SPARK used in class, recess and PE
“In Kindergarten, students need physical breaks all the time,” said Sara Holbrook, Kindergarten teacher at Germantown Elementary. “They need time in between subjects, and even during lessons, to release energy and refocus. It is very easy to incorporate any SPARK activity into our classroom.”
The school has also implemented an organized recess volunteer program three times a week. Parents are encouraged to lead SPARK activities during recess time to ensure that students are receiving quality physical activity during their recess.
The implementation at Germantown Elementary is just the beginning of a city-wide initiative to fight childhood obesity through proper nutrition and increased physical activity for city youth being administrated by the Annapolis Community Health Initiative (ACHI), an organization consisting of community partners from the Anne Arundel Medical Center, City of Annapolis Recreation and Parks, Anne Arundel County Department of Health, Annapolis Pediatrics Group and The Pediatric Group.
“Germantown Elementary is our pilot school,” said Jean Keegan, Health Education Assistant for the Women’s Education Department at Anne Arundel Medical Center. “We hope to increase physical activity like this in all Annapolis schools.”
