Governor's Council on Physical Fitness & Sports

School In The Spotlight

University High
School of the Year

University High submitted the following three essays for consideration of the Governor's Challenge Competition Grand Prize:

Essay 1 - Commitment to Promoting Healthy Eating on Campus

The students and teachers at University High School (UHS) are committed to a healthy and fit lifestyle. In our curriculum, for both the physical education and the lifestyles class, teachers encourage healthy eating as a means to improve not only health, but fitness as well. During the fitness activity session, teachers discuss the necessity of choosing nutritious foods to maintain fitness levels which will lead students to reach their fitness goals. Good nutrition discussions are integrated into P.E. classes as progress is made in the Presidential Fitness Challenge, while goals are being set for each of the tests.

Our school resides on a college campus, and as such we are in a unique position: our students have a wide variety of choices for lunch. At every opportunity, our teachers encourage our students to eat at one of the restaurants promoting healthier food. They point out the many reasonably-priced items on the salad bar, reminding students that there is a wide choice of healthy sandwiches, as well as plenty of fresh fruit and side salads.

In an effort to support good eating habits, the school administration has eliminated students’ direct access to soda. Soda in the vending machines located directly on our campus has been replaced with juice and water. In addition, soda sales are not allowed as fundraisers – only bottled water or sports drinks sales are approved. The staff at UHS is committed to keeping students as healthy as possible, and encourages students to make the right choices when it comes to eating.

Essay 2 - Support of Students’ Physical Activity and Fitness

The biggest support for the students’ fitness comes from the physical education department, which has created a standards-based program that focuses equally on sports related skills, fitness, and health (students are required to take 4 years of PE not the standard 2). The goal of the program was not a result of the Challenge, but has existed since we were established as a school eight years ago. We achieve our goal by having all students set personal fitness goals for themselves at the beginning of the freshman year, which are recorded and monitored all four years through a well-articulated PE program. Classroom sizes are small (20 students average per class) so the teachers can focus on individual students, and all PE classes have a classroom setting to utilize as necessary to conduct fitness or health-related classes. All these things are done for students with the hope they find fun and enjoyable ways to stay physically fit for the rest of their lives. We also offer athletic electives like snowboarding, skiing, biking, bowling, karate and lacrosse, which expose the students to new experiences and hopefully develop a life-long learning for the activity.

The school also sponsors two, all-school physical activity contests. There is a flag football tournament called the Phoenix Bowl where students compete by grade level, with the winning team facing the faculty team. The school also has Field Day by which every student and faculty member is involved in games and activities like basketball, ultimate Frisbee, world ball, soccer, golf, Rubik’s cube relays and volleyball. These activities encourage school unity, while showing students that faculty is also committed to physical fitness. As a contrast to large traditional high school classes, we think what we are doing is innovative and inspirational.

Essay 3- Need For a New Fitness Center

UHS currently lacks adequate and appropriate space for its students' physical fitness needs. For the past eight years, UHS's P.E. and Music Departments have shared a 30x40 foot portable, which limits the indoor space available for physical activity. (For example, our students often do not have the space they need to complete movement-related activities because the band instruments take up a great deal of room.) Additionally, because the floor is not constructed to handle vigorous physical activity and the ceilings are low, UHS students cannot perform exercise activities that require jumping. Some other major problems include poor indoor air quality, unstable room temperatures, and distractions that arise from two departments sharing the same room.

UHS also needs additional equipment to enhance and facilitate its physical fitness program. Our teachers do not have a class set of any of the equipment they use on a daily basis. Consequently, we are unable to ask our students to complete physical fitness activities together as a class; they are instead required to move from station to station. We have also had to hand-make equipment on occasion. For example, we are currently using water bottles and soup cans for weights.

More Schools In The Spotlight

Sacramento

Hazel Strauch Elementary School of the Year
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Alameda

Bay Area Regional Award Winner
Rancho Las Positas Elementary 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 recent study at Lawrence Livermore Laboratory has determined that the number of fat cells in a human’s body, whether lean or obese, is established during the teenage years. Changes in fat mass in adulthood can be attributed mainly to ... Read More »

Ventura

Desert Sierra Regional Award Winner
Bobby Duke 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 At Bobby Duke Middle School, we understand that nutrition affects student health, behavior and performance, so we strive to educate students about the benefits of good nutrition. In 2006, our district adopted a Wellness Policy with the mission of developing healthy ... Read More »

Kern

Cecil Avenue Middle School of the Year
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 ... Read More »

Monterey

Central Coast Regional Award Winner
Fremont Elementary submitted the following three essays for consideration of the Governor's Challenge Competition Grand Prize: Essay 1 - Commitment to Promoting Healthy Eating on Campus Schools are in a unique position to help children learn good health practices. Here at Fremont our commitment is strong in promoting healthy eating on campus during; it’s been the one discussion and reminder at all Monday morning assemblies. We believe exercising ... Read More »

Tulare

Central Valley Regional Award Winner
Golden Oak Elementary submitted the following three essays for consideration of the Governor's Challenge Competition Grand Prize: Essay 1 - Commitment to Promoting Healthy Eating on Campus As a school district committed to healthy eating, Visalia Unified has taken a long look at what is provided in the lunchroom to students. As an elementary school committed to raising healthy citizens, Golden Oak has continually examined the foods that ... Read More »

Ventura

Gold Coast Regional Award Winner
University Preparation School submitted the following three essays for consideration of the Governor's Challenge Competition Grand Prize: Essay 1 - Commitment to Promoting Healthy Eating on Campus UPS has made a fervent and comprehensive commitment to promoting healthy eating on campus. Our multifaceted approach includes nutrition education, access to healthier foods, and promoting a culture of health and wellbeing. A nutrition specialist teaches a 6-week unit to each ... Read More »

San Joaquin

Gold Country Regional Award Winner
Victory Elementary submitted the following three essays for consideration of the Governor's Challenge Competition Grand Prize: Essay 1 - Commitment to Promoting Healthy Eating on Campus When Victory students began the Governor’s Challenge, snacks were “Hot-Cheetos” and a soda. Today Victory students are making healthy choices all on their own. The cafeteria prepares breakfast, lunch and snacks with the goal of appealing to the younger palate. Teachers and ... Read More »

Los Angeles

Los Angeles Regional Award Winner
NEW Academy Canoga Parksubmitted the following three essays for consideration of the Governor's Challenge Competition Grand Prize: Essay 1 - Commitment to Promoting Healthy Eating on Campus At NEW Academy Canoga Park, we don’t eat candy or junk food. We don’t drink soda or sugary drinks. We eat well balanced, healthy meals. Every day we are served healthy breakfasts and lunch. Everyone at NEW Academy Canoga Park receives ... Read More »

Sonoma

North Coast Regional Award Winner
Helen Lehman Elementary submitted the following three essays for consideration of the Governor's Challenge Competition Grand Prize: Essay 1 - Commitment to Promoting Healthy Eating on Campus While students, teachers, and parents at Helen Lehman Elementary School have focused on nutrition for the past six years, we continued during 2007-08 to significantly impact our students with regard to good eating habits. At Lehman, we have numerous programs in ... Read More »

Orange

Orange Regional Award Winner
College Park Elementary submitted the following three essays for consideration of the Governor's Challenge Competition Grand Prize: Essay 1 - Commitment to Promoting Healthy Eating on Campus At College Park Elementary we are committed to promoting healthy eating habits. We realize that healthy eating begins with educating the students and providing them with an understanding of what “healthy” means. We have a school wide nutrition program that 100% ... Read More »

San Diego

San Diego and Imperial Regional Award Winner
Valley Center Primary submitted the following three essays for consideration of the Governor's Challenge Competition Grand Prize: Essay 1 - Commitment to Promoting Healthy Eating on Campus Lifestyle changes in American society are having catastrophic effects on our youth. Obesity and childhood diabetes are being diagnosed in unprecedented numbers. Valley Center Primary School’s student population of Hispanic and Native American children is being diagnosed at an even higher ... Read More »

Butte

Sierra Cascade Regional Award Winner
Paradise Elementary submitted the following three essays for consideration of the Governor's Challenge Competition Grand Prize: Essay 1 - Commitment to Promoting Healthy Eating on Campus Paradise Elementary School’s commitment to promoting healthy eating on campus permeates throughout our entire school. This commitment includes all students, certificated and classified staff, parents, volunteers, district office personnel, school board members and community partners. We are committed to the realization that ... Read More »

Award Winners by Year: 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011

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