WHAT'S NEW - JANUARY 2005

HEALTH, WELLNESS, AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

Welcome to the Web site for the Council on Alberta Teaching Standards (COATS). This area of the Web site changes monthly. The theme for this month will be of interest to teachers, administrators, and parents who are exploring the issue of health, wellness, and physical activity in schools. The collection below identifies several web links related to the topic. We hope that you find this Web site to be a valuable resource. For quick reference bookmark http://www.teachingquality.ab.ca today!

WEB SITES RELATED TO HEALTH, WELLNESS, AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

Action Schools! BC. 2004
Action Schools! BC Support Team
Vancouver BC
http://www.actionschoolsbc.ca/Content/FAQ.asp

Physical activity, health, and wellness are a concern of schools in British Columbia. Under the heading of FAQs, the Action Schools! BC Web site sets forth the predominant features of an initiative aimed at increasing the physical activity of the province's youth in elementary schools. These efforts are motivated by an approaching health crisis. The approach is based in part on a pilot program and identifies six target action zones ranging from school environment to school spirit. Schools all over the province are invited to participate in this program. They are encouraged to develop their own action plans. The Web site offers resources for teachers on how to become involved. This Web site also presents a glance at comparable programs in other provinces across Canada http://www.actionschoolsbc.ca/Content/Across%20Canada.asp.

Active Living Information for Teachers. 2004
Alberta Health and Wellness
http://www.healthyalberta.com/al_children_teachers.asp

This Web site collects links related to active living that are intended for the use of teachers, whether in the school or in the classroom. The online resources, 19 in number, range widely across many facets of active living. The overall purpose of these resources is to promote a healthier lifestyle for youth. There is room for fun and imagination. The links are selected from Canadian sources. Some links focus on physical activity, walking to school, or safe bicycling. Some links spotlight classroom fitness, self-esteem, or healthy eating. Other links provide information on physical activity for children with asthma or children with physical handicaps. Still other links highlight such challenges as turning off the television and engaging in more vigorous activities. The Web site is sponsored by Alberta Health and Wellness.

Alberta Centre for Active Living. 2004
Edmonton AB
http://www.centre4activeliving.ca/

This Web site, sponsored by the Alberta Centre for Active Living, provides a rich assortment of online resources regarding physical activity and its benefits. The mission of the Centre is "to improve the quality of life through physical activity." To this end, the Centre collaborates with a variety of other organizations and practitioners. The Centre is involved in both research and education initiatives related to physical activities. Among its other ventures, the Centre publishes a quarterly newsletter titled Wellspring. Current news about the Centre's many activities can be found in its E-Bulletin at http://www.centre4activeliving.ca/AboutUs/E-Bulletin/Oct2004.pdf.

Calgary and District Be Fit For Life Centre School Programs, 2003
Department of Kinesiology
University of Calgary
Calgary AB
http://www.kin.ucalgary.ca/bffl/pdf/SchoolPrograms.pdf

What are schools doing to promote health and wellness? This news sheet from the University of Calgary's Department of Kinesiology provides general information about several school programs that promote the notion of active living. Individuals from the Department are engaged in several initiatives aimed at children in Calgary's schools. Each initiative is identified with regard to purpose, program description, and target audience. Feedback from schools involved indicates that the initiatives have been undertaken successfully at elementary, junior high, and high schools. This Web site will be of particular interest to teachers in the Calgary area.

Canadian Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance National, 2004
Ottawa ON
http://www.cahperd.ca/e/

This Web site contains information of general interest regarding quality school health. The Web site is sponsored by the Canadian Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (CAHPERD). This is a national, voluntary organization that encourages physically active lives for children, especially within the school environment. Besides providing information about quality school health, the Web site promotes a comprehensive approach that extends into the community. This association offers recognition for participation in various activities that support healthy lifestyle choices for young people. CAHPERD will hold a National Conference in May 2005 in Regina, Saskatchewan.

Daily Physical Education and Health Enhancing Physical Activity. 2004
Department of Physical Education, Brandon University
Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation Studies, University of Manitoba
Department of Kinesiology and Applied Health, University of Winnipeg
http://www.uwinnipeg.ca/faculty/pass/position_statement.htm

This recent position statement from stakeholders in Manitoba expresses a viewpoint in favor of daily physical education for school-age children. Because of a culture of inactivity, the wellness of Manitoba children is at risk. The health of young people can be safeguarded and enhanced by daily physical activity. The position paper elaborates a series of action statements as well as a timeline geared to the implementation of daily physical education in Manitoba schools in the period 2006 to 2010. Such physical education programs require adequate financial resources and competent personnel. The stakeholders advancing this position statement are three physical education departments from Manitoba universities. The document includes resources for further study.

Daily Physical Activity Initiative, 2004
http://www.education.gov.ab.ca/ipr/DailyPhysAct.asp

Within Alberta, Alberta Learning is taking the lead in encouraging physical wellness among students at schools. Research studies show that a lack of exercise and obesity among young people increase the risks of diabetes and other diseases. This announcement expresses the intention to implement mandatory physical activity for students as part of the regular school program. Three phases of the initiative are outlined. Phase 1 began in September 2004. Phase 2, beginning in September 2005, will entail implementation of physical activity in Grades 1-9, with implementation for high school students planned for September 2006.

Ever Active Schools Bulletin - May 2004
Edmonton AB
http://www.everactive.org/files/BULLETIN%20May%202004.pdf

This two-page online bulletin reports plans for summer events of Ever Active schools. The purpose of the Ever Active Program is to promote active living and a healthy lifestyle within Alberta school communities. Currently there are 121 Ever Active schools in Alberta. The program enhances the physical education and health components of the curriculum. This particular bulletin even includes a recipe for nutritious burritos. The bulletin provides links to teacher resources for the program and contains information about membership as well as contact information. The Ever Active schools home page is located at http://www.everactive.org/.

Gotta Move! 2002
Canada Health Portal
http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/pau-uap/paguide/child_youth/pdf/KidsGottaMoveMagEnFINAL.pdf

The leading theme of this Web site is that physical activity is fun. This online magazine is designed as a resource for children 6 to 9 years of age. Using a colorful cartoon format, the magazine engages young people in a conversation about various aspects of physical activity. The magazine offers information and motivation about getting physically active. It encourages young people to try out new physical activities as well as to involve others in their families. The magazine develops awareness about heartbeat, lungs, and building muscles and includes a variety of learning activities. This online magazine is sponsored by Health Canada.

How to Get Kids Moving: Improving School Phys-Ed. 2004
CBC News Online
http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/education/physed.html

Physical education is in the news across Canada. This CBC report (dated August 31, 2004) points to a growing awareness of the need for more physical activity among youth. In many instances, young people tend to be sedentary, which in turn will lead to anticipated problems with obesity and general health. In another perspective, if Canadians want to win Olympic medals, young people will have to become more physically active. To do so, they require the support of their parents, communities, and schools. School physical education classes are a natural center of attention for addressing physical fitness. Physical education classes and team sports contribute to students' achieving their physical potential. Two provinces are taking steps to make physical activity mandatory until graduation.

In Motion. 2004
Saskatoon SK
http://www.in-motion.ca/youth/

Schools in Saskatoon are in motion! This Web site documents the involvement of many Saskatoon schools in physical activity, with text and photos. The in motion schools put a priority on developing opportunities for their students to be physically active. The Web site contains links to over 70 such schools. Physical activities are exemplified in the development of walking programs in which students as a group walk over a kilometer a day. The in motion initiative has developed a set of resource materials, including tips on how to build excitement in the school. The initiative has also developed a variety of supports, which entail such things as newsletters, banners, special events, and, of course, the dedicated Web site.

Key Players in Physical Activity in Canada. 2004
Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute
Ottawa ON
http://www.cflri.ca/cflri/pa/keyplayers/links_canada.html

Health, wellness, and physical activity are matters of concern to many individuals and organizations across the nation. Who are the key players interested in physical activity in Canada? This Web site sponsored by the Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute identifies organizations with an ongoing interest in physical health and provides a collection of links to them. The organizations identified are federal, provincial, and territorial. Some of the organizations are voluntary in character, while others are professional associations. Some of the organizations identified conduct research into the benefits of physical activity. Other links are international in nature, an indication that interest in physical activity is worldwide.