US Dept. of Agriculture: Food and Nutrition This is a great site for......
National Strength Coaches' Association This is a great site for ......

**Athens Academy has been named a demonstration center by the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports based on the quality of the physical education program and the school's commitment to physical activity and fitness.

**New Study Proves Physically Fit Kids Perform Better Academically:The study was conducted by the California Department of Education in 2002 and shows a distinct relationship between academic achievement and physical fitness. The study contains several interesting conclusions including the fact that students who met minimum fitness levels in three or more physical fitness areas showed the greatest gains in academic achievement. "This study provides compelling evidence that the physical well-being of students has a direct impact on their ability to achieve academically......Thousands of years the Greeks understood the importance of improving spirit, mind, body...The research presented here validates their philosophic approach with scientific validation." The study can be seen at the Sportime web site or on the NASPE web site.

**Another study finds that participation in vigorous physical activity enhances academic performance. The study was published in Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise and states that...."Students who engaged in vigorous physical activity...at least 20 minutes per day, three days per week, were found to have higher test scores." The study also found that mere attendance in a physical education program did not produce this result. The student needed to take part in vigorous exercise. It is comforting to note that our physical education program at Athens Academy meets and surpasses this "threshold level of activity". A snyposis of this research appears in the January 2007 issue of The Journal of Physical Educatiuon, Recreation, and Dance.

**Intramural Standings for 2006-2007: Braves pts , Falcons pts. , Hawks pts , Thrashers pts .
**With the advent of colder weather, please make sure that your children have appropriate clothing for the weather conditions. Many physical education classes continue to meet outdoors during the winter months.
**Please remember that required equipment for physical education classes consists of an Athens Academy tee shirt, dark green shorts, white socks, and athletic shoes. We would also ask you to make sure that your child's name is printed in or on all clothing. Each year we find many shirts and shorts with no name on them.

**The Spring 2006 fitness testing produced 118 Presidential award winners and 277 award winners overall. Overall 70% of students tested received national or presidential recognition. Two (2) new school records were set during the testing period. The average student was able to do 42 sit-ups, reach 4.6 inches, complete 29 push-ups, run a 10.5 shuttle run, and ran an 8:12 mile.In a very close contest the 5th grade was able to edge the 6th grade by a mark of 78% to 73% for the middle school fitness award. The middle school average was 73 %---a remarkable number and a great testament to the hard work of the students. The 2nd grade posted a mark of 70% of students receiving recognition to win the lower school award. We wish to commend all students for their hard work, and we hope that they will continue to set great fitness goals for themselves. A number of students set personal highs for themselves during this testing period. We look forward to even more great things next spring, and we wish to applaud all students for setting high standards and working to do their best. Keep working hard.

Evaluation: All students will receive a numerical grade in physical education class. Students will be evaluated every quarter in accordance with Middle School procedures. Since our major departmental goals are to evaluate and enhance each student’s fitness level, increase the student’s knowledge of the importance of fitness in his/her life, teach students sport skills with emphasis on the techniques, strategies, and rules which are critical to the sport, and to provide students with a greater pool of knowledge from which to make lifestyle decisions we feel that daily participation in the program is of paramount importance. The participation portion of the grade will be determined as outlined below. In courses where a written test is used the student’s grade will be determined by a 75% participation- 25% written or skill test formula. In courses where no written or skill testing is done, the participation grade will be 100% of the student’s grade.
All Students begin each grading period with 75 points (C).

How + points may be earned during the unit:
+5 improvement of mile time
+3 improvement of push-ups
+1-+5 A student may earn this range of points depending on the number of push-ups done. (national= 1 pt., national +2=2 pts
presidential -2 = 3 pts., presidential=4 points, presidential+ ??= 5 points)
+1-+5 A student may earn this range of points depending on the mile time run. (nat.= 1 pt., national-15 sec.=2 pts., nat.-
30 sec.= 3 pts., nat.- 45 sec.= 4 pts., presidential = 5 points)
+5 Run an extra timed mile at or below national time
+3 Make the elite fleet or muscle mania list for a quarter
+5 Class participation points
+3 Complete a written report (250 words) about a sport book.
Up to 3 points can be given based on the quality of the
report.
Extra Credit +3 For Students Who Have Perfect Attendance And
A Perfect Record During The Unit

How - points may be earned during the unit:
-3 Unprepared for class (uniform) on second occasion(-1 each add. time)
-3 Walking during class running assignments after warning
-3 Reporting tardy to class on more than one occasion (or leaving class)
-3 Poor attitude in class
-3 Foul or abusive language in class

The President’s Challenge fitness test will be conducted twice during the year to provide additional fitness information to students and parents.

We hope that these changes will assure that each student will earn a grade which accurately reflects his/her effort and performance during the unit.
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