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Lyme
School Board
Policy Manual
Policy: JJIF
Daily Physical Activity
1. Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to promote increased physical
activities for students in grades K – 12 and to help
students develop the knowledge and skills necessary to perform
a variety of physical activities, maintain physical fitness,
regularly participate in physical activity, understand the
short and long-term benefits of physical activity, and value
and enjoy physical activity as an ongoing part of a healthful
lifestyle. In addition, the district encourages the staff
to participate in and model physical activity as a valuable
part of daily life.
2. Rationale
According to the U.S. Surgeon General, regular physical activity
is one of the most important things people can do to maintain
and improve their physical health, mental health, and overall
well-being. Additionally, regular physical activity prevents
adverse health consequences of childhood obesity and reduces
the risk of premature death in general and of cardiovascular
disease, stroke, high blood pressure, colon cancer, and Type
2 Diabetes in particular. Promoting a physically active lifestyle
among young people is important because:
A. through its effects on mental health, physical
activity can help increase students' capacity for learning and
academic success;
B. physical activity has substantial health benefits for children
and adolescents, including favorable effects on endurance capacity,
mental health, muscular strength, body weight, and blood pressure;
and
C. positive experiences with physical activity at a young age
help lay the foundation for being regularly active throughout
life.
3. Definitions
For the purposes of this policy:
A. "extracurricular and co-curricular activities"
refers to school-sponsored voluntary programs that supplement
regular education and contribute to the educational objectives
of the school.
"health-related physical fitness" refers to cardio
respiratory endurance,
muscular strength and endurance, flexibility, and body composition.
B. "interscholastic athletics" refers to organized
individual and team sports that involve more than one school.
C. "intramurals" refers to physical activity programs
that provide opportunities for all students to participate in
sport, fitness, and recreational activities within their own
school.
D. "developmentally appropriate daily physical activity”
means physical activity that is suitable for the cognitive age
and individual characteristics of students.
E. "physical education" refers to the program of physical
education in Ed 306.
F. "recess" refers to regularly scheduled periods
within the school day for unstructured physical activity and
play.
G. “chronic inactivity” means an ongoing sedentary
lifestyle.
H. “other related health problems” means:
(1) physical illnesses;
(2) psychological illnesses; and
(3) injuries.
I. “childhood obesity” means the term used to describe
children and teenagers ages 2-20 who are considered overweight
because their body mass index as defined by the Center for Disease
Control and Prevention is greater than or equal to the 95th
percentile.
4. Components of Policy
School leaders are encouraged to develop and implement a plan
that supports physical activity and that may include, but
not be limited to the following:
• a sequential physical education program
that involves moderate to vigorous physical activity on a scheduled
basis; teaches knowledge, motor skills, self-management skills,
and positive attitudes; promotes activities and sports that students
enjoy and can pursue throughout their lives; and is coordinated
with the health education curriculum;
• time in the elementary school day for supervised recess
with physical activities encouraged;
• opportunities and encouragement for students to initiate
and voluntarily participate in before and after-school physical
activity programs, such as intramurals, clubs, and, at the high
school level, interscholastic athletics;
• school support for community recreation and youth sports
programs and agencies that complement physical activity programs;
• opportunities for staff to be physically active;
• provisions for acquiring adequate resources to include
funding, personnel, appropriate equipment and facilities;
• strategies to involve family members in program development
and implementation; and
• strategies to encourage parents and guardians to support
their children’s participation in physical activities and
to be positive role models for active life styles.
The program should attempt to make effective use of school
and community resources and to equitably serve the needs of
interested students and staff, taking into consideration differences
of gender, cultural norms, physical and cognitive abilities,
and fitness levels. Additionally, a school’s developmentally
appropriate daily physical activity program as recommended
by Ed 310 shall be in addition to and shall not be a replacement
for the physical education program requirement in Ed 306 and/or
the school district’s policies regarding physical education,
extra or co-curricular, intramural, and/or interscholastic
athletics programs.
Schools may work with recreation agencies and other community
organizations to coordinate and enhance opportunities available
to students and staff for physical activity during their out-of-school
time. Schools are encouraged to negotiate mutually acceptable,
fiscally responsible arrangements with community agencies
and organizations to keep school- or district-owned facilities
open for use by students, staff, and community members during
non-school hours and vacations. School policies concerning
safety shall apply at all times.
Statutory and Regulatory References
RSA 189:11-a, Food and Nutrition Programs
NH Code of Administrative Rules, Section Ed 303.01(g), Duties
of the School Board
Adopted: March 23, 2006
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