Our young students are the "first generation that will be less healthy and have a shorter life expectancy than their parents."  -- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Life styles are more sedentary.  Numbers of young students identified as obese have increased.

MMSD has a unique opportunity to reverse these trends for the students in our district.  The District was awarded a three-year, $1.5 million U.S. Department of Education Carol M. White Physical Education Program (PEP) grant.  The grant will help PE teachers introduce more nutrition, physical fitness and adventure education activities into their classrooms. 

Grant funds create opportunities for staff to reflect on current teaching strategies, explore "best practices," develop curriculum, and purchase equipment.  The creative use of technology to help students learn and teachers teach is also part of the grant funds.

Nutrition and physical fitness are the focus of Year 1 of the grant.   At the elementary and middle school levels nutrition information and activities will be integrated into a variety of content areas.  In high school more nutrition information will be added to health classes.  PE fitness activities will be enriched through the use of pedometers, heart rate monitors, core training, fitness equipment, as well as exploring non-traditional fitness activities.

In addition to nutrition and fitness in Years 2 and 3 of the grant, there will be an increased emphasis on adventure education programs at all middle and high schools.  Adventure education offers students and adults opportunities to develop and grow personally and as a group through community-building activities that involve risk-taking, problem-solving and cooperation.

By the end of the grant, all high schools will have an indoor ropes course with a variety of high and low "elements."   In addition, a new outdoor ropes course will be built.  This will insure access for all students within our district!

This PEP grant provides MMSD staff with a unique opportunity to enrich teaching and have a significant impact on the lives of students!