Schools fight battle of the bulge

Onslow County Schools has joined 24 other North Carolina school districts in the In-School Prevention of Obesity and Disease Program.

"Through state and local policy, we are responsible for providing positive physical activity and proper nutrition guidelines for students. ... The In-School Prevention of Obesity and Disease Program initiative easily aligns to what we are working to accomplish," said Keba Baldwin, Safe and Civil Schools Coordinator with Onslow County Schools.

The initiative reached Onslow County Schools last week with SPARK - Sports, Play and Active Recreation for Kids curriculum training. Thirty physical education teachers from Onslow, Carteret, Jones and Pamlico counties were trained in continuously active, small-group and non-competitive environments, according to information from the North Carolina Alliance for Athletics Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (NCAAHPERD).

Through the training, Southwest Middle School teacher Greg Peele was reminded why he loves teaching physical education.

"To get people up and moving is fun and challenging. The program gave all of us a huge resource manual to use for new ideas, games, activities, etc," he said.

Katelyn Mills, a physical education teacher at Trexler Middle School, also enjoyed learning the new strategies.

"We were introduced to several classroom management strategies that were engaging and also allowed for maximum physical activities for all students. ... The SPARK binder has an endless number of quality warm-up activities and lesson ideas that middle school students will enjoy," Mills said.

The training format, however, came as a surprise for Peele.

"Most of us were expecting to sit and listen to a speaker the whole time, but (the instructor) got us up and got us involved. We would spend a little time listening and she would get us up and moving. Most people learn more from doing than listening," Peele said.

A week later, Peele had already put his lessons to work.

"I have already used some of the activities and games with my students. They always love new games. It keeps them from being bored," he said.

The teachers received six hours of training along with three curriculum manuals and software/manuals for FITNESSGRAM, a program to measure fitness levels.

"Some goals of the ISPOD program are to provide new strategies for teachers to help change student attitudes about physical education and physical activity. In the long run, this will institute better behaviors and contribute to lifelong healthy and happy adults. We are working towards creating a higher standard of physical education," said Judy Martino, director of Grants/Special Projects at NCAAHPERD.

The training provided the teachers with a "specialized" program, Baldwin said.

"This curriculum is a specialized, research-based physical education program, which emphasizes increased moderate to vigorous physical activity in students, fitness achievement, academic achievement, sport skills development and enjoyment of physical education," he said.

However, the new program isn't that different from what physical education teachers are already doing in Onslow County Schools.

"There is very little difference between the two programs. SPARK adds to the teacher's toolbox of resources to keep our students active. It will provide additional activities for teachers to utilize throughout the year," Baldwin said.

North Carolina ranks fifth in the nation in overweight and obese youth, according to NCAAHPERD, and 54 percent of North Carolina children are physically inactive.

Childhood obesity has tripled nationally from 1975 to 2004, according to NCAAHPERD, and the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services and North Carolina Department of Public Instruction have confirmed that the number of overweight children continues to grow.

Baldwin hopes the program will bring staff and parents together to ensure the students remain active and healthy.

"With our participation in the ISPOD program, we hope it will aid in providing positive physical activity and create proper nutritional values for our students," he said. "We encourage families to get involved in their child's activities both at school and home. It will take a community effort to see improvement preventing childhood obesity."

Contact Jacksonville/Onslow County reporter Amanda Hickey at 910-219-8461 or ahickey@freedomenc.com.