OUT OF CLASS PHYSICAL EDUCATION FOR MANITOBA SCHOOLS

ALL STUDENTS NOW REQUIRED TO TAKE PHYSICAL EDUCATION/HEALTH EDUCATION CLASSES

DIFFERENT APPROACH FOR GRADE 11 AND 12 Encourage youth to take ownership of their physical activity Variety and choice of activities Focusing on child’s health and personal planning for an active healthy lifestyle Flexibility for schools in delivery of the course Involving parents and community

SCHOOLS WILL CHOOSE DIFFERENT IMPLEMENTATION MODELS All courses will have a minimum of 25% through an IN class model The remainder could be offered IN class, OUT of class or a combination of the two

PARENTS AND CHILDREN HAVE SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES WHEN THE DELIVERY MODEL INCLUDES NON SCHOOL BASED OUT OF CLASS ACTIVITIES

STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES Choose physical activities of interest to them and keep a record (their personal physical activity plan) Identify the safety considerations and risks and how they plan to address these risks Safety checklists have been developed Plan must be accepted by teacher and approved by parent Student provides evidence of outcomes

PARENT RESPONSIBILITIES Review child’s plan and be aware of safety issues Approve plan by signing Parent Declaration and Consent Form Assume responsibility for ensuring safety and supervision of your child’s participation Monitor child’s progress and complete appropriate forms as proof of participation

FOR THE NON SCHOOL BASED OUT OF CLASS ACTIVITIES,IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE STUDENTS/PARENTS WHO ARE CHOOSING THE ACTIVITIES TO ENSURE THEY ARE SAFE AND APPROPRIATE

IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT A SCHOOL MAY PROHIBIT HIGH RISK ACTIVITIES THAT ARE INHERENTLY DANGEROUS AND MAY REQUIRE CERTAIN ACTIVITIES TO BE DIRECTLY SUPERVISED BY A QUALIFIED INSTRUCTOR

Phys Ed Facts: What’s happening with grades 11 and 12 phys ed this fall? The province is introducing mandatory phys ed credits in grades 11 and 12. Students will now need 30 credits to get a high school diploma, instead of the former 28 credits. However, the mandatory phys ed will be marked on a complete/incomplete basis, rather than a score out of 100. Why? The Healthy Kids, Healthy Futures task force report in 2005 recommended sweeping changes to combat childhood obesity and lifestyle-related diseases. The new credits will promote life-long physical activity. There’s already a new nutrition policy in place, promoting healthy choices and banning junk food in school cafeterias and vending machines. What’s involved, just a lot more gym class? No. Each high school credit requires 110 hours of instruction, but schools may allow anywhere from 25 to 75 per cent of the phys ed hours to take place outside of class, or outside of school. Only 25 per cent must occur in class.

Phys Ed Facts: How does that work, doing activities outside of class or school? Students work out an activities plan with their phys ed teacher. They’ll receive a spreadsheet to log their hours and level of intensity in each activity. Parents and community coaches or other outside officials may have to sign off on students’ logs. What counts? The province has a list of about 110 approved activities, from cutting the grass to doing housework, to playing soccer and hockey and basketball. Each school division may decide if an activity is safe enough to be on the list, or is too risky, such as trampoline. You can find the list at:

Phys Ed Facts: How about playing on a school team? Students on school teams can log their practice and game hours. Students can also log intramural sports. What doesn’t count? Students can’t log hours for which they’re paid. So even though they get a lot of healthy and strenuous physical activity by refereeing minor hockey or soccer, or by lugging boxes and stocking shelves in a supermarket, they’re not allowed to count those hours. Are schools on board? Not completely. Educators are enthusiastic about the principles behind the new credits. What the province cites as flexibility in the criteria, schools sometimes see as the province’s being vague or inconsistent.

Phys Ed Facts: Are schools on board cont …? Some schools will perform 100 per cent of grades 11 and 12 phys ed in school, some 50 per cent, some 25 per cent. There is a huge variation in the acceptable activities. Schools say the province fell far short financially in helping them hire the additional phys ed teachers they need to implement the changes. Students will at times be on an honour system for logging their time. There are questions of how much to log – if you bowl with three friends for an hour, do you get an hour of exercise, or 15 minutes? If a soccer match is 90 minutes, do you log the warm-up, plus the time you’re on the field, or log 90 minutes? Information from Nick Martin, Winnipeg Free Press August 31, 2008

MOSQUITO ULTRA-SONIC TEENAGE DETERRENT SYSTEM

HOW DOES THE MOSQUITO SYSTEM WORK? IT IS A SOUNDER SYSTEM THAT EMITS A VERY HIGH FREQUENCY MODULATED TONE THAT IS COMPLETELY HARMLESS EVEN WITH LONG TERM USE

MAIN USES OF THE MOSQUITO Reduce the occurrence and costs of vandalism Reduce the occurrence and costs of graffiti Reduce teen loitering Increase safety of teens by moving them away from dangerous areas

WHERE IS THE MOSQUITO BEING USED? Outside convenience stores Business locations and malls School premises during evening hours, weekends and holidays Any other locations where teens gather and cause damage

WILL THE MOSQUITO ANNOY ADULTS? The majority of people over 25 have lost the ability to hear at this frequency range Extensive testing has shown that it does not seem to bother small children or dogs