Welcome to Coordinated School health programs

The superintendent, Jim Hodgkin, has been very supportive of physical education and physical activity. The staff is encouraged to participate and do so willingly.

SAD 43 successfully applied for and received a federal Physical Education Grant which enabled the entire physical education staff to develop and implement a very dynamic program which emphasizes fitness and lifetime skill development. Students use heart rate monitors to verify their activity levels adjust their level of activity to reach their own target heart rates for a designated time period.

Third graders are taught problem-solving in physical education classes. The middle school conducts an Olympics Day, incorporating art, academics, and sports. All 9th graders go to Camp Kiwani for ropes course training. Physical education electives are offered at the high school. There is 100% participation in physical education at the middle and high school levels.

Standards-based rubrics are used to access a very active and creative curriculum that includes rollerblading, rock climbing, and leadership skills. With an increase in physical activity, student fitness levels have improved.

Professional time is valued. There are regular meetings for the entire physical education staff and release time is provided during the course of year.

Recess is protected and cannot be taken away from students as a punishment. Despite a decrease in revenue for the overall school budget, no cuts were made in the physical education budget.

Physical activity and nutrition are incorporated into the after- school program which was started last year. The fitness rooms are open to students and staff after school.

There is coordination between school and community. School hallways and gymnasiums are open to the public during the day and into the evening. Students are introduced to local fitness resources in the community.

Congratulations to SAD 43 for receiving the 2006 Exemplary Award in Health Education.

Elaine Michaud has been the cornerstone of the Physical Education Department in MSAD 43 for the past 28 years. She is the consummate middle school physical education teacher, combining the ability to be very creative with an unmatched passion for the students she works with. Her rapport with students creates an environment that clearly promotes risk taking and active participation in the physical education program. We congratulate Elaine for her outstanding leadership.

Kristen Simanek has been a physical education teacher in MSAD 43 for the past 4 years. During that time, she has worked with students in grades K-5 and 9-12. She has worked with her teaching partner at the high school to completely revamp the physical education expectations at Mountain Valley High School. The focus of physical education is now skill development and the promotion of life long activities. The range of electives in physical education has grown thanks to Kristen’s efforts. Among the electives is a Leadership class in which students are empowered to create opportunities for themselves and/or others to participate in some type of physical activity. Congratulations to Kristen on receiving the outstanding leadership award.

Kathy has two roles in MSAD 43 that keeps her very involved with the physical education program. She is the School Health Coordinator and Advisory Team Member to the Superintendent. Therefore, she meets with the physical education teachers on an on-going basis to assist them in coordinating their programs and promote strong physical education programs that focus on life long skills. Through the Physical Education Program grant that Kathy co-authored with SAD 21, the physical education staff has received top notch equipment for students and a great deal of staff development to assist them in the proper use of the equipment. Kathy has been the person that has made this all happen. For all of her contributions, we present Kathy Sutton with the outstanding leadership award.

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