitehorne Middle School, Verona (Andrea Jordan, Ray Bowes, Dan Corrado) as the #1 Jump Rope for Heart event contributing $38,695; North Hunterdon High School, Annandale (Jill Izzo) as the #1 Hoops for Heart event contributing $21,133; and River Plaza Elementary School, Middletown (Jen Turiello) as the #1 JR/HFH event contributing $12,993.

The annual "Coordinator Breakfast" sponsored by NJAHPERD as a THANK YOU to all of our state coordinators was quite a success. Sixty-one "die hard" individuals were able to attend the early event at 7am on Monday the 25th. Coordinators were able to reconnect with old friends and take the opportunity to make some new ones! Coordinator gifts this year included a beautiful heart-shaped magnetic clip along with some homemade chocolate goodies. Mr. James Presbrey, the new Director of Youth Marketing for the AHA Founders Affiliate, introduced himself to the group. All participants gave very solid examples as to the most significant components of their events that continue to make them successful. Ideas for using current "social media" to promote their events were offered.

On Monday, Deb Weiss (Mountainside), the national Faye Biles Educational Award winner from 2010, presented her successes for making a "Jump Rope for Heart Day" in your school by having all subject area teachers a part of the event.

Lincoln Leopards, Coach Mike Cebula, Lincoln School, Hasbrouck Heights

Coach Hoff

Three years ago, the Ocean Township Double Dutch Club was created by physical education teacher Ken Hoff.  The initial goal was simple - provide kids a fun environment to keep physical fit and productive after school.  With only fifteen students on his original team, the group formed into something much greater than Coach Hoff ever imagined.  Presently, the Double Dutch Club now has grown to over forty students and counting. 

The increase in numbers has also inspired fellow colleague, Jeff Soares to join Hoff's passionate vision.  Together, they have offered the students various opportunities to spread the joy of Double Dutch - not only to Ocean Township - but also to other schools.

During the past three years, the group has taken six trips, and the reaction has been overwhelmingly positive.  Most recently, the group visited Barkalow Middle School in Freehold Township, New Jersey.  The team spent an entire day showcasing their talent, even teaching Theresa Marcinkiewitz's physical education class how to turn, jump, and perform tricks while Double Dutching.  The response after from Theresa was wonderful, and she did not hesitate to request another trip for next year.  MORE

The Lawrence Intermediate School Health and Physical Education staff has been organizing Jump Rope for Heart and Hoops for Heart events since 1996 in Lawrenceville N.J. It is a school of close to 900 students in the 4th, 5th, and 6th grades. 4th and 5th graders participate in Jump Rope for Heart and 6th graders participate in Hoops for Heart. Both events are held in the evening at the school and parents are invited to attend and watch.  In the 17 years that we have held these events our students have raised over $170,000 for the American Heart Association.  We have been awarded the top fundraising school in the state 4 years for raising the most funds through combined events.  MORE

RESEARCH RESULTS

Cycling or walking to school increases a child's ability to concentrate in the classroom, the results of a Danish study published Friday showed.

Children who were driven to school, or who took public transport, performed less well in a test measuring concentration levels, than those who had walked or cycled, a joint study by researchers at the universities in Copenhagen and Aarhus found.

"The exercise one uses to transport oneself to school is reflected in the level of concentration one has circa four hours later," said Niels Egelund, a co-author of the report. MORE

ADVOCACY

NJAHPERD Advocacy has had a very productive and busy year.  The Every Child Stronger Every Life Longer theme continues to drive us forward.  The creation of our new Legislative Action Committee is helping us to continue our proactive push to advocate and lobby with legislators and for legislative action that supports our mission.   We are working hand in hand with our lobbyist, the Torok Group, to strategize multiple and diverse ways to connect with NJ legislators as well as to educate our membership about legislative action and issues. Prescheduled bimonthly meetings as well as additional meetings based on need have facilitated this process.  Furthermore, our committee is developing stronger alliances and communication networks with partners and other stakeholders such as NJEA, American Heart Association, New Jersey Driver Education Coalition and the ShapingNJ Coalition.  Recently a proposed Recess Bill was brought before the NJ Senate for a vote.  The bill would require all elementary schools to provide a daily 20 minute recess period for all children.    NJAHPERD and partners pushed for an amendment that would stipulate that schools could not use recess in place of physical education class. The amendment was approved by the Senate! To become law, the bill will still need to pass in the New Jersey Assembly as well as approved by the governor.  The NJAHPERD Legislative Action Committee is currently working with the Torok Group and our many partners to support approval of this bill.

RESOURCES

GRANTS & CONTESTS

Does your school need a boost to increase participation in breakfast? Do you need funding to support adding more minutes of physical activity for your students? 

Action for Healthy Kids is pleased to partner with CSX Transportation, Kellogg Company, and the Walmart Foundation to offer grants for the 2013-2014 school year to support such initiatives. Awards will be given to over 400 schools ranging from $1,000 to $5,000. 

Applications are due April 19, 2013! 

•  Find out if your school is eligible for these opportunities. 
• Attend our upcoming webinar to learn more (archived sessions will be posted)
• Wed, April 10, 2013 - 4:00-5:00pm ET / 1:00-2:00pm PT -  REGISTER NOW!
•  Check out FAQ. 
• Determine if your school is a good fit for the Universal Alternative Breakfast Grant. 
•  Download the paper application to begin the process.
• Once the paper application is complete,  proceed to our online portal to submit your proposal.
• DEADLINE: April 19, 2013!

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 Best Practices Fitness Education/FitnessGram training
• Nutrition Conference
• Lake Conference
• Teacher of the Year Conference
• Dance in Physical Education Conference
• Adapted Health & Physical Education Conference
• NJEA Convention
• Hands on Health Conference
• 2014 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.