IBC / Adopt-A-School Challenge Foundational Funders:
Schools Identified For Third Round of Adopt-A-School Challenge
Read the press release.
Adopt-a-School Challenge: Get the Facts!
What is it?
The Iowa Business Council/PE4life Adopt-A-School Challenge (AASC) is a statewide effort to enhance the quality of physical education for elementary and secondary students in Iowa schools. This is accomplished by providing professional development and training to educators and administrators, along with grant money to help purchase PE-related equipment and/or technology for use in the classroom.
What is PE4life?
We are a Kansas City, Missouri-based non-profit organization (www.pe4life.org), which manages the program and provides training for educators and administrators. Our job is to work directly with the schools selected to be in the AASC and help them improve their PE programming.
How is this being funded?
The Iowa Business Council, Hy-Vee, Wellmark, Iowa Health System, the Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation and the Principal Financial Group have all contributed money to help get this effort started. The overall goal of our partnership with these organizations is to “adopt” and provide direct training and financial support to 50 different schools statewide over a five-year period.
What schools have been selected so far?
First Round Selections
These schools were selected August 2010. Initial trainings began in mid-October and were completed by December 2010. They are:
• Audubon Community Schools – Audubon
• Francis Marion Intermediate – Marion
• Grant Wood AEA (K-12 special education) – Cedar Rapids
• Iowa City West High School – Iowa City
• John Cline Elementary/Carrie Lee Elementary – Decorah
• North Polk West Elementary – Polk City
• Van Meter Schools – Van Meter
• Williamsburg Jr/Sr High School – Williamsburg
• Wilson Middle School – Council Bluffs
Second Round Selections
These schools were selected October 2010. Initial trainings began January 2011 and ended in March. They are:
• Pleasant Valley High School – Bettendorf
• Chariton High School – Chariton
• Abraham Lincoln High School – Council Bluffs
• Waterloo West High School – Waterloo
• Alta High School – Alta
• Riverside Middle School – Carson
• Nodland and Joy Elementary Schools – Sioux City
• Horace Mann Elementary – Ottumwa
• Buford Garner Elementary – North Liberty
• Bergman Academy – Des Moines
• Gilbert Community School District – Gilbert
Who can apply for the AASC?
Any K-12 school in Iowa (public or private) can apply for the AASC.
How are schools selected for the AASC?
After submitting the required application, schools will be judged by PE4life staff on a number of different criteria, including geography, school size, current needs and practices, urban vs. rural, familiarity of PE4life and our principles, demonstration of administrative support, willingness to change, and much more. Schools not selected for a particular round are able to re-apply in future rounds if they’re still interested in participating.
If selected, what will my school receive?
Each school selected will receive professional development and training from PE4life staff, as well as grant money to be used toward the purchase of PE-related equipment and/or technology. The training package, which includes a mandatory, two-day implementation workshop and a set number of on-site visits by PE4life staff, is valued at $15,000. And then, depending on your needs, up to $30,000 will be made available to each school for equipment-related purchases. Additional funds will also be made available to help defray the costs associated with training, like travel, sub pay, etc. Overall, the grant package can be worth as much as $48,000 total.
What other requirements are there?
All schools selected to participate in the AASC must sign a letter of agreement, which spells out the terms of the engagement with PE4life, including proposed benchmarks and the monetary awards that can be expected. More importantly, this agreement must be signed by not on the PE teacher, but also the building principal to be accepted.
Where do the mandatory, two-day trainings take place?
In the Des Moines area or Pella. PE4life has model sites in the Ankeny, Des Moines, Norwalk and Pella school districts, where we take AASC participants for observational learning fieldtrips. Given this, we do our best to make sure selected schools have an opportunity to visit model sites that are good match with what they might have at home. These training times and visits are all coordinated and determined by PE4life, so selected schools do not choose where they go.
Any other questions?
Contact Mark Yontz, Iowa Regional Project Manager, at myontz@pe4life.org.
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Media
Physical education becoming a larger focus at Longfellow
A team of educators and day care providers from Longfellow Elementary School attended a two-day PE4Life Introductory workshop in the greater Des Moines area in mid-November. Read more.
Jodi Larson Named 2011 Middle School PE Teacher of the Year
Northview Middle School physical education teacher Jodi Larson has been named the 2011 Middle School Physical Education Teacher of the Year by the Iowa Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance (IAHPERD). Read the announcement. Congratulations, Jodi!
Charity Campbell from Norwalk Middle School (a PE4life Observation Site) is the 2012 Iowa Teacher of the Year.
Read the official Department of Education announcement. Watch the video of Charity accepting the award. Read an article from the Des Moines Register. Congratulations, Charity!
Healthy habits begin at school, last a lifetime
NORTH LIBERTY- Kids stand in Sheena Summer's third/fourth grade classroom in Garner school, jogging in place, stretching to their tip toes and practicing stability in the "downward dog" pose.
It's a math lesson, of course. Because teachers at Elementary School in North Liberty school know that physical activity helps the brain get ready for learning. Read more.
Siouxland schools to participate in "Adopt-A-School" challenge
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KTIV) -- A statewide program will soon help to enhance physical education in eleven more schools in Iowa, three right here in Siouxland. Nodland and Joy Elementary Schools in Sioux City and Alta High School in Alta will receive training and grant money through the Iowa Business Council/PE4life Adopt-A-School Challenge. The money will go towards physical education-related technology and other classroom equipment to enhance learning. School officials say that the adopt-a-school challenge will greatly benefit students. Read more.
Second Round Schools Identified For Adopt-A-School Challenge
(Des Moines, IA – January 6, 2011) – PE4life is pleased to announce the selection of 11 more Iowa schools to receive physical education professional development and funding support through the Iowa Business Council/PE4life Adopt-A-School Challenge, a statewide program created to enhance the quality of physical education for elementary and secondary students in Iowa schools. Read more.
First Ten Schools for New Adopt-A-School Challenge Identified
(Des Moines, IA – August 16, 2010) – PE4life is pleased to announce the selection of the first ten schools who will receive physical education professional development and funding support through the Iowa Business Council/PE4life Adopt-A-School Challenge, a statewide program created to enhance the quality of physical education for elementary and secondary students in Iowa schools. Read more.
Childhood Obesity in Iowa
Iowa Public Television just aired a story about childhood obesity in Iowa and what the Grundy Center’s PE4life Academy Training Center is doing to combat the problem. Watch the story.
Not Your Typical Gym Class...
GRUNDY CENTER - One small town in eastern Iowa is leading the way in improving physical education classes. "We’re giving students the opportunity here not only learning the systems of the body and being active but also how to get along and problem solve," said Rick Schupbach, PE4life co-director.
Fight fat in P.E. class, says U.S. official from Iowa
Q: P.E. has been pushed to the backburner in many schools, which face pressure to boost math and reading scores. How do you change that?
A: We’re seeing some unintended consequences where schools are counting the time that kids walk between classes as physical activity and using that as an excuse to cut physical education. That is completely wrong. We know that physical education can be an integral part of the school day. So it’s a matter of principals and superintendents understanding the importance. Read more of the interview with Shellie Pfohl, head the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports.
Jefferson School selected as one of four PE4life Model Schools
Jefferson Intermediate School is pleased to announce it has been selected as one of four pilot schools in the state of Iowa to implement the Healthy Schools Partnership (HSP), to help promote healthy eating and increased physical activity among our schoolchildren. The Healthy Schools Partnership is the first of its kind school-based program that combines practical nutrition education with quality physical education to create a curriculum that promotes health and wellness learning by teaching students about energy balance-balancing the calories they consume with calories they burn through their daily activity and play. Read more.
Iowa is on the Move to Become the Healthiest State!
Christie Vilsack tours PE4life Model Site Hanawalt Elementary
(Kansas City, MO) April 23, 2010 – Iowa stakeholders have ambition to become the healthiest state in the country and they’re enlisting support and gaining attention in their momentum. As part of regional expansion efforts, a PE4life Summit was held last week in Des Moines, with the support of the Iowa Business Council and the Department of Education. Read more.
Can Iowa raise the fitness bar with business-sponsored school program?
The title may not fit now, Iowa, but hold it up for size: the healthiest state in the nation. Read more.
Building a better
Lakewood Elementary School fourth-grader Clayton Hildreth used to walk right past the green beans at lunchtime and grab himself a sweet snack instead.
But last week Hildreth, 10, of Norwalk chose green beans. He has a newfound interest in “high power” health foods like grapes and carrots, spurred by a program called the Healthy Schools Partnership.
“I used to barely pick any vegetables,” Hildreth said. “So I would pick, like, a cookie. But now I eat fruits and vegetables and it tastes as good.” Read more.
Every School Every Thursday - Des Moines South
Hanawalt
As a part of PE4Life and Healthy School Project, registered dietitians having been working with fourth-graders on the importance of eating more fruits and vegetables, getting our bodies moving, and making healthy choices. The dietitians have decorated the cafeteria with fruit and vegetable balloons. Students are also learning how to make healthy after-school snacks.
U.S. Rep. Boswell: Brings state education leaders to tour Grundy Center physical education department
Grundy Center, Ia. – Congressman Leonard Boswell led a group of Iowa education leaders in a visit to Grundy Center schools this week to learn about the district’s cutting-edge physical education program that they have implemented in their elementary and secondary education schools. Read more.
Bounds beyond dodgeball
Lakewood Elementary School in Norwalk was selected as one of four Iowa schools to take part in an initiative aimed at changing the perception of physical education and improving the quality of wellness for all students. Lakewood students will participate in PE4life - a national nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting wellness through fun and interactive physical activity in school and community settings. Read more.
PE4life and the Iowa Business Council to host Summit in Des Moines on April 12th
(Kansas City, MO) March 30, 2010 – PE4life and the Iowa Business Council have come together to host a free Summit on April 12th at Drake University in Des Moines, IA. Over 100 school professionals are expected to attend the event where they’ll gain insight into the Adopt-A-School Challenge; learn how to apply for a scholarship; learn about PE4life’s Core Principles; attend breakout sessions and visit with top equipment vendors. Read press release.
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Thank you to the 40 school districts that attended the PE4life / IBC Adopt-A-School Challenge Summit!
On Monday, April 12th over 150 people representing 40 school districts attended the PE4life / IBC Adopt-A-School Challenge in Des Moines. The day featured guest keynote speaker and nationally renowned physical education activist, Artie Kamiya, and a number of learning opportunities from the area’s leading physical education professionals. The breakout sessions included topics from obtaining funding and community support, quality assessment and feedback tools used in PE and a number of activity sessions targeting fitness-related topics and ideas for maximizing physical activity time. Additionally, 13 equipment vendors showcased their products to the attendees.
The day was highlighted by the introduction to the Adopt-A-School Challenge application process. Through a partnership of PE4life and the Iowa Business Council (IBC), the Challenge seeks to develop an enriched culture of active, healthy lifestyles in elementary and secondary school children through Iowa. This partnership provides select schools the opportunity to directly enhance their physical education programs through professional development, training and ongoing support, and equipment grants. It is the goal of this partnership to provide scholarships to 50 schools who are ready and willing to improve. On hand to show support for the project were representatives from the Iowa Business Council including members from Hy-Vee, Inc., The Wellmark Foundation and Iowa Health Systems.
"The Adopt-A-School Challenge offers an exciting opportunity for unique partnerships between local schools and businesses aimed at improving the health and academic achievement of our most vital resource, the next generation of Iowa youth." - Ric Jurgens, Chairman, CEO & President of Hy-Vee, and member of the IBC.
The IBC is looking for schools who are willing and ready to integrate PE4life’s Core Principles. This integration will begin with a series of training and ongoing professional development to existing faculty as to best serve each individual school. The Adopt-A-School program will provide each participating school with the initial PE4life implementation workshop, two years of ongoing professional development support (including appropriate PE4life Partner programming), and equipment grants, all aligned toward making measureable progress toward the integration of PE4life and towards reaching the desired state the school identifies. This may result in $45,000 worth of services, including up to $10,000 in equipment, depending on the unique needs and goals of the individual school or district.
"The objective of the PE4life Adopt-A-School Challenge is to help Iowa become the healthiest state in the country, and one way of doing so is to directly address the epidemic of overweight and obese children." - Mel Haught, Immediate Past Chair of the Iowa Business Council and former President and CEO of Pella Corporation (retired)
Schools attending the Summit are eligible to apply for the scholarship. To receive an application, email info@pe4life.org.
Downloadable presentations:
Money, Money, Money… No Money!, Diane DeLozier Lahr and Ann Griffin
Handout PowerPoint
Got Sweat?, Tom Spalla
Handout
Maximizing PE Time, Nicole Weis
Booklet
Let’s Help Physical Education Finish Strong, Artie Kamiya
PowerPoint
Quality Assessments and Feedback Tools, Jen Neubauer
This day was made possible by funding from The US Department of Education and the Century Council and through continued support by Senator Tom Harkin.
