Fitness Assessments: Information for Parents Welcome and thank you for coming. Today we are going to talk about a fitness assessment that students all across the state of Georgia will be completing next year. Some of you may have heard your child talk about the PACER or demonstrated a curl up or 90 degree push up. Today I will share with you some basic information about the assessment so that schools and families can work together to improve the fitness levels of students. While the schools can test the students, it will be our collective responsibility to help students improve. This is a very exciting and pivotal time for the health and fitness of Georgia’s children. Created by HealthMPowers

What is Happening and Why? As a part of your child's PE class, he/she will be participating in annual fitness testing beginning 2011-2012. Fitness testing will allow you and your child to: Be aware of his/her current levels of fitness Set fitness goals for maintenance or improvement Plan ahead for a lifestyle that promotes health and fitness Beginning in the Fall of 2011, students in grades 1-12 will be fitness tested annually. In grades 1-3, students will be familiarized with the different assessments and height and weight measures will be aggregated for surveillance purposes. In grades 4-12, students in a physical education class will participate in the complete fitness assessment. The assessment will be administered by a trained and certificated PE teacher. Individual results will be shared with you as parents/guardians. This is important because it will allow you as your child’s parent or care taker, to be aware of his/her fitness levels in different areas and set goals or work toward improvement with the ultimate goal of promoting a healthy active lifestyle that promotes health and fitness for your child. FOR YOUR INFORMATION ONLY in case you are asked. This requirement is a result of House Bill 229 which directed the Georgia Department of Education to establish a state wide fitness assessment program for Georgia schools. Fitness testing is NOT new to Georgia schools. Health related fitness testing has been a part of the health and physical education curriculum for years.

Which Fitness Assessment Will be Given to My Child? The FITNESSGRAM will be used as the fitness assessment in all schools. This assessment was developed by the Cooper Institute of Aerobic Research over twenty years ago, is updated regularly, and has been used in thousands of schools across the country. Many schools in Georgia are already using this fitness assessment program. Courtesy of Human Kinetics.

Why FITNESSGRAM? Health related Based on good health, not athletic ability Measures multiple components of fitness Cardiovascular fitness Body composition Flexibility Muscular fitness (strength and endurance) Personal improvement driven Provides individualized feedback Encourages self assessment or individualized assessment So what makes Fitnessgram different? Why was it selected? The FITNESSGRAM physical fitness assessment is based not on athletic ability, but rather on the level of fitness that is needed for good health. It is also based on the latest research on children’s fitness. So this assessment is not looking at the level of fitness students need to be an athlete, but rather the amount of fitness they need to keep their body healthy and fit. It will also help them to set goals and learn HOW to improve their fitness levels, thus improving their health. It is very personalized to each student.

What FITNESSGRAM Assessments Will Be Utilized? 90o Push-Ups Curl-Ups Back Saver Sit and Reach PACER or One-Mile Run Height/Weight The following test items will be used. Read slide to participants noting that P.E. teachers will have the option of choosing either the PACER assessment or One-mile run to measure cardiovascular fitness. Let’s look at each individual test item © Human Kinetics. Used with permission.

Push-Ups What does it measure? Upper body strength and endurance Why is it important? Important for daily living and promoting good posture The push up is a measure of upper body or arm strength and endurance. This is important for daily living and the promotion of good posture. © Human Kinetics. Used with permission.

Curl-Ups What does it measure? Abdominal strength and endurance Why is it important? Promotes good posture and low back health The curl up is a measure of abdominal or stomach strength and endurance. Good abdominal strength is important for good posture (holding yourself upright) and low back health. Many people as they get older have problems with their low back. This is often a result of poor abdominal and back strength. © Human Kinetics. Used with permission.

Back Saver Sit and Reach What does it measure? Flexibility Why is it important? Allows participation in a wide range of activities, reduces injury and stress Read slide to participants Pictured here is a sit and reach box. With one leg straight and the other bent, students are encouraged to reach out to a maximum of 12 inches. © Human Kinetics. Used with permission.

© Human Kinetics. Used with permission. PACER or One-Mile Run What does it measure? Aerobic capacity Why is it important? Aerobic fitness is the single most important health indicator. Reduces risk for heart attack, stroke and other diseases. Allows you to do more activity. The PACER (Progressive Aerobic Capacity Endurance Run) or the one mile run will be used to measure aerobic capacity or how well your child’s heart and lungs work together during exercise. Your child’s PE teacher will determine which assessment (PACER or One-mile Run) will be used. The one mile run is just that. Running a distance of one mile in the shortest time possible. The PACER (Progressive Aerobic Cardiovascular Endurance Run) uses a recorded pace and the student runs back and forth between two points that are 20 meters apart (a 15 meter version is available for elementary schools with smaller gymnasiums). The objective is to get from one point to the other before the recorded “beep” sounds. The recording of beeps also has music in the background. The PACER is progressive in intensity – it starts easy and gradually gets harder. When the student can no longer complete the distance in the time allowed, the assessment ends. The score is the number of completed laps. This component is important because aerobic fitness is the single most important health indicator. People with good aerobic fitness have reduced risk for heart attack, stroke and other diseases. It also allows you to do more. © Human Kinetics. Used with permission.

Height/Weight Used to determine Aerobic Capacity and Body Composition Scores. Body Mass Index is an estimate of a person's body composition (muscle vs. fat mass) based on a person's weight and height. High levels of body fat are also associated with an increased risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. Too much body fat inhibits performance and daily living. As stated before appropriate protocols will be used to assure proper student privacy. This is especially true with height and weight. Just like in the doctor’s office, students will be screened privately. Teachers even have the option to have students stand backwards on the scale so that no child knows his/her weight until it is recorded on their personalized report. This is to protect the emotional health of children as well as their physical health. Tracking height and weight and all fitness component areas over time is what will be important for you as parents and care givers. Just like it is for us when we visit our doctor.

Will My Child Be Compared to Others? NO FITNESSGRAM uses Healthy Fitness Zones to determine overall fitness and how much fitness is needed for good health. All fitness assessment results are confidential! No. FITNESSGRAM uses health-related criteria called Healthy Fitness Zones to determine students' overall physical fitness and suggest areas for improvement when appropriate. Healthy Fitness Zones (HFZ) are not based on class averages or any other peer comparisons. They are "criterion-referenced" standards that are based on how much fitness is needed for good health. The standards are set specifically for boys and girls of different ages using the best available research. The FITNESSGRAM report defines the recommended range of fitness for each test measure and calls this range the Healthy Fitness Zone. If your child's score falls within the Healthy Fitness Zone it means they have achieved the recommended level of fitness for their age. So, your child will not be compared with other children. Your child will get personalized information on his or her own fitness as it relates to good health and these results will be communicated to you. Let me show you a sample report.

How Will I Receive My Child’s Results? You will be provided with an individual report that explains all of the results and provides suggestions for maintenance or improvement. Read slide to participants. The FITNESSGRAM reporting system prints out an individualized report for each child in grades 4-12. It looks at each child’s personal level of fitness compared against the established health standard, the Healthy Fitness Zone. Courtesy of Human Kinetics.

What happens if my child fails the FITNESSGRAM Test? There is NO pass or fail with FITNESSGRAM Focus is on Personal Improvement The scoring categories: Healthy Fitness Zone Needs Improvement There is no pass or fail to the FITNESSGRAM report. The category below the Healthy Fitness Zone on the FITNESSGRAM test is referred to as "Needs Improvement," to indicate dimensions of fitness that may require special attention. While the effect of low fitness may not influence health until later in adulthood, it is important to identify potential risks early on so that adjustments can be made to improve those levels. Therefore, the Needs Improvement message should be used prescriptively to help children set goals or targets to improve their fitness. The wording used for this category does not imply "bad fitness" or "poor fitness" but rather areas in which the child should seek improvement. It should be noted that it is also possible for some students to score above the HFZ. FITNESSGRAM acknowledges performances above the HFZ but does not recommend this level of performance as an appropriate goal level for all students. However, students who desire to achieve a high level of athletic performance may need to consider setting goals beyond the HFZ. The Healthy Fitness Zone (HFZ) standards in the FITNESSGRAM test reflect reasonable levels of fitness that can be attained by most children who participate regularly in various types of physical activity. Because of this, we recommend that all students should strive to achieve a score that places them inside the HFZ. However, it is common for children to achieve the HFZ for some dimensions of fitness but not for others. Most children usually have areas that they excel in more than others.

Where Can I Go To Find More FITNESSGRAM Information? Contact your child’s PE Teacher Contact your family physician Visit FITNESSGRAM web resources at: http://www.georgiashape.org http://www.cooperinstitute.org/index.cfm http://www.fitnessgram.net/home/ If you have additional questions, please visit the websites listed here or contact your child’s P.E. Teacher or Physician.

What Can You Do At Home To Promote An Active Lifestyle? Encourage your child to be active at least 60 minutes each day. Reduce screen time (TV, Computer, Video Games etc.) to 2 hours or less a day. Introduce your child to a variety of different physical activities. Participate in physical activity as a family. Be a positive role model. Here are some tips for you. Things you can do at home to reinforce an active lifestyle for your children. Read slide to participants. Remember it will be the schools role to assess student fitness levels, but it will be OUR responsibility to help our children improve!

Georgia’s Children… Responsibility of the School to assess student’s health related fitness levels. Responsibility of the Community to help improve those fitness levels. Schools and Community must work together!