Bobby Duke Middle School wins $5,000 fitness grant

The Desert Sun

Being more active last year paid off big this year for Bobby Duke Middle School students.

The school received a $5,000 check from the Governor's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports on Thursday for success in a statewide physical activity challenge.

All 418 eighth-graders who were in seventh grade last year were active between 30 and 60 minutes a day, at least three days a week, outside of school, from January to May.

The money will be used to incorporate new sports units into physical education classes, such as bowling and golf.

“It was a school effort. Students would encourage each other to finish. Because if one (person) didn't do it then we didn't get 100 percent,” said Leslie Pacheco, a physical education teacher at the school who coordinated the challenge.

Bobby Duke Middle School competed in the Desert Sierra region, which included 156 other schools. Of those, the school was one of five schools that had 100 percent participation.

It was also one of 11 schools statewide to win the $5,000 award.