Clovis Earns Physical Education Fitness Award
Dr. Pete Mehas and the Fresno County Board of Education presented CUSD with the 1st annual Fresno County Office of Education Fitness Award, solidifying the consistent physical education efforts made by our school district.
The award is based on the 2005 “fitnessgrahm” scores. Every 5th, 7th and 9th grader in the state is tested on their fitness ability and graded on six elements: body composition, aerobic capacity, abdominal strength, trunk extension stretch, upper body strength, and flexibility.
The Fresno County Office of Education looked at the body composition and aerobic capacity scores, using these statistics as a base for the award criteria.
To exemplify the superior ability of Clovis students, note the following: In 2005, in the category “aerobic capacity”, state average scores were: 58.4%, 5th grade; 59.8%, 7th grade; and 50.9%, 9th grade. Clovis Unified scores were significantly higher: 90.4%, 5th grade; 88.7%, 7th grade; and 78.3%, 9th grade.
Of a combined 34 districts in Fresno County, seven districts met or exceeded their fitness goals. CUSD was one of only three districts that exceeded all fitness goals in 5th, 7th and 9th grades.
“The fitness of the child is important and paves the way for success,” said Linda Shelton, Wellness and Nutrition Coordinator for the Fresno County Office of Education.
Shelton said that the county plans to compare further the API scores of schools and their fitness scores. They believe there will be a strong tie-in between the two scores, showing a direct correlation as to how each child achieves.
“This (award) is our way of honoring schools and telling them to keep up the good work,” Shelton said. “Clovis is committed to making a difference in physical education.”
Thus begs the question: What makes Clovis Unified unique? What sets our district apart from others in the area of physical education?
“As the motto ‘Mind, Body and Spirit’ suggests, getting students in shape and active is part of the curriculum,” said Nancy Mealer, CUSD Health and Wellness Program Manager. “It has always been an important part of Clovis (Unified) to educate the whole child, which includes physical activity.”
Though the state requires only 5th, 7th and 9th graders be tested, CUSD is one of the only districts that tests every grade level from 1st through 11th grades.
“Our schools practice P.E. in the fall and set goals. They decide what they’d like to achieve by spring,” said Mealer.
Clovis Unified still has a 9th through 12th grade P.E. requirement for graduation, another standard that sets us apart. Most districts have in place a two-year requirement for 9th and 10th grades only.
Mealer said that because of growing obesity issues, many districts are now trying to go back and put in requirements for juniors and seniors.
A cross-age tutoring program offered by each of the Clovis high schools provides another method of keeping physical activity at the forefront of the schools, thereby elevating P.E. scores. Juniors and seniors of Clovis high schools are eligible to take the P.E. tutoring class. They meet once a week at the high school and have a handbook of games to serve as a guideline.
The class is designed to both immerse high school students into the world of promoting physical fitness and give elementary students maximum exposure to physical education, all the while reducing curriculum pressure from teachers..
“The earlier you set the standards for physical activity, the sooner it becomes routine,” said Peggy Rigby, physical education teacher at Clovis West.
Each P.E. tutor at Clovis West is assigned one elementary school teacher. The tutor reports to that teacher’s class four days a week and interacts with the students, involving them in various elements of physical education. Throughout the year they can check out equipment and are introduced to several more activities that can be used with the grade school children.
“Many students who have been involved as P.E. tutors decide to go into teaching,” said Rigby. “You can’t beat the relationship between high school students and elementary school kids.”
Clovis also strongly encourages co-curricular activities and sports, which helps push P.E. scores higher. In addition, all four high schools have new state-of-the-art fitness centers that are made available to students and teachers alike.
“Top-notch sports help encourage students to understand that physical fitness is important,” said Mealer.
