By

Mitchell Kranz,   Central High School

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Physical Activity Participation

Our schedule for students has what is called superstudy. It is the time opposite from lunch where students have time to work on homework and stay up to date with schoolwork. I had the idea that this would be the perfect time for students to have the chance to come down to the gym and get active. So, students now have the chance to come down and FUEL UP TO PLAY 60 during that time. Each student only has a chance to do so once a week, but it's better than nothing. It is my hope to have fun and I hope that they make the decision to go out and do more on their own. Students have done a great job and teachers have enjoyed it as well. They have used it as positive reinforcement for students getting their assignments in, as they can't come down if they don't get all of their stuff in or aren't passing a class. It has been a real success story so far and I am looking forward to watching it grow. We have played basketball, dodgeball, ultimate Frisbee, and we will be starting flag football (thanks to the kit we received from FUTP 60). I know the students have really appreciated having something new and fun to do during their superstudy time.

How did students and adults work together as a team?

Teachers have given me suggestions as to the parameters of when students can come down. Students have given me suggestions of what they would want to play during their time there. It has been fun to be able to be the coordinator.

How do you plan to make this Play last during the school year and beyond?

We do ours during school hours and it is every day, so keeping it interesting and fun for the kids is my main goal. I try to get them interested enough that they might do the activities outside of school hours as well.

What challenges did you face and how did you overcome them?

Scheduling was probably the hardest thing to do with this, but I think I have a system now that works well. Teachers were very accommodating to what I needed from them and they bought in to what I was doing, which was very nice to see.