Students and staff at Garland ISD’s Kimberlin Academy for Excellence are in training to become one of the healthiest schools in North Texas. They were chosen this year to participate in the Healthy Zone School Recognition Program.
Developed by the Cooper Institute, in partnership with the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas and the Texas Education Agency, Healthy Zone is a six-year initiative to help fight childhood obesity. The program provides teachers with fitness and nutrition training to create an environment that promotes healthy behaviors. Selected schools also receive financial assistance for educational tools and physical education equipment. Twelve campuses were chosen to pioneer the program last year. Twenty more, including Kimberlin Academy, were added this year and recognized at a kick-off event on Sept. 4 featuring Dallas Cowboys Hall of Famer Troy Aikman.
Kimberlin’s P.E. teacher, Marcie Adame, is responsible for the school’s new Healthy Zone In-Training title.
“Because of shrinking school district budgets, I’m always keeping my eye out to apply for grants,” she said. “This program incorporates the state-mandated Fitnessgrams we already perform.”
Measuring a student’s height and weight in relation to cardiovascular abilities, muscle strength, endurance, and flexibility, Fitnessgrams calculate a healthy level of fitness to achieve. Under the Healthy Zone program, Fitnessgrams will be assessed twice per year.
As a school in training, Kimberlin is also tasked with increasing awareness about the importance of physical fitness and encouraging active lifestyles. For this reason, Adame has launched a “Back to FIT” campaign during the 2012-13 school year. It includes community events in addition to classroom initiatives.
“The students set their own fitness goals,” explained Adame, “and use heart rate monitors to measure their effort. This month I’m coordinating what I hope will set a Guinness World Record for the largest game of Tag. In October, I’m organizing a 5k, and Kimberlin is leading a community outreach to participate in the Healthy at H-E-B Community Challenge.”
Affecting the entire campus, Adame also works with fellow teachers, giving them weekly workouts to incorporate into the classroom. She even partners with other Garland ISD P.E. teachers to increase participation at events. As the district’s first campus to participate in the Healthy Zone School Recognition program, Adame hopes Kimberlin can not only be a resource for the community, but also a model throughout GISD.
Adame is quick to recognize that she can’t do that alone.
“None of this would be possible without the support of our principal, Mida Milligan,” she said. “Her appreciation makes everything easier, fun, and hardly seem like work.”
Kimberlin’s PTA also donated money to fund a new rock climbing wall this year. Adame plans to use the money she receives from Healthy Zone to purchase interactive health displays for her classroom.
