Pittsfield Public School system has been awarded a significant physical education grant from the U.S. Department of Education called the Carol M. White PEP Grant Program. With this grant, Pittsfield Public Schools are launching an initiative called BALANCING THE EQUATION, which is designed to provide students with the tools to improve their physical fitness and learn proper nutrition — both leading to a healthy lifestyle. The Y has been included in the grant to run the after-school SPARK curriculum in all of its elementary and middle-school programs.
SPARK=Sports, Play & Active Recreation for Kids
SPARK is a research-based, public health organization of San Diego State University Research Foundation. The foundation is dedicated to creating, implementing and evaluating programs that promote lifelong wellness. It provides a coordinated package of highly active curriculum, on-site teacher training and content-matched equipment.
The SPARK after-school philosophy: Include ALL youth, actively engage ALL youth, and instill the love of lifelong movement in ALL youth. The goal of the SPARK program is to reduce cardiovascular disease risk factors (e.g., obesity, high blood pressure, sedentary lifestyle) that often begin in childhood. SPARK is dedicated to improving the quantity and quality of physical education for children everywhere.
The SPARK programs are designed to involve all children, be more active, incorporate social skills, and emphasize both health-related fitness and skill development.
About the curriculum
The SPARK program uses cooperative, cultural and aerobic games, dances from around the world, and teaches enjoyable skill and sport activities written in scope and sequence. The curriculum also includes instructional units on jump rope, parachute play, jogging games, fitness circuits, and beanbag activities. But remember, this is SPARK! Activities are more inclusive, active, and enjoyable because they’ve been highly modified by our team of experts, and tested for effectiveness in hundreds of after-school programs nationwide.
To learn more about SPARK, please go to http://www.sparkpe.org
