Wellness at Shepardson Elementary
More than ever before, wellness is being heard throughout many outlets such
as the news, in conversation, and at your local schools. But what exactly is wellness? Although there is no universally accepted definition of wellness, a common set of characteristics is found in most definitions. Wellness is generally referenced as a ‘state of well-being’. This definition can be vague to say the least.
I feel that the dimensions of wellness can be placed into two broader categories, mental and physical. At the elementary level, the public school system does a great job of covering the mental category. Throughout the nation, an increased value on academic achievement along with budget cuts has allowed the physical category to fall behind. At schools all across Poudre School District, elementary students only get PE once a week. Health experts recommend that students receive 30 minutes of physical education every day. Is it possible to expect this out of schools? Realistically no, but Shepardson has decided to approach this in a different light: wellness.
Starting fall 2010, Shepardson will be continuing the usual 55-minute PE classes once a week for all students, but now they will also be receiving a ‘Wellness’ class once a week for 45 minutes. With the
support of PSD and Wellness coordinator Nicole Turner-Ravana, Shepardson has joined the Rocky Mountain Center for Health Promotion and Education’s Healthy Schools grant. With this grant, Shepardson has purchased a brand new wellness-based PE curriculum called SPARK. More information about SPARK can be found at SPARK’s website. Turner-Ravana gave great praises about the SPARK
curriculum. “The SPARK PE curriculum is definitely one of the preferred curriculum options recommended by other PE teachers as well as the Colorado Department of Education,” she said. “Using a sequential plan for grade levels that incorporates both fitness and health education helps PE teachers to make successful classes easy and consistent.” Along with funding the curriculum, I was sent by PSD to
Breckenridge for the SPARK curriculum training to become SPARK certified.
Physical Education provides students with the ‘how’ to live a healthy and active lifestyle, whereas the brand new wellness class will provide students with the ‘why’. Throughout the year, Shepardson students will be learning about different aspects of wellness such as life skills, nutrition, substance abuse prevention, safety, and fitness. When asked about the new Wellness class at Shepardson, Turner-Ravana commented, “I think a wellness class will be a huge asset to students at Shepardson. This will be a great model for other schools on how to integrate the new PE and Health Education standards along with making a commitment to teaching kids about how to have life-long healthy habits.” Using the Health Lifestyle Choices health education curriculum, Shepardson Elementary will be the first elementary school in PSD to provide this type of opportunity.
Wellness is seen as a lifestyle choice. Students will be learning about how to eat healthy and get fit but without support from home, the change in lifestyle will be impossible. In order to make this change, it has to be a team effort including the entire community: family, friends, school staff, and community leaders. To bridge the communication gap between the school and the community, this website will provide information on what is going on at Shepardson as it pertains to wellness. It will provide information about what the students are learning in their wellness class, resources for parents, plus other news and events dealing with wellness at the school. I am very proud that Shepardson has made wellness one of it’s top priorities and I feel honored to be apart of this ground-breaking health education program!
as the news, in conversation, and at your local schools. But what exactly is wellness? Although there is no universally accepted definition of wellness, a common set of characteristics is found in most definitions. Wellness is generally referenced as a ‘state of well-being’. This definition can be vague to say the least.
I feel that the dimensions of wellness can be placed into two broader categories, mental and physical. At the elementary level, the public school system does a great job of covering the mental category. Throughout the nation, an increased value on academic achievement along with budget cuts has allowed the physical category to fall behind. At schools all across Poudre School District, elementary students only get PE once a week. Health experts recommend that students receive 30 minutes of physical education every day. Is it possible to expect this out of schools? Realistically no, but Shepardson has decided to approach this in a different light: wellness.
Starting fall 2010, Shepardson will be continuing the usual 55-minute PE classes once a week for all students, but now they will also be receiving a ‘Wellness’ class once a week for 45 minutes. With the
support of PSD and Wellness coordinator Nicole Turner-Ravana, Shepardson has joined the Rocky Mountain Center for Health Promotion and Education’s Healthy Schools grant. With this grant, Shepardson has purchased a brand new wellness-based PE curriculum called SPARK. More information about SPARK can be found at SPARK’s website. Turner-Ravana gave great praises about the SPARK
curriculum. “The SPARK PE curriculum is definitely one of the preferred curriculum options recommended by other PE teachers as well as the Colorado Department of Education,” she said. “Using a sequential plan for grade levels that incorporates both fitness and health education helps PE teachers to make successful classes easy and consistent.” Along with funding the curriculum, I was sent by PSD to
Breckenridge for the SPARK curriculum training to become SPARK certified.
Physical Education provides students with the ‘how’ to live a healthy and active lifestyle, whereas the brand new wellness class will provide students with the ‘why’. Throughout the year, Shepardson students will be learning about different aspects of wellness such as life skills, nutrition, substance abuse prevention, safety, and fitness. When asked about the new Wellness class at Shepardson, Turner-Ravana commented, “I think a wellness class will be a huge asset to students at Shepardson. This will be a great model for other schools on how to integrate the new PE and Health Education standards along with making a commitment to teaching kids about how to have life-long healthy habits.” Using the Health Lifestyle Choices health education curriculum, Shepardson Elementary will be the first elementary school in PSD to provide this type of opportunity.
Wellness is seen as a lifestyle choice. Students will be learning about how to eat healthy and get fit but without support from home, the change in lifestyle will be impossible. In order to make this change, it has to be a team effort including the entire community: family, friends, school staff, and community leaders. To bridge the communication gap between the school and the community, this website will provide information on what is going on at Shepardson as it pertains to wellness. It will provide information about what the students are learning in their wellness class, resources for parents, plus other news and events dealing with wellness at the school. I am very proud that Shepardson has made wellness one of it’s top priorities and I feel honored to be apart of this ground-breaking health education program!
