From the School District:
For Immediate Release Media Contact
October 11, 2013 Suzanne Turner, 973-762-5600 ext. 1850
South Orange, N.J. – Congressman
Donald M. Payne, Jr. (NJ-10) announced today that the South Orange
Maplewood School District (SOMSD) was awarded a three-year, $1.5 million
grant through the U.S. Department of Education’s Carol M. White
Physical Education Program (PEP). The award is the largest in the
history of the grant program to a New Jersey school district, the first
time a New Jersey school district has been awarded the grant twice, and
the only PEP grant to a New Jersey school district this year.
The
Carol M. White Physical Education Program provides grants to local
school districts and community-based organizations to initiate, expand,
or enhance physical education programs, including after-school programs,
for students in kindergarten through 12th grade. Grant recipients must
implement programs that help students make progress toward meeting state
standards.
“I
am so pleased that the South Orange Maplewood School District will
receive this vital educational grant, and I want to congratulate Judy
LoBianco and her staff for being rewarded for their tireless
dedication,” said Rep. Donald M. Payne, Jr. “Physical
education is an essential part of our children’s education, but
unfortunately it is always one of the first programs on the chopping
block during tough economic times. I am happy that this funding will
assist schools in building and strengthening their PE programs, which
help teach our children to lead healthier and happier lives.”
The
grant will be used to further develop SOMSD’s, nationally-recognized
physical education program and create a culture of physical activity
throughout the community. Funds will help SOMSD infuse
technology into the program, improve curriculum and enhance teaching
through a multitude of professional development opportunities, and expand children’s opportunities outside of school hours with the help of community partners.
“On behalf of the Board of Education,” said Board President Beth Daugherty, “I
congratulate Ms. Judy LoBianco, Supervisor of Health, Physical
Education, and Nursing Services, and her talented staff for their
outstanding past work, and for this new opportunity to advance the
health and wellness of all of our students.”
SOMSD Superintendent Brian G. Osborne said: “SOMSD
embraces the whole child and values the role that physical activity
plays in helping all children experience success in school and in life. We are so very proud of this grant proposal, which partners with the community to support First Lady Michelle Obama's Lets Move! Active Schools!
Campaign and will use these resources to bring children to the
recommended 60 minutes of daily physical activity. It is only when our
children are active that they learn better, experience fewer discipline
problems and are more ready and focused for learning."
The
three-year project will transform the SOMSD physical education program
to a community-connected wellness program focused on individual student
achievement and increased activity, both now, and throughout their
lives. SOMSD will implement a comprehensive school physical activity
program which will provide students with a variety of opportunities
before, during, and after the school day. The goal is to improve student wellness by:
1. Exposing
students to a wide range of physical fitness opportunities (i.e.
fitness equipment, yoga, video-game based fitness, swimming, classroom
brain-breaks)
2. Integrating nutrition and physical activity in
physical education classes so that students understand the importance
and inter-connectedness of both (i.e. Skillastics and CATCH curricula);
3. Increasing
access to appropriate activity equipment and facilities during and
outside of the school day (i.e. programs offered by the local YMCA,
Recreation Departments and YouthNet); and
4. Teaching students about making good decisions daily in regard to their health (i.e. individual assessment tools).
Ms. LoBianco, who was
recognized earlier this year by the American Alliance for Health,
Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD) as the National PE
Supervisor of the Year, said, "With
this new funding, we now have an opportunity to engage our entire
community in joining us as stakeholders in our mission to develop
healthy, active children. Thank you to our partners: South Mountain
YMCA, YouthNet, the Maplewood Recreation Department and South Orange
Recreation Department for joining us in this adventure. On behalf of my
professional staff, we are excited to be working together to supplement physical education class time with opportunities to engage in physical activity before, during and after school.”
According to AAHPERD Chief Executive Officer E. Paul Roetert, Ph.D., “All eyes are now on the South Orange Maplewood School District. I want to thank Congressman Payne for being a co-sponsor of the PHYSICAL Act. In
addition, I am confident that Judy LoBianco and her staff will
successfully incorporate physical activity into all aspects of the
school community and be a model district for others around the country
to emulate. There’s no doubt that Active Kids Do Better!”
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