Funding Opp that can Jumpstart your PE Program!

PE4life is excited to partner with the Churchill Family Fund of The Pittsburgh Foundation to provide a one-time partial scholarship to an Introductory Workshop at the PE4life Academy Training Center in Titusville, PA.

In 2006, a school from Tonganoxie, Kansas registered to attend a PE4life Academy Training in Titusville. They chose to attend Titusville because it was similar to their community in terms of size and school demographics. We were pleased to receive this update on their progress.

Hi Tim,

It’s been awhile since we have communicated and I thought it was about time we give you a P.E. update. Since we returned from visiting you in 2006, we have made great strides in unifying our physical education department. We presented to the board about our experience in Titusville and started envisioning what a future physical education program in Tonganoxie should look like. Tim, we are almost there!!!

We continued to discuss improvements and grant possibilities with our administrators. We were able to get help with a district-hired grant writer who had never even heard of the PEP grant. We gave her all kinds of information and we came up with a plan to collect data the following school year. Hopefully, you noticed that we were awarded the PEP grant in 2009. We named our PEP grant "Kansas Adventures" and focused on activities families could do in Kansas. Kids could learn about those activities then encourage their family to get involved. We concentrated on hiking, walking, and CPR/First Aid (high school) the first year, climbing and high adventure (high school) and bicycling the third year.

We now have a fitness room in each building, climbing walls in every gym with a high adventure course in the high school. We have added one full time P.E. teacher in each building giving us a total of 3 teachers per building which allowed us to add classes at the high school and help to address the overcrowded classes at the middle and elementary school. The third teacher at the elementary school has also been able to add a health curriculum for all students and is able to meet twice a month with each class for a standardized health lesson.

We have implemented Wel-Pro, a web-based tracking system for fitness tests so we can keep student information continuous through their years at Tonganoxie schools. We have written a guide for giving fitness tests in our district so that all of us use the same equipment in the same way and all of the testing can have accurate annual comparisons.

We are currently planning our bicycling strategy for year 3 and our district is hoping to pass a bond issue in April for a second elementary school. With administrator approval, there is a fitness room included in the plans as well as a gym that was enlarged to have 3 teaching spaces (3 cross-courts).

As I looked at the new building plans, I couldn't help but think it all started with a trip to Titusville, and the support of our administration believing in us. Thank you again for giving us the opportunity to see your program and know that you still continue to have an impact on our physical education program.

Together in physical education, sincerely,

Ursula Kissinger
Tonganoxie Elementary School
Tonganoxie, KS

Congratulations Tonganoxie School District! Keep up the great work!

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Churchill Family Fund PE4life Introductory Workshop Scholarship
Deadline to Apply: Friday, February 25, 2011
How to Apply: Fill out and submit this application following the directions on the form.

The Titusville Area School District (Titusville, PA) has been recognized as a PE4life Academy. PE4life Academies are exemplary physical education programs that open their doors to others in efforts to inspire and paint a picture of quality programming. If representatives from your school are interested in attending an Introductory Workshop at a PE4life Academy, contact Rachelle Gardner at rgardner@pe4life.org or 816-472-7345.

Learn more about PE4life Academies and our Support Services here.

Iowa Schools Battle Childhood Obesity

September is National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month. This article features how some Iowa Schools are facing this battle.

Physical education programs adapt in the face of increased child obesity
by Patrick Hogan

Sweat formed on the face of Quinten Lamb, 14, as he pedalled a floating bicycle above a grassy landscape, trying to catch a red dragon in the distance.

His pursuit briefly was interrupted by Steve Fish, a physical education instructor at Marion High School, who came by to check on the freshman’s progress on the video game exercise bike.

“Remember, 10 minutes, then get on the treadmill,” Fish said before moving on to another student in late August in the school’s new basement fitness room.

Marion’s new facility of cutting-edge exercise machines is just one example of new approaches local high schools are taking to combat child obesity.

Obesity in children nationwide has risen steadily since the early 1970s for all age groups, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Body mass index tests of students for 2010 found that 32 percent of kindergartners and 37 percent of fifth-graders in the Cedar Rapids school district were overweight or obese, according to district wellness coordinator Grant Schultz.

In Marion, a study school officials did two years ago showed 19 percent of fourth-graders, 59 percent of eighth-graders and 33 percent of high school juniors overweight. The study additionally showed 14 percent of fourth-graders, 28 percent of eighth-graders and 23 percent of high school juniors as being obese.

A fitness report for this year is being prepared.

During his 18 years as a physical educator, Fish has seen obesity become more of an issue with his students, particularly his current 9th grade classes.

“They’re very nice kids, but I think a third of them are at risk from a weight standpoint,” Fish said. “If those were kids at risk for reading and writing, there would be alarms going off.”

Continue Reading full article as featured in the Gazette Online here.

Steve Fish, physical education teacher and Carol M. White PEP Grant Winner in Marion, Iowa will be presenting at the PE4life Resource Conference, October 4-5 in Overland Park, Kansas.

Photo by Liz Martin/The Gazette

The Power of PEP

This article is a blast from the past, but it so perfectly highlights the Power of the PEP Grant. Learn how the PE4life Academy Training Center in Titusville, PA came to be and how others have put their funding to good use...


Fitness Assessment
The popular PEP grant program has allowed hundreds of school districts to re-energize P.E. programs with new equipment and specialized training.

By Michael Popke, January 2008

Tim McCord was bored. The year was 1999, and after two decades as a physical education teacher at Titusville (Pa.) Middle School — where classes revolved around a traditional curriculum of football in the fall, basketball in the winter, and softball and track and field in the spring — he was looking for a challenge, something to re-energize his department, his students and himself.

"I'd been doing the same things for about 20 years at that time, and I could have continued to do them standing on my head," says McCord, now chair of the physical education department for the Titusville Area School District. "I thought, 'Is it really our job to teach these kids sports skills? Or is it our job to teach them how to live healthy lives?' "

To find the answer, McCord requested permission from the district's superintendent to take a field trip to Naperville, Ill., where students at Central High School were among the first in the country to participate in physical education classes that actually improved more than their ball-handling skills. There, he saw instructors incorporating high-tech fitness equipment and detailed health-risk assessments into everyday P.E. classes.

No longer bored, McCord returned to Titusville — a small and economically stressed community in which half of all students at the time were eligible for free or reduced school-lunch programs — and shared his findings with the school board. The next thing he knew, McCord was handed a check for $30,000 (10 times the district's entire physical education budget that year) to revamp the middle school's P.E. department with cardiovascular-fitness and strength-training equipment, along with plenty of heart-rate monitors. With the following year came another check, this one for $40,000 to replicate the middle school's program at Titusville High School. One year later, the district gave McCord an additional $10,000 to purchase fitness-assessment machines for both schools.

Then, in 2003, the district was awarded $342,000 from the federal government in the form of a Carol M. White Physical Education Program (PEP) grant, which funded repairs and upgrades to existing equipment, added climbing or traversing walls at every school in the district, and expanded overall P.E. programming. Then came the clincher: The high school's principal rearranged for the daily schedule to expand from eight classes to nine, shifting periods from 43 minutes to 40 and making room for daily P.E. sessions.

"All I did was explain to our school board that our physical education program was going nowhere," McCord says. "Now I don't think our kids understand how good they have it."

Continue to read the rest of the article...

Learn more about visiting a PE4life Academy Training Center.

YES, YOU CAN come to the PE4life Resource Conference!

Want to attend the PE4life Resource Conference?

Not enough money in your school budget?

Administration won’t allow for time off?

We know times are tough. Schools are facing small to non-existing budgets and some schools are even closing their doors. No surprise that PE continues to take hits – and now professional development opportunities are squelched.

Don’t fret! There are things working in our favor. Childhood obesity is a HOT topic! Everyone, including the First Lady, is jumping on the childhood obesity bandwagon. Brain Research – linking physical activity to academic achievement – is continually evolving and validating our jobs. We’ve all known the value of quality physical education for some time and now it seems that others are finally starting to get it! Take advantage of this – these trending topics can be used to help get you to the PE4life Resource Conference!

Wait, there’s more good news – people actually want to help! Local businesses, foundations and concerned citizens are all looking for ways to contribute. Sponsoring your attendance at the PE4life Resource Conference is a perfect way to do so. We’ve compiled some basic information to help get you there.

When approaching a potential sponsor, whether in writing, over the phone or in person – use the following information to state your best case for needing support and how you plan to use their support to make a difference.

What Attendees Receive:
Attendees of the PE4life Resource Conference will receive two full days of professional development and learning opportunities from nationally-renowned industry leaders who get programmatic results. Speakers at the PE4life Resource Conference have quality, cutting edge programs who see positive impacts in students’ physical health and improvements in student learning. Participants at PE4life events are forward thinking and ready to embrace a new way of teaching physical education. This event is a networking and brainstorming opportunity for like-minded professionals. Attendees will also have the opportunity to meet with equipment and program vendors who offer quality, innovative and technologically advanced equipment at discounted prices for event participants.

A list of breakout sessions can be found here. Consider mentioning those that may appeal to a particular funder.

What will the Sponsor Receive:
Your sponsor will want recognition for supporting your school/program and for being a good corporate citizen. They will also want to know that their money is going to go towards something that will make an impact.

• Be sure to alert your local media/newspaper of the champion sponsor and their commitment to bettering your program.
• Invite the Sponsor to see your program in action upon returning from the event (take pictures and inform the media)!
• Share your success story with us so we can give them a shout out on our website, blog or through Social Media!

Funding Needed:
Consider the cost of registration fees, travel (airline, local transportation, hotel, meals) and substitute teacher fees.

Who to approach:
Think of those in your community who share an interest and/or have a stake in the health and wellness of children. If you don’t have a personal contact, ask for someone in the Community Relations, Government Affairs or Marketing departments.

• Community members / Businesses / Large employers (especially those whose employees’ children attend your school)
• Local Hospitals
• Fitness Centers
• Local Insurance Agencies
• School Vendors for food, sports equipment, etc.
• Sporting Good Stores
• Civic Organizations
• Alumni or Booster Groups
• Grocery Stores
• Foundations – local or regional business or family foundations

** Don’t forget: Your attendance at the PE4life Resource Conference can be covered in full by PEP Grant funds! **

Additional details to enhance your proposal:

• What are you hoping to accomplish by attending the PE4life Resource Conference?
• What do you plan to do with the information you receive at the Resource Conference?
• Have you attended a PE4life event before? If so, what did you take away from it?

Once you’ve secured your funding, don’t forget these important follow up steps!

• Register for the event!
• Alert your local media and tell them who are Champions for physical education!
• Share your success with us! We want to know how you did it and your lessons learned.)
• Tell us who is supporting physical education in your area. We want to give them a shout out!

Good luck! We hope to see you in October!

PE4life Resource Conference
October 4-5, 2010
Overland Park, Kansas

PEP Grant Lesson Learned

While we love to share success stories, we know that unfortunately sometimes things are best learned by mistakes. Here is an example of a school district in Wisconsin who misused their PEP funds. What is great about this story is how they right their wrong and share the steps they should have taken.

Nekoosa School District misused funds to buy soccer field

NEKOOSA -- The Nekoosa School District will pay about $49,000 for a soccer field built in 2008, after school officials confirmed the district used federal grant dollars without following the guidelines.

In 2007, the U.S. Department of Education awarded the district a Carol M. White Physical Education Program grant of nearly $350,000 to improve local programming. The three-year matching federal grant helps districts purchase equipment and pay for staff support and training to initiate, expand and improve physical education programs, according to the department.

A June 2009 Nekoosa School District audit by Wipfli's Rhinelander accounting office found district employees were not adequately tracking and managing grant funds.

Read full story on the Wisconsin Rapids Tribune website here.

PEP Grant Success Story: Implementing Exergaming

With 18+ years as a physical education teacher and 5+ years as a grant facilitator, Marvin Christley is leading the way to keeping kids active, healthy and fit by introducing a new PE concept called Exergaming. New Haven (CT) Public School’s PE department received approximately 1.5 million dollars over three years from the Carol M. White PEP Grant, to help aid in reducing childhood obesity by increasing movement time. Below is Marvin’s new concept and a interview on his mission to keeping kids in Connecticut healthy and active while attending school.

Concept:
I came up the concept for the grant when I first saw this type of equipment at a National convention. Being a gamer myself, I thought this would be a great way to motivate the students who are inactive to exercise. Two of the biggest markets are Wellness and Videogames. The problem today is that with video games, students are becoming less active. In order to combat the increase in childhood obesity I thought Exergaming. Exergaming combines video games with exercise. This won’t solve the problem but it will bridge the gap. The Wii first took off with this type of technology, and now more and more companies are jumping on board.

Overview:

I created a program to reduce childhood obesity called T.H.A.N.C.S. THANCS stands for Teaching Health and Nutrition Choices to Students. This program was made possible because a very generous PEP grant. The New Haven PE department received about 1.5 million dollars over three years, to help aid in reducing childhood obesity by increasing movement time. Currently we have about 15 elementary – middle schools, up and running with more to come.

The program uses innovative technology to better assess our students and to motivate them to exercise. Some of the assessment technologies that are being utilized are: Heart rate monitors, TriFit machine, Pedometers and handheld palm pilots. Exergaming equipment was also purchased through the grant which includes: Dance, Dance Revolution, Lightspace Play Floor, Gamebikes, Nintendo Wii’s, and Xavix’s. This year we also purchased a cross curricular exercise bike called “The NeuroActive BrainBike by Motion Fitness”. This piece allows you to exercise while playing brain games that include math, memory and other cognitive thinking games. The games are a lot like the questions students would see on the Connecticut Mastery Tests. There has not been one principal who this doesn’t think this is the best piece of exercise equipment. We have also created journals in order for students to track of their own fitness.

Tell us about how you obtained this grant? What is the purpose of it?

MC: My supervisor asked me to facilitate a grant we had already acquired. It was a small grant and only included a couple of schools. The vendor and I decided that if I spent some money on them they would assist with the writing a larger grant. The purpose of this grant was to use technology to better assess our students fitness levels. In addition, I had an idea to use the exercise gaming technology to motivate students to be more active. The goal is to put this type of technology in our elementary and middle schools.

When is this initiative being launched?

MC: I have already began this initiative and I am now in the second year of my three year grant.

When did you first hear about Exergaming and why did you choose to implement the products in your school district?

MC: I first learned about Exergaming at a national conference. I thought it would be great in my school district because the majority of our students are not motivated to be active. Students would always talk about various video games and were not physical active. I thought this would be a great way to bridge the game between video games and inactivity.

What products did you get and how come you chose those particular items?

MC: Some of the items that all of the schools received were Gamebikes, Dance Dance Revolution, and Xavix. Some schools received Expresso bikes, NeuroActive BrainBikes, iJoy Boards and Wiis. A couple of larger items were purchased to show the future of Exergaming. These items are Dogfight and Lightspace play. The reason I selected these items is because they seemed to be the most fun and give the students a maximum workout.

How many Schools are benefiting from your accomplishments?

MC: Currently I have been able to outfit fifteen schools with exergaming equipment. We are planning to add several more schools in the future. Phase one is the impact the elementary and middle schools and phase two is to create the same type of programs in the high schools.

What do you see as the benefits of Exergaming for your students?

MC: The main benefit of Exergaming is the sustained level of moderate to vigorous physical activity. To give you an example, one school had a class of 40 plus kids that refused to do anything aerobic in physical education class. After the introduction to exergaming equipment, you have to beg them to stop. It is clearly a way for kids to have more fun while exercising.

Special thanks to Exergame Fitness for sharing this article. The full article, including information on Exergame Fitness, can be found here.

Marvin Christley and representatives from New Haven Public Schools participated in a PE4life workshop.

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Resource Conference - PEP Grant Related Topics Announced

The PE4life Resource Conference (formerly known as the PEP Grant Resource Conference) is an annual event that highlights current and past PEP Grant winners – their successes AND lessons learned. Don’t miss this opportunity to network and learn from those who have been there and done that. This event is designed to not only help you navigate your way through this incredible PEP opportunity, but to provide information to help spend your money well, get real results AND sustain your program after PEP funding concludes.

Check out these PEP-related Breakout Sessions (with more in the works!):

PEP Grant: Catalyst for Change - This session will provide first-hand experience with overseeing a 3 year 1.1 million dollar PEP Grant in Millcreek Township School District, Erie, Pennsylvania. In order for you to make most of your funding, this program will discuss areas the PEP Grant can influence. These areas include staff preparation, handling vendors, purchasing equipment, developing curriculum, utilizing technology, assessment, data collection, staff wellness, and advocacy for physical education programs. When you leave this session you would have a better understanding on how to utilize your funds to their fullest.

Regular Joes: A PEP Success Story - Intimidated by the PEP process? A couple of “Regular Joes” from Marion (IA) Independent School District decided to tackle the PEP Grant. Spending most their time in survival mode, they stumbled upon the Carol M. White PEP Grant and asked themselves “Why not us?” After an initial unsuccessful attempt, they applied again in 2008 and won! Listen as these “Regular Joes” discuss their successes and barriers as they implement their PEP funds and develop a program inspired by the PE4life model that is “Focused on Fitness.” Their session includes discussion on staff professional development, development of student’s personal fitness plans, efforts to change school policy, school-community collaboration and overcoming obstacles.

Grants: How, What, Where, Who Qualifies, and How to Write - Want to write a grant for your physical education program and don’t know where to start? Listen as a successful grant writer (grants including Carol M. White PEP Grant and the No Child Left Inside Grant) discusses key components of grant writing: 1.) grant writing specific to physical education/health/recreation, and 2.) the process of searching for grants applicable to physical education/health/recreation. This informative and interactive session will give you a better understanding of grant writing.

A plethora of additional PEP Grant winners will be on hand presenting on these topics:

• Creating a Blueprint for Systemic, Sustainable Change
• Show-Me the Results: A System for Data-Management and Accountability
• Now That’s Using Your Noodle
• Raising the Bar: “Be the change you want to see”
• Creating a Climate for Success – Elementary Focus
• Additional sessions listed here.

The PE4life Resource Conference is October 4-5, 2010 in Overland Park, KS.

IMPORTANT!! Be sure to include your attendance to the PE4life Resource Conference in your PEP budget. For help calculating the cost for event attendance and travel, and to learn more about the event, go here.

PEP Grant Success Story: Tonganoxie (KS) School District

We love success stories! Here is one from a PE4life trained school:

Tonganoxie (KS) School District to receive second year of PEP grant.

The Tonganoxie School District will be installing climbing walls at all of its schools thanks to PEP grant funding.

Tonya Phillips, Physical Education teacher, reported that an additional climbing wall would be installed in the coming weeks at Tonganoxie Elementary School, as well as walls at the middle school and high school. The district qualified for the first year of the Carol M. White PEP Grant for the 2009-10 school year. Phillips said the district learned earlier this year that progress toward goals was achieved in the first year of the grant, which qualified the district for grant money in 2010-11 as well.

The district was awarded $290,730 in the first year. Highlights of the first year were each building having a fully equipped fitness room, increased staff, increased class offerings, updated curriculum and equipment and appropriate/applicable professional development. The district also made marked improvement toward all goals and objectives.

Plans for the second year of the grant in which the district will receive $216,227 call for a challenge course at Tonganoxie High School, HOPSports at the middle school, sports walls at the elementary school and all physical education teachers being certified instructors in CPR, first aid and AED, as well as climbing and ropes courses. HOPSports is an interactive training system.

“We are very fortunate to have this grant,” superintendent Kyle Hayden said. “It’s one of the most state-of-the-art programs in Kansas and probably a four-state area. It’s allowing us to do things we had never thought we could imagine.”

Representatives from the Tonganoxie School District have attended a workshop at a PE4life Academy Training Center, as well as attended the PE4life Resource Conference.

To learn more about the Carol M. PEP Grant and how you can apply, go here.

Ready... Set... GO!

The day has arrived! Another Carol M. White PEP Grant competition has opened. We know the process can be overwhelming and we want to do anything we can to make it a little easier, so we've put together some of the need-to-knows. Please note, these suggestions and tips are general and don't necessarily reflect new requirements for the 2010 PEP Grant. For a complete list of this year's requirements, please refer to the federal register, published today.

What is the PEP Grant?

According to the Department of Education the purpose of the Carol M. White Physical Education Program is to provide funds to local educational agencies and community-based organizations (including faith-based organizations) to initiate, expand, and improve physical education programs (including after school programs) for students in one or more grades from kindergarten through 12 in order to make progress toward meeting State standards for physical education by providing funds for equipment, support, and the training and education of teachers and staff. 

In order to receive funding, each applicant must design and implement a program that clearly aligns to state standards for physical education and provides for one or more of the following elements:

• Fitness education and assessment to help students understand, improve or maintain physical well-being
• Instruction in motor skills and physical activities designed to enhance the physical, mental, or social or emotional development;
• Development of, and instruction in, cognitive concepts about motor skills and physical fitness that support healthy lifestyles;
• Opportunities to develop positive social and cooperative skills through physical activity participation;
• Instruction in healthy eating habits and good nutrition; and
• Opportunities for professional development for physical education teachers to stay abreast of current research, issues, and trends in physical education.
  
  Please note: although PE4life helped to write the initial bill that became the PEP Grant, the grant is awarded through the Department of Education, NOT PE4life.

Still interested? Follow these steps! 

1. Develop Your PEP Team
2. Gather the Data
3. Design a Program
4. Create a Budget
5. Other Helpful Hints

1. Develop Your PEP Team - We've said it before and we'll say it again - you have to have support to be successful in your program. If you've been planning on applying for awhile or if you've applied in the past, hopefully you've already got a rockstar PEP team together. If not, well, here are some people you'll want on your team (the old cliche rings true in this case - the more the merrier):

• Program manager (the leader of the initiative
within your school or district)
• Financial officer
• Principal
• Superintendent
• Cross-disciplinary staff
• Dietitian/school lunch program
• School nurse(s)
• Special education staff
• PE staff
• Other stakeholders
• Parent(s)
• Community or business leader(s)
• School board member(s)
• Other teachers
• Vendors
• University faculty
• Local hospital/medical staff
• Grant writer

2. Gather the Data - In addition to the required documentation of the application, here are some valuable data to include. The more specific your data is to your target population, the better:
 

District demographics (check your area profile at www.census.gov):
• Race
• Gender mix
• Economic indicators
• Average household income
• Number of students who qualify for free/reduced lunch
• Special needs populations
• Number of students who will be impacted by your PEP program and/or number of students enrolled by age group and by grade

Existing physical fitness data (this can come from one or more of the following sources):
• President’s Physical Fitness Test
• FitnessGram
• Other fitness test data
• Existing test data showing district achievement as compared
with state PE/health standards (check your state’s department
of education for statistics)
• Existing data showing rates of obesity and diabetes
in your area (information may be available from your local
health department or municipal government)

3. You’ll need to craft a proposed program that will meet the objectives of the PEP Grant program. Your proposal must address the following issues (be specific):
• Determine the number of minutes of moderate or vigorous
physical activity that students engage in daily
• Determine comprehensive student progress toward meeting
state PE/health standards
• Describe professional development for PE/health staff
• Describe your program activities with minimal attention to
equipment utilization and purchases
• Describe how your program uses an evidence-based
curriculum
• Develop a plan to capture program data and to evaluate
the data

4. Create a Budget - You will need an itemized budget. Be as specific as you possibly can.

5. Other tips: 

• Gain the support and commitment from school administration and the rest of the PEP team first. You will need a commitment from the stakeholders before you begin writing your proposal. No one wants to complete a first draft and then discover one of the school principals is not interested in allowing more time for PE or is opposed to bringing in new equipment. By gaining early support and keeping your team in the loop as you create a draft and a budget, you can avoid last-minute problems.
  
  
• Use the Frequently Asked Questions section. This part of the application contains helpful information about submission, eligibility, budget allowances, etc. School districts who read the FAQ section in 2006 learned that schools could not charge students an activity fee — important information to know before you even begin your narrative and budget. You may want to read this section first.
  
  
• Allow yourself plenty of time to meet the deadline. A superintendent’s signature is required as are other forms and attachments. In 2006, grants were submitted electronically through e-grants.ed.gov. Over the next few years, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) will be transitioning its discretionary grants application process to use the federal government-wide www.grants.gov website. During this transition, a particular discretionary application package and the location for submitting it could appear at any one of several locations. You may need to register in order to submit.
  
  This information was taken from the PE4life booklet called "So... You Want to Apply for a PEP Grant." Click here to download a pdf of the booklet or for a pretty version, purchase the booklet for $3 from our Pro Shop.

Need a PEP talk? Read these testimonials:

• Obviously it is the ideal scenario to have government money to do good things for the wellness of our students. We would not do this without the money. It is that simple. We could not afford to. —James Walsh, Aliquippa, PA
  
  
• Through the evaluation conducted by the University of Miami, we have seen significant changes in student fitness levels, changes in the amount of time students are physically active, changes in attitudes (through both a written assessment and focus groups), changes in weight loss and weight gain (for those who wanted to add muscle mass), and overall nutrition awareness. —Dr. Jayne Greenberg, Miami-Dade County Public Schools, FL
  
  
• Receiving federal funding through the PEP grant has made all the difference in the world to the quality of physical education programs that we were able to deliver. In financially strapped times when the emphasis is on reading and mathematics, little funding was available to buy anything but the basic bats and balls for physical education. —Dr. Jayne Greenberg, Miami-Dade County Public Schools, FL
  
  
• We now have a physical education curriculum in progress, we can assess student performance in PE, and we can improve overall student mental and physical performances throughout the school. Additionally, we are working to increase physical education time in grades K-8 and begin a program in grades 9-12. We are changing students’ schedules to accommodate this increase in PE time. We have made students aware of their own wellness and have defined fitness at a new level for everyone. We have implemented more quality activities for PE participation using up-to-date technology, such as heart rate monitors and pedometers. —Misti Mitchell-Bain, Comanche, OK
  
  
• It is difficult to put into words the impact this funding has had on our community. It has brought together educators and health experts for a common mission: to help prevent childhood obesity and improve the health of the children we serve. The funds have provided our physical education teachers the opportunity to learn from experts in the field of physical education and observe model classes being taught. The funds have given students equipment,
  which also serve as motivational tools, to use in order for them to take charge of their own well-being. —Sheila Ochowicz, Redwood City, CA
  

For more information, check out these resources:

• So... You Want to Apply for a PEP Grant
• 2010 PE4life Resource Conference
• SPARK
• Artie Kamiya's PEP Grant Newsletter
• NASPE
• Department of Education

To help us promote the 2011 Carol M. White PEP Grant, click here.

Whew! We know that was a lot of information, but we hope it will help you in your PEP Grant seeking process! Good luck to all!! If you have specific questions, post them to our Facebook page and we'll do what we can to help you find the answer!

Phil Lawler: A Legend and a Friend

February 18, 1950 – April 23, 2010

“It’s about enabling each student to maintain a physically-active lifestyle forever. It means emphasizing fitness and wellbeing, not athleticism. It eliminates practices that humiliate students. And it assesses students on their progress in reaching personal physical activity and fitness goals. A [quality] program exposes kids to the fun and long-term benefits of movement – it’s really that simple.”  -- Phil Lawler

Phil Lawler is and will forever remain a legend in the Physical Education world. Recognized as the leader and voice in the quest for quality Physical Education, Phil believed that every child regardless of athletic ability should be given a chance to find an activity that they can embrace and enjoy for a lifetime.  His vision was the catalyst for the creation of PE4life. His passion was unmatched.  To live a life as Phil did–so devoted to the cause you whole-heartedly believe in–is admirable.

After building his innovative Physical Education program at Madison Jr. High in Naperville, IL, Phil went on to train hundreds of Physical Educators and school officials from across the US and from ten countries worldwide.  Phil’s passion and vision has been shared with countless number of Physical Educators, creating accountability and respect for the profession, changing the way it had been perceived for so long.  His favorite quip, saying he is known as the Rodney Dangerfield of PE “I get no respect.”  Creating a loyal following, Phil’s legacy will live on through the many lives he touched.

PE4life founder, Jim Baugh, recalls being inspired by Phil so many years ago. “When I was President of Wilson Sporting Goods and had the vision for PE4life, I did some research into the ‘state of PE’. Thank goodness I worked in the Chicago area and there was a man and school district where Phil Lawler worked. I spent hours with Phil learning about the “New PE” he envisioned. We quickly hit it off. I knew he knew where PE4life should be focused. Phil was a pioneer, leader, and fighter. He not only had a philosophy and approach, he lived it every day. Phil helped me shape PE4life and also re-shaped PE forever. In many ways, he re-shaped America. He will never be forgotten.”

Phil’s vision went beyond teaching methods and was highly sought after from those in the Fitness, Medical, Research and Sporting Equipment Industries.  Phil was often a consultant to numerous equipment companies in development of cutting-edge products that could be used in PE class.  Phil believed that we should embrace video games and today’s technology rather than blame them for sedentary lifestyles.  Additionally, he helped lead the movement of Learning Readiness PE (LRPE) using exercise to help the learning process.  Working closely with Dr. John Ratey, Harvard Brain Researcher, Phil’s work was highlighted in the book SPARK: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain.

Phil advocated for quality physical education on Capitol Hill numerous times, including helping to write the Carol M. White Physical Education for Progress (PEP) Grant, which has awarded hundreds of millions of dollars in funding for schools, and presenting in front of a House Sub-Committee in 2007.  Phil was featured on the Academy Award nominated documentary “Super Size Me” and in numerous media outlets including USA Today, the Washington Post, the Today Show, Good Morning America and others.

In addition to his work in Physical Education, Phil was an accomplished and renowned baseball coach at Naperville Central High School.  His many honors include winning the 2006 Illinois State Championship, was the first assistant high school baseball coach inducted into the Illinois High School Coaches Hall of Fame, and most recently had his number (29) retired at Naperville Central’s Varsity Field.

More than just a catalyst for change in the Physical Education world and an inspiration for how to live a fulfilled life, Phil was a friend. We’ll forever be indebted to him for the impact he had on our country’s children and forever grateful for the unwavering friendship he has shown us over the years.

 You will be missed, Phil.

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Visitation for Philip Lawler will be on Thursday, April 29, 2010 from 3:00pm – 8:00pm (Rosary at 7:00pm) at St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic Church, 2220 Lisson Road, Naperville, IL 60565. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, April 30, 2010 at 10:00am at St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic Church, Naperville, IL.  Interment will follow at Naperville Cemetery, Naperville, IL.

Memorial contributions will be directed to a very special project as defined by Phil and the Lawler family.  Contributions can be made to the “Phil Lawler Fund” and send to: PE4life, 127 West 10th Street, Suite 101, Kansas City, MO 64105.

Contact:
Carrie Gibson, PE4life
127 West 10th Street
Kansas City, MO 64105
816-472-7345
cgibson@pe4life.org

Great summary article of the PEP Grant!

What to Know About the Carol M. Whit PEP Grant by Ryan Frank in Education / K-12 Education

The so-called PEP Grant, given out by the Carol M. Whit Physical Education Program, is a federal grant that provides millions of dollars each year to various schools and community organizations, including those that are faith-based, in order to help them improve their physical education programs for K-12 students. An individual school or organization can receive $100,000 to $500,000 from the PEP grant, money that can be used for upgrading equipment, staff training, and physical fitness support programs.

Qualifying for the PEP Grant
A school or organization wishing to qualify for a 2010 PEP Grant has to demonstrate that it has designed and implemented a physical education program that meets state standards and does one or more of the following:

* Give students instruction in motor skills and physical activities that will enhance their mental, physical and social development.

* Provide fitness assessments and help improve student understanding of maintaining physical well-being.

* Give students opportunities for the development of social skills through physical activity.

* Instructs students in cognitive concepts that relate to physical fitness and that will help promote healthy lifestyles.

* Provide instruction on good nutrition and healthy eating habits.

* Give physical education teachers opportunities for professional development and help staying up to date with the latest trends and research in their field.

Federal Budget and the PEP Grant
The Obama Administration's proposal for the FY 2011 budget includes a plan to consolidate 38 educational programs into 11 new authorities, the purpose being to streamline the U.S. Department of Education. The Carol M. Whit PEP Grant would be consolidated with five other programs into a single authority that would be called "Successful, Safe and Healthy Students". The PEP grant will still be available, but the funding for and administration of it would fall under a new, consolidated authority. The good news is that under the proposed change, the "Successful, Safe and Healthy" students program would have a 2011 budget of $410 million, more than the current funds for all the individual programs combined. You can find information on applying for the PEP Grant here, at the NASPE website.

About the Author:
Ryan Frank is an avid writer and blogger living in San Diego, CA.

Visit www.pe4life.org to learn more about the PEP Grant and other funding opportunities available for your program. Also, be sure to attend the 2010 Resource Conference, where you'll gain applicable, hands on knowledge that you can begin implementing upon returning home.