School district wins fitness award

The Petaluma City Elementary School District has received a 2009 Spotlight gold medal award after being selected as the North Coast School District of the Year by the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports.

The award — which was given at the Capitol Area East End Complex Auditorium in Sacramento on Sept. 16 — recognizes the school district’s efforts to positively impact the physical activity, fitness levels and well being of all its elementary-school students. The council awarded 11 gold medals to state schools districts from a field of over 700 nominees.

During the 2009-2009 school year, Petaluma City Schools implemented a district-wide plan in all K-6 elementary schools, serving 1,800 students and 90 teachers.

A credentialed physical-education teacher was hired to rotate among six schools, and teach lessons to all classes while training teachers. A new lesson was taught every two weeks, thereby allowing teachers to implement and adapt lessons before learning new lessons.

The lessons focused on skill development, fitness, music, dance and games that had everyone moving, with little “down” time. The physical-education teacher shared with teachers the links between physical activity and increased student achievement, thereby helping teachers to learn the importance of, and ways to engage, the mind/body learning connection for students.

A teacher survey was administered twice during the past year. Results indicate a high level of satisfaction and implementation of learned strategies. For instance, 82 percent teachers replied “some to a lot” when asked, “Have you increased the amount of student activity that you provide for your students?”

Supporting Healthy Active Kids in Education, a parent fund-raising component of the program for the last six years, raised enough funds to pay for physical-education enrichment specialists, who taught weekly activities to students in grades 3-6.

“As a parent and volunteer, I believe the collaboration with teachers, school administrators and community health organizations is crucial,” said Debbie Prusinovski, SHAKE chair. “We are working together to make a difference, to inspire long-term healthy lifestyle choices for our children and support our local educational programs. We are taking action now for a healthier future for our children.”

SHAKE also funded a garden coordinator for the elementary-school district. Teachers take their classes to a garden, where students plant, weed, nurture and harvest vegetables. They make recipes using fresh vegetables, and some sites have a salad bar.

“SHAKE is an example of our community coming together to support the health and fitness of our students,” said Greta Viguie, superintendent of Petaluma City Schools.

In receiving the gold medal award, Petaluma City Schools recognized the help of its community partners, including the Petaluma Health Care District, St. Joseph Health System, Kaiser Permanente, the PTAs at all six elementary schools, Petaluma Bounty Project, Sonoma State University’s Department of Kinesiology, the local health-care community and local community members and business owners.

“Our student performance on the state physical-fitness testing has improved since SHAKE has been in existence. I am very proud of the progress of our students and of the community collaboration that has made this all happen.”

— Argus-Courier