Health and Fitness Screenings
In 2006, a district team developed a Wellness Policy that addresses physical and nutrition education, and physical activity as they impact our students. As part of the implementation plan for this policy and to meet Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) guidelines, individual measurements and fitness tests were conducted on students in grades 3 – 8. Each year, the school nurse facilitates several health screenings, including measuring your child’s height and weight. Recently, the MDPH identified Body Mass Index (BMI) as an important component of a comprehensive growth-screening program. BMI enables school and community health professionals to identify students who may be at nutritional risk, identify students who are at risk for eating disorders, detect growth abnormalities that may indicate a physical problem and identify students who are overweight or at risk of becoming overweight.
Your child’s results will be delivered to you in June with your child’s end-of-the-year report card. The BMI ranges were developed by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and are age and gender-specific. This means that the values that are considered underweight, average, at-risk of overweight and overweight are different for males and females, and also vary for children of different ages. If your child’s BMI falls outside the 5-85% range, it is suggested that you seek additional diagnostic testing from your primary care physician. If your child did not meet the minimum health level for a particular fitness test, you may contact your child’s physical education teacher to learn more about ways to improve these values.
The physical education teachers introduce fitness tests to students early in the school year. Cardio-respiratory endurance is measured through a 12-minute run/walk test whereby students are encouraged to cover the longest distance possible in the given time. The V-sit and Reach is a flexibility measurement of the large muscles of the hamstrings, back and gluteals. Muscular endurance is measured through the Curl-up test, which is a one-minute bent knee sit-up fitness test. Students are paired and are encouraged to complete as many
sit-ups as possible in the given time frame. The fitness test standards and protocols are derived from The President’s Challenge, a national program designed to encourage physical activity and increase awareness of the health-related components of fitness.
In physical education classes, activities are planned to assist children in their efforts to practice and improve their fitness levels. The teachers also provide children with information about what they can do outside of school to enhance fitness. This program is not intended to create a competitive atmosphere, but merely to help children learn more about healthy lifestyles and the importance of taking responsibility for one’s well being. Children are encouraged to participate in at least 60 minutes of physical activity each day. This time does not need to be consecutive, and children are taught to include recess, physical education class and any other minutes that are obtained outside school. Walking to and from school, playing sports, dance lessons, walking the dog, raking leaves and many other activities are presented as possibilities in their quest to reach the 60-minute recommendation.
Please feel free to contact the physical education teachers, school nurses, or myself, should you have any questions about the wellness curriculum or the health and fitness-screening program.
In good health,
Betsy Grams Carol Bradford
Wellness Curriculum Specialist Nursing Leader
Elizabeth_grams@sudbury.k12.ma.us carol_Bradford@sudbury.k12.ma.us
978-443-1085 ext: 1110 978-443-1085 ext: 1105