American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance - AAHPERD

February Theme: Moving Helps Everyone 

From jumping rope to playing hoops to running, February – American Heart Month – is a great time for everyone to get that blood moving! By coordinating one of these exciting Let's Move in School events for your students you will save lives and boost your own professional development. Proceeds fund research and life-saving programs across the nation, support the cost of advanced cardiac care and provide professional development opportunities for physical educators.

• One of the perks of participating in the Jump Rope For Heart and Hoops For Heart programs is the opportunity to teach the younger generation about heart healthy living. There are many ways to live healthy, and it's important to teach students how physical activity, a healthy diet, and knowledge of risk factors can contribute to a long, healthy life.
  
  Physically active kids have better attendance, focus, behavior and academic performance. Encourage life-long, healthy habits in your students by including cross-curricular heart-health education in your event! Check out these great resources.

• A Running Start is a free online coaching resource with 83 videos developed by New York Road Runners to help youth coaches teach the fundamentals of running through age-appropriate games, activities, and drills. Created in collaboration with a team of expert youth coaches and exercise physiologists, these activities can be used individually, incorporated into an existing practice routine, or used to craft one's own running session.

• In 2011, 50 schools just like yours were recipients of the ING Run for Something Better Grant (RFSB). NASPE in partnership with ING want to help get your school on the right track to help end childhood obesity! Apply for a 2012 grant and receive $2500 to start a new running program or expand your existing one. Applications are now available. The deadline to apply is May 15, 2012.
  
  In the meantime, learn about the benefits of such a program with highlights from last year! Be sure to check out teaching materials developed by NASPE and ING RFSB, including activity and training plans, a running journal, and more helpful handouts to get your students excited about running for fun! You can find all this information by visiting NASPE's ING grant page.

• Educate parents about the importance of a healthy heart.

• Check out these physical activity break ideas.

• Post It! With this month's Let's Move in School Bulletin Board Message.

• Register for March's Let's Move in School Webinar.