Fitness Gram Coming Soon to Lytle ISD
February 29, 2008
Lytle ISD will begin The FITNESS GRAM program soon.
The program targets grades 3 through 12. We are hopeful that the following information will answer questions that parents, students, and teachers might have about the FITNESS GRAM Program.
What is FITNESS GRAM? It is the national fitness assessment and reporting program for youth. The assessment was developed by The Cooper Institute in response to the needs in physical education programs for a comprehensive assessment protocol. The assessment includes a variety of health-related physical fitness tests designed to assess cardiovascular fitness, muscle strength, muscular endurance, flexibility, and body composition. The software for the program produces an individualized report card that summarizes the child’s performance on each component of health-related fitness and provides suggestions for how to promote and maintain good fitness.
The sophisticated database structure within the program produces compiled class reports and allows for long term tracking of the student’s fitness over time. Fitness Gram can be used by students to help them in personal fitness planning, by teachers to determine student needs and to help guide students in program planning and by parents to understand their child’s needs and to help the child plan a program of physical activity.
FITNESS GRAM uses the acronym HELP to describe its Philosophy.
H=Health and health related-fitness. Promoting regular physical activity among all youth. Of particular importance is promoting activity patterns that lead to reduced health risk and improved health-related physical fitness.
E=Everyone. Fitness Gram and Activity Gram are designed for all people regardless of physical ability. They are intended to help ALL youth find some form of activity that they can do for a lifetime. Too often activity programs are perceived to be only for those who are “good” rather than for all people.
L=Lifetime. FITNESSGRAM and ACTIVITY GRAM have as a goal helping young people to be active now, but a long term goal is to help them learn to do activities that they will continue to perform through out their lives.
P= Personal. No two people are exactly the same. No two people enjoy the exact same activities. FITNESSGRAM and ACTIVITYGRAM are designed to personalize physical activity to meet personal or individual goals.
The FITNESS GRAM goals are specific. To promote enjoyable regular physical activity and to provide comprehensive physical fitness and activity assessments and reporting programs for children and youth. The program seeks to develop affective, cognitive, and behavioral components related to participation in regular physical activity in all children and youth, regardless of gender, age, disability, or any other factor. They believe that regular physical activity contributes to good health, function, and well-being and is important throughout a person’s lifetime. The use of both ACTIVITYGRAM and FITNESSGRAM as part of a quality physical education program can help in accomplishing these goals.
The students will undergo the following assessments:
1) Aerobic Capacity which includes: The PACER, One Mile Run/Walk, The Walk Test
2) Body Composition where they will measure: Percent Body Fat, Body Mass Index
3) Muscle Strength, Endurance, and Flexibility that include the following physical tests: Curl-up, Trunk Lift, Flexed Arm Hang, Modified Pull-up, Back Save Sit-and-Reach, Shoulder Stretch
4) Physical Activity Questions: Students will answer a series of questions on paper.
The assessments have been shown to be very safe. The prudent teacher however will recognize that with any strenuous physical activity there is always the possibility that incidents may occur.
Teachers/Coaches: Before administering any test items, be aware of potential health problems of all students in your classes. Maximizing the safety of all students should be the primary objective.
Lytle ISD has established policies related to medical information, medical records, and medical clearance for activity. These policies need to be followed strictly.
It is important that all students be conditioned adequately before taking the test. This conditioning period is especially important in hotter climates.
More information will be sent home with students informing parents of when the program will begin and what tests their children will be involved in for that time.
