News and Events

King City school named Central Coast Fitness Champion, to receive $6,000

Salinas Californian

http://www.thecalifornian.com/article/20090915/NEWS01/909150309

September 15, 2009

By Kimber Solana • ksolana@thecalifornian.com

A King City elementary school is receiving $6,000 after about 81 percent of its students completed Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's challenge to get more exercise and be healthy, officials announced Monday.

Del Rey Elementary School was one of 11 schools chosen for the regional award by the Governor's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, a nonprofit group dedicated to getting California students more active.

Officials said 1,165 schools, about 339,000 students, competed in the Governor's Challenge Competition in 2009 — the fourth year of the program in California.

"To get positive news like this is a boost to school morale," Principal Dee Shires said. Because of budget cuts, the school's physical education teacher was laid off in March, she said.

The teacher, who was responsible for organizing the program, she said, did not want to be named or recognized.

Shires said she learned the school, which has about 750 students, was chosen on Friday.

"[Del Rey] did it in a very creative way," Council Chairman Jake Steinfeld said, referring to how the school kept its students physically active.

Steinfeld said the school organized sports tournaments during lunchtime, took "walking" field trips to the library and implemented a midmorning snack time that served fruit and vegetables.

"It's nice to give incentives to schools that step up and take the challenge," he said.

The program challenged students to be active 30 to 60 minutes a day, at least three days a week, for a month. Steinfeld said 610 Del Rey students successfully completed the program.

"That may not seem much," he said, "but the toughest part of a fitness program is getting started."

Despite losing the physical education teacher, Shire said, Del Rey's teachers have stepped up to make sure their students stay active.

Shire said she plans on getting input from teachers about what type of equipment the students may want and need.

Steinfeld said the Challenge underscores the connection between physical activity and academics.

"When our kids are healthy and active," he said, "they're not out from school, they're more focused, do better on tests. ... It's that upward spiral."