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

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 January 1/2014

EXECUTIVE BOARD NEWS

NJAHPERD understands the challenges in obtaining approval to attend professional development events and we are here to help. If you have never attended or need to justify your participation at the NJAHPERD Annual Convention, we suggest you consider the following tips:

Don't be afraid to ask your administrator to attend. Many are not aware of the availability of content specific health and physical education professional development opportunities, unless you tell them. Have a list of specific sessions that you plan to attend and cite how the information will assist you in improving teacher effectiveness and student learning. Especially note the sessions focusing on assessment, Common Core, teaching strategies, fitness and current health issues. Consider sharing your learning experiences at an in-service day, staff meeting or in a summary report to your colleagues. 

If your administrator tells you funding is not available this year, ask the PTA/PTO to supplement the registration fee or award a grant. Consider paying your own registration fee this year and request that your supervisor add the expense to the budget for next year. A small investment in your own professional development will be paid back many times over.

Discuss attending the Convention with your administrator with confidence. Professional Development is critical to effective teaching.

We hope to see you at the Jersey Shore in February!

Please contact the NJAHPERD office if you have any questions.

The NJAHPERD Convention Planning Committee is seeking volunteers to assist at the convention in various capacities and time requirements. If you have interest in assisting at registration, introducing speakers, selling NJAHPERD apparel or helping in any way, please contact the NJAHPERD office or indicate your choice during the online registration process.

A managing partner of First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move! Active Schools initiative, the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD) has announced that its membership has approved changing the association's name to the Society of Health and Physical Educators, doing business as SHAPE America.

According to President Gale Wiedow, interim dean of the College of Education at Dakota State University in Madison, SD, "We are now poised to move forward in creating a new chapter in our 128-year-old history with our new name, vision and mission. A new logo, tagline and brand for the organization, as well as a new website, will be introduced early in 2014." 

Through our new name we are working to:

∙             Shape a future where healthy is the norm

∙             Shape a standard of excellence in physical education and health education

∙             Shape the lifelong habits of young people

∙             Shape and influence policy related to physical education and school health education

SHAPE America is the organization's seventh name change since its founding in 1885 as the Association for the Advancement of Physical Education.  The largest organization of physical educators in the country with close to 20,000 members, SHAPE America created the first ever National Standards for K-12 Physical Education, developed the Let's Move in School public awareness campaign to increase physical activity before, during and after school, and originated the Shape of the Nation Report, which reviews the status of physical education across the United States, among its many professional firsts.  

Wiedow added, "Having an acronym that actually says and means something helps to make our new name more memorable. In addition, the verb shape means influence and communicates leadership and power. We want SHAPE America to have increased visibility and recognition among our primary audiences of physical and health educators as well as our secondary audiences ─ parents, principals, school administrators, policy makers, and the media. I am confident that our strong, memorable and simple new name will help us do just that."

For more information, visit SHAPE America website

  2014 Annual Convention Updates

Pre-Convention Sessions (Sunday, 2/23/14)

SPARK Elementary 9-12

The 100th Monkey Project Adventure 9-12

Fitness Education Best Practices/FitnessGram Training 9-3

Introducation to Bigger Faster Stronger Weight Room Certification 9-3

Lunch is provided for all pre-convention sessions.

Fees

Session Titles/Descriptions for Monday & Tuesday

At-A-Glance Schedules

Monday

Tuesday

Convention Highlights

New Early Bird sessions Monday & Tuesday at 7:15AM

Join NJAHPERD's very own Hip Hop expert, Arvin Arjona for a fun Monday AM dance workout!

Kenny Santucci, former MTV celebrity and personal trainer will host a CrossFit session on Tuesday! 
 

The Harlem Wizards will showcase the physical activity video produced in collaboration with NJAHPERD. Be in the 1st audience to preview on Tuesday afternoon! 

HorizonNJ health screenings will be available free of charge on both days.

National Teachers of the Year and convention attendee bags sponsored by SPARK.

Awards Banquet honoring 2014 NJAHPERD award recipients on Sunday afternoon.

$5 lunch coupon for all attendees, compliments of NJAHPERD.

Monday Opening Session

Shellie Pfohl, the Executive Director of the President's Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition will be the featured speaker at the Opening Session on Monday, February 24, 2014. Shellie  was appointed by President Barack Obama in February 2010. She manages the activities and operations of the Council and leads the Council's efforts related to First Lady Michelle Obama's national Let's Move! initiative to solve childhood obesity within a generation.

 Let's Move Active Schools: Helping Students to Reach their Greatest Potential
Shellie will discuss the current obesity and physical inactivity epidemics that plague our nation's youth and share information on current initiatives, including Let's Move! Active Schools and the Presidential Youth Fitness Program, which support educators in engaging students in physical activity every day. She will also share opportunities for health and physical educators to become champions for change within their schools environment. Additionally, she will discuss the importance of collaboration at all levels - local, state and federal - to improve the health of our nation's youth.

 Tuesday Closing Session

Dr. Michael Fowlin, better known as Mykee, will present YOU DON'T KNOW ME UNTIL YOU KNOW ME, a one-person show that deals with the issues of race, discrimination, violence prevention, personal identity, suicide, gender equity, homophobia, and the emotional pain felt by special education children.

Mykee is no stranger to the stage and has been formally acting since age 11. It all started by creating voices (via prank calling) at age 9. In addition to his talents on stage, he has an undergraduate degree in psychology from Evangel University, in Springfield, Missouri, and in the fall of 2001, he attained a doctorate degree in clinical psychology from Rutgers University. Oddly enough, he suffers from delusions of grandeur, for while he is performing, he is convinced that every audience member is his patient! His programs combine both his professional acting talents and his psychological training. His mission is to create an atmosphere of worldwide inclusion, not just tolerance, towards all people. 

Comedy Night & President's Social

Prepare for an evening of sheer entertainment! Plan to stay overnight at Ocean Place on Monday night and join us for a comedy show featuring several professional comedians, DJ, raffles, refreshments and much more! Something different after a full day of great professional development!

Headlining: Rich Redding
Featuring: Sara Contreras, Dreal, Jus Rey
DJ Bundy rocking the after party!

More details

Jump/Hoops Coordinator's Breakfast meeting is scheduled for Tuesday morning so that you can enjoy the evening social, stay overnight and be ready to go! Pre-registration recommended.

More information on Fees, Hotel, NJAHPERD Apparel, Pre-Convention, Socials, and Exhibitors is available on the NJAHPERD Annual Convention website page.

Drive Safer returns as a Convention Sponsor!  

Additional Sponsors/Exhibitors

NJAHPERD Members in the News!

Kandice Point Du Jour has been awarded the EDA Dance Education Teacher of the Year Award. Kandice teaches at Columbia High School in South-Orange Maplewood School District.

Jill Goldman,  has received the EDA Outstanding Professional Award for Physical Activity and Recreation. The awards is given annually to up to two people in each discipline who best exemplify exceptional and outstanding contributions to their respective disciplines. Jill serves as the Council for Services Representative for NJAHPERD.

Award recipients will be honored at the EDA Awards Banquet during the EDA Convention in Newport, RI.

Congratulations to both Jill and Kandice.

EDA/AAHPERD is pleased to announce the Outstanding Future Professionals' Program for the EDA Convention. This is an exciting opportunity to encourage promising undergraduate students to become involved with our organization and to recognize their accomplishments. MORE

A generous donation of $10 million from the General Mills Foundation (the largest donation in the foundation's history) has been committed over six years to help implement the Presidential Youth Fitness Program in schools nationwide and the second-round of funding begins TODAY!

Applications will be accepted online from Jan. 1 through Jan. 31, 2014.   Awards will be announced April 1, 2014.

Funding covers selected schools through the 2014-2017 school years. More information including how to apply can be found on the PYFP website

Empower your students to adopt a healthy lifestyle!  The Presidential Youth Fitness Program (PYFP) is program that focuses on three areas:
 * Professional development
 * A health-related fitness assessment
 * Motivational recognition to empower students to adopt and maintain an active lifestyle
The PYFP provides a model for fitness education within a comprehensive, quality physical education program. It emphasizes appropriate instructional practices and communication before, during and after the fitness assessment takes place.
The program uses Fitnessgram®, which provides an efficient way for physical educators to perform evidence-based health-related fitness assessments. One Pager

NJAHPERD will be providing support as well, so stay tuned and visit the NJAHPERD website Fitness Education page often.

"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.  

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

NEWS YOU CAN USE

The Common Core is a national movement to adopt common standards and assessments for English language arts and mathematics. These standards aim to create assessments that will not vary among states and will determine whether students are meeting those standards. Common learning goals provide a clear direction for what educators and parents should aim for. It creates a level playing field for all students independent of the state they reside in. Common Core Standards are designed to make the student college and career ready. The goal is to have the students succeed in a global economy and society. Students are provided with rigorous content that creates an environment in which they have a deeper level of understanding. MORE

HEALTH EDUCATOR NEWS YOU CAN USE 

RESEARCH 

Let's Move! Active Schools 

160 NJ Schools Already Registered

 

We know that you are facing all sorts of challenges and balancing multiple priorities, while striving to do every single thing you can to help your students 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, the CHAMPION! The 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.

NJAHPERD's goal is to have 250 schools registered as a LMAS by June 2014. 

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

Video PSA: Active Kids Do Better- Let's Move! Active Schools

Active Kids Do Better - Let's Move Active Schools

WELCOME!!  click here... 

Links of interest:

Jump Rope and Hoops for Heart Info
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

...and please pass this on to the people on your staff

Here is a link provided by the American Heart Association that provides:

*health, physical education, and classroom teachers with springboard lesson ideas and activities.

*links to "NFL play 60" and jump rope and hoops sites

ADVOCACY

DRIVER EDUCATION

The following Driver Education sessions are scheduled on Monday, February 24, 2014.

8:00-9:00AM

Maureen Nussman (Facilitator), NJ Teen Safe Driving Coalition

Bill Turkus, Rider Education of New Jersey, Arnold Anderson, Essex County Community Traffic Safety Program, Dr. Peter Rattigan, Rowan University, Tamara Floruss, Livingston HS

From Motorcycles to Simulators: a Curriculum Sharing Session

From the new-fangled to the traditional, sample and take home engaging and effective lesson plans and resources from leading New Jersey educators and traffic safety experts. Learn how to integrate motorcycles, simulators, distracted driving activities, and more into your lesson plans to the delight of your students. Plus, bring your favorite lesson to share with your colleagues.

10:30-11:30AM

Wendy Berk (Facilitator), NJ Brain Injury Alliance, Erica Wright, Bordentown HS 

Put Your Students in the Driver's Seat

Research confirms that peer-to peer-education is highly effective in changing teens' attitudes and behaviors about safe driving. Learn techniques to engage students, gain their buy-in and foster creativity that results in impactful teen-led campaigns that not only resonate with their peers, but have a lasting impact. Award-winning teen initiatives will be highlighted.

12:00-1:00PM

Pam Fischer (Facilitator), NJ Teen Safe Driving Coalition, Maureen Nussman, NJ Teen Safe Driving Coalition

MVC Dialogue & Driver Education Update

Are you one of the 300-plus driver education teachers receiving monthly updates from the NJ Teen Safe Driving Coalition? Are you a Coalition member? If not, here's your chance to learn how you can get plugged-in to new resources, the latest research, GDL updates, information from MVC, and more. Learn how the Coalition is working with MVC to improve communication with educators and address your concerns. Don't miss this session, prizes will be awarded! Bring your lunch and join in the conversation.

1:15-2:15PM

Violet Marrero, NJ Division of Highway Traffic Safety, Dr. Claudia Knezek, College of Natural, Applied & Health Sciences, Kean University, Michael Tullio, Kean University

Share the Keys, Marketing New Jersey's Parent-Teen Safe Driving Orientation in Your School This interactive workshop introduces "Share the Keys," New Jersey's research-based, parent-teen safe driving orientation program. Learn from facilitators how STK gets parents actively involved in managing their teen drivers' safety. They'll also share resources and techniques that are being employed across the state to bolster attendance at both voluntary and mandatory sessions.

RESOURCES

GRANTS & CONTESTS

The SPARK Grant-Finder Tool helps you locate funding for your Physical Education, After school, Early childhood or Coordinated School Health program. Grants can be used for curriculum, teacher training, or equipment. MORE

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.