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A cheer that could be heard in the parking lot erupted from Bobby Duke Middle School students on Wednesday when they found out they had won Middle School of the Year in the Governor's Challenge on physical fitness. “When they told us, I was so excited,” eighth-grader Carolina Castaneda said. “We worked hard.” The Coachella school was chosen from 92 finalists to receive $100,000 in digital fitness equipment for its participation in the governor's fitness challenge — one of three centers awarded statewide. “They continue to lead the way for the Every student at Bobby Duke participated in the Governor's challenge by exercising at least 30 minutes a day three days a week outside of class time. The school logged more than 100,000 active days. Teachers at Bobby Duke incorporated everything from walking the dog to dancing to playing with friends to show that being active can be fun even if you are not good at sports. “If they enjoy it, they'll do it on their own,” Principal Erasmo Garcia said. That has translated into higher participation in sports and after- school fitness groups, he said. “We're more active this year,” said eighth-grader Chelsea Perea, 13. “Instead of staying home and watching TV, it makes us do something.” The iTECH Fitness equipment is designed to combine the students' digital world with exercise. For example, a stationary bike with an attached video screen uses the rider's movement to control a game character. “It's kind of meeting the kids where they're at,” said Leslie Pacheco, physical education teacher and Governor's Challenge competition coordinator at Bobby Duke last year. “This fitness center, it's just a dream come true.” Bobby Duke, which now uses the gym equipment at the Boys & Girls Club next door, will combine two empty classrooms to create the fitness center, which is expected to be set up later this year. The fitness council is a nonprofit organization that does not take government funding, so state budget issues will not impact the prize, Steinfeld said. The equipment will be incorporated into physical education classes and also be available for students after school. “I'm looking forward to it because we're going to have one more facility that our kids can use to keep them off the street and keep them entertained after school,” physical education department chair Jesus Rosas said. The |
