Cecil Avenue Middle
School of the Year
School of the Year
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Cecil Avenue Middle School students recorded 73,798 active days in the 2008 Governor’s Challenge Competition. As part of a central valley community that does not have access to any fitness chain facilities and which has one of the highest concentrations of fast food stores per person in the state, Cecil Avenue Middle had to find creative methods to keep their students physically active with a healthy diet. Working with parents was key to the school’s success as they actively engaged parents in nutrition and fitness education through their “Parent University.” Students and parents received free blood sugar and cholesterol checks, BMI reports, nutritional presentations translated in Spanish, and provided sign-ups for low cost health insurance. Cecil Avenue Middle School also found ways to make physical activity fun for students. “Family Fitness Calendars” provided opportunities for students and their families to be active outside of school such as aerobics night or swing dance. “Fitness Fun Days” throughout the year rewarded students for hard work and good behavior. Cecil Avenue Middle submitted the following three essays for consideration of the Governor's Challenge Competition Grand Prize: Essay 1 - Commitment to Promoting Healthy Eating on Campus A district school board member was appointed to the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO), involved in a statewide project to improve school nutrition. After our trustee shared DUSD’s program, a NALEO leader visited us. Later, our program was exposed to NALEO representatives from all states west of the Mississippi at a Seattle conference. In addition, we will present our program at the Latino School Board Association conference in Visalia in October. We are recognized because we have a unique, cooperative relationship between our school board, city council, and local & county health officials. This has led to sweeping changes in the last 3 years, including: - All vending machines removed from campus, and only SB965 compliant drinks are served. - Only SB12 approved snack items are allowed for fund-raising or incentives. All such items must be ordered through Food Services. - “Second Chance Breakfast” program is offered, free of charge, to students during morning break. Salads are available for purchase during lunch. - In 2008-2009, Food Services will develop school menus under the Shaping Health as Partners in Education program. All menus will be nutrient analyzed to meet state requirements. - A link to the district’s web site was launched where teachers, parents, and students can view school menus with comprehensive nutritional information. This is a tremendous help to parents of students with food allergies, diabetes, etc. - No items are served that contain artificial trans fat, or have been fried in any way. - Beginning July 1st, middle schools will offer no “a la carte” food items. - A district wellness policy with strict nutritional guidelines was developed in accordance with federal legislation. - At CAMS “Parent University,” parents attended nutrition presentations (with recipes) in English and Spanish. - District adopted Fitness for Life, Middle School PE curriculum, including units on nutrition and the Food Pyramid. Essay 2 - Support of Students’ Physical Activity and Fitness Cecil Avenue Middle School is profoundly supportive of our students’ physical activity and fitness: - 7th and 8th grade students, and 6th grade students not enrolled in academic intervention classes, attend PE five days a week, receiving 480 minutes of instruction every 10 days. 6th grade academic intervention students attend PE on a 3-2 schedule, receiving 240 minutes of instruction every 10 days. Instructional minutes in both cases surpass CA Ed Code requirements. - PE staff developed a CA standards-based program that provides students with individualized, fitness-focused instruction. -“PE/Fitness enrichment” classes are scheduled into a schoolwide academic intervention/enrichment program. - School purchased class sets of Heart Rate Monitors for all PE classes. - PE staff members have been assigned as peer coaches for 6th grade multi-subject teachers who teach PE. - Extensive after school athletic programs for boys and girls are available. - “Fitness Fun Days” throughout the year reward students for hard work and good behavior. - “Family Fitness Calendars” encourage students to be active outside of school. - Fitness achievement patches are worn on student graduation gowns. The principal acknowledges students during the ceremony by having them stand and be applauded. - After school program is available. CAMS PE staff trained After School personnel. - Back-to-School Night features a staff/student aerobics demonstration for parents. - Students/parents aerobicize together on Aerobic Night. - Students/parents receive free blood sugar and cholesterol checks, BMI reports, and nutrition information at our “Parent University.” Students swing dance for their parents. City Parks and Recreation staff lead aerobics sessions. Health-related vendors are stationed around the gym. Low cost health insurance sign-ups are available. “Nutrition Olympics” stations are provided for the younger children. A free, healthy breakfast is served. - Of course…The Governor’s Challenge! CAMS has the second highest total of Activity Days of ANY school in the state! Essay 3- Need For a New Fitness Center Cecil Avenue Middle School is in the small, farming community of Delano. Our population primarily consists of economically disadvantaged families, many of whom are migrant field workers. According to the Kern County Health Department, our county has one of the highest concentrations of fast food/convenience stores per person in the state. There are no fitness “chain” outlets in Delano. We are not a “walkable” community. There are many blocks without sidewalks and curbs. Many of our streets are poorly lit at night. There are few parks and no bike lanes in Delano. There are more liquor/convenience stores than stores that carry fresh produce. In this environment, there are limited community resources for children to be active and eat right. Our school district provides the bulk of activity and nutrition opportunities for our young people. As a result of these conditions, Delano has the 8th worst child overweight percentage in the state, at 40.4% (California Center for Public Health Advocacy, 2004). We are in dire need of the kind of 21st century, relevant, kid-friendly, fitness center that iTech Fitness designs. Our students are part of the video game generation. The exergaming focus of iTech will motivate our students to be active using 21st century methodology. This fitness center will also solidify the fitness content in our standards, helping staff to deliver more relevant lessons that students can apply to real life. We can also open this center for after-hours use and provide a much needed resource to our community. For the last 2 years, we have tried unsuccessfully to secure funding for iTech to build a center on our site. We know their product, and desperately need their product on our campus. We need your help, and our children need fitness opportunities that this new fitness center will provide. |
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