FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Students Run, Dance, and Bike During National Physical Education and Sport Week, May 1-7
West Virginia students start week off with state-wide dance performance

RESTON, VA, May 1, 2012 – More than 66,000 students from all 55 school districts across West Virginia will Cha Cha Cha their way to a more physically active lifestyle as part of the National Association for Sport and Physical Education's (NASPE) National Physical Education and Sport Week (NPESW) May 1-7. The week was officially designated as NPESW through U.S. Senate Resolution 444 sponsored by Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and passed by members of the U.S. Senate last week. The nationwide celebration emphasizes the value of physical education and physical activity in the lives of children and young adults and kicks of May: National Physical Fitness and Sports Month. NASPE has put together free resources for schools including activity lesson plans, a physical activity proclamation, a template press release and more to encourage every school in the country to move!

The state wide dance will take place on Wednesday, May 2 at 10 AM, a day the state's board of education declared West Virginia Let's Move! Day; part of a resolution to make health and wellness a priority through educating the whole child. This year's theme is Let's Move-A-Palooza! WV and gives students an opportunity to participate in a wide-variety of physical activities that are fun and created specifically for every age group. The state superintendent of schools, Dr. Jorea Marple will join students at Elk Elementary Center, a PreK-5 school in Charleston, during the state wide dance performance. State education leaders hope to beat their January Cupid Shuffle state wide dance participation of 313 schools. To see a list of the schools, visit the West Virginia Physical Activity Plan.

Other school districts and physical educators nationwide have also organized activities to reenergize students and families about living a healthy lifestyle by incorporating NPESW's theme, Let's Move in School (LMIS). LMIS is a national education initiative of the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD) which aims to ensure students receive opportunities to be physically active before, during, and after school. Currently close to 7,000 schools have registered with this national effort.

"The goal for the week is to showcase opportunities for school based physical activity to develop physically educated students who participate in the nationally recommended 60+ minutes of physical activity each day," says Mary Jo Sariscsany, NASPE President and professor at California State University-Northridge. "Whether it be a community-wide run, a fitness and fun day for an entire school, or a dance performed by kids across the state, LMIS and NPESW gives educators and parents the vehicle to push students to be more physically active, healthier and well rounded members of society."

Highlight of Events during May Week and National Fitness and Sports Month

Tuesday, May 1, 6:30- 9 PM Aurora Public Schools, Aurora, CO: An inaugural "Let's Move Aurora" Family Fitness Night at Aurora Central High School will take place with more than 500 students and members of the community. he event will feature local sports performance and fitness professionals with interactive demonstrations such as Taekwondo, Sol Vida Dance, and bungee boot camp. Local radio personality Mark McIntosh from Mile High Sports Radio will be the special guest emcee and motivational speaker. Contact: Clay Ellis, 2010 Physical Educator of the Year ceellis@aps.k12.co.us.

Tuesday-Friday, May 1-4, Heritage High School, Vancouver, WA: Throughout the week, 2012 National Dance Educator of the Year, Kimberleigh Anderson will lead students in a variety of activities as students step into their dance shoes and take part in Zumba, learn a flash mob routine, participate in a school-wide basketball tournament, a good old fashion game of bad mitten, ultimate handball or soccer. Contact: Kimberleigh Kimberleigh.Anderson@evergreenps.org.

Wednesday, May 2, 10:15 AM and 1:15 PM: Turner Ashby High School, Bridgewater, VA: Students will participate in a five-mile bike run led by 2012 High School Physical Education Teacher of the Year Cindy Ferek. Adapted physical education students and 10th graders will take on the challenge to complete the ride in 90 minutes. Contact: Cindy Ferek cferek@rockingham.k12.va.us.

Wednesday, May 2, 2 PM Manorhaven Elementary School, Port Washington, NY: More than 400 students will participate in what's been coined "the world's largest exercise class," Project ACES (All Children Exercise Simultaneously), as they take a trip around the world performing signature cultural dances such as the Mexican Hat Dance, Cha Cha Slide, Conga Line, Ramaya and the all American line dance, the Cupid Shuffle. Contact: Megaera Regan mregan@portnet.k12.ny.us.

More than 500 students at Eisenhower Elementary in Fort Leavenworth, KS will also participate in ACES Day at 10 AM. Contact: Mary Lou Anderson mlouanderson21@gmail.com.

Friday, May 4, Kansas: 20TH annual Kansas Kids' Fitness Day: This statewide event focuses on increasing physical activity and safety awareness among 3rd grade students. Nearly 18,000 students participate each year at more than 40 sites across the state. http://www.kdheks.gov/kkfd/index.html

Friday, May 4, A Celebration of Healthy Eating and Living through Body and Soul, Fox Chase Cancer Center in Cheltenham, PA, just outside of Philadelphia: Rick Howard, past president of the PSAHPERD will hold a workshop on the LMIS initiative and how communities as a whole can work together to promote living a healthy lifestyle by taking physical activity back to the congregation, The session includes how to incorporate a jump rope and walking program. The presentation is through the Body & Soul health program geared towards African American church communities for the past decade. Contact: Rick Howard rihoward41@gmail.com.

Saturday, May 5, 9-11 AM Mantua Elementary School, Fairfax County, VA: The school's physical education department will host its 1st Bike Rodeo. Students will take on obstacle courses and learn about bike safety, just in time for the upcoming National Bike to School Day, May 9. Contact Karen Bruining, kjbruining@fcps.edu.

Sunday, May 6, 9:30 AM The Learning Community Center, Providence, RI: Over 150 parents and students will participate in the 23rd annual Ronald McDonald Walk Festival at Roger Williams Park. All week at 8:30 AM students and teachers will head out in the hallways for a two-minute dance party, promoting the centerpiece of LMIS; the opportunity to be physically active before, during and after school. Throughout the month, physical education teachers will offer the entire school staff free yoga classes, and parents are invited to join an after school Zumba class and boot camp. Contact: Kath Connolly kath@thelearningcommunity.com.

Sunday, May 6, 1-4 PM Taylor Elementary School, Arlington, VA: Students will participate in the 27th Annual Potomac Overlook Open House and Heritage Festival at the Arlington Potomac Overlook Park for the 20th consecutive year. Students will perform their annual "May Pole Dance" from 3-4 PM, as part of the park's spring open house. Contact: Deborah DeFranco, deborah.defranco@apsva.us.

Saturday, May 12, 10 AM -2 PM Prince William County Public Schools, Prince William County, VA: All County Health and Physical Education Expo, Pfitzner Stadium Complex, 7, Woodbridge, VA. Nearly 3,000 members of the community will attend as parents see what is offered during physical education class. Students will be showcasing line dancing, Zumba, Geo Fitness, archery and First Tee golf. Contact: Beth Tomanek tomanekea@pwcs.edu.

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Contact:
Paula Kun
pkun@aahperd.org
703-476-3461

The preeminent national authority on physical education and a recognized leader in sport and physical activity, the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) is a non-profit professional membership association that sets the standard for practice in physical education and sport. NASPE’s 15,000 members include: K-12 physical education teachers, coaches, administrators, researchers, and college/university faculty who prepare professionals in these areas. NASPE seeks to enhance knowledge, improve professional practice, and increase support for high-quality physical education, sport and physical activity programs. It is the largest of the five national associations that make up the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation & Dance (AAHPERD). For more information, visit www.naspeinfo.org.

The vision of AAHPERD is "Healthy People – Physically Educated and Physically Active!" Headquartered in Reston, VA, 25 miles west of Washington, DC, AAHPERD is the largest organization of professionals involved in physical education, physical activity, dance, school health and sport--all specialties related to achieving an active, healthy lifestyle. Its mission is to advance professional practice and promote research related to health and physical education, physical activity, dance and sport by providing its members with a comprehensive and coordinated array of resources, support and programs to help practitioners improve their skills to further the health and well-being of the American public. For more information, visit www.aahperd.org.