August 2009

Scotia-Glenville has received the federal Carol M. White Physical Education Program (PEP) grant. It was one of three school districts in New York state to receive the grant, which will stretch over the next three years.

John Geniti, Scotia-Glenville director of athletics and physical education, submitted the grant and said the $464,468 will go toward the purchase of:

• Purchasing heart rate monitors projection systems for cardio workouts for physical education classes at all six schools

• Fitness equipment such as exercise bikes and treadmills for physical education classes

• Outdoor education equipment, snow shoes, cross country skis and inline skates for use in physical education classes and intramural programs

• Staff training to incorporate the equipment into daily classes.

Over the past two years, Scotia-Glenville has made significant moves to improve the health and wellness of its nearly 3,000 students.

Beginning in September 2007, certain types of foods were prohibited from the school district and the remaining ones used for classroom celebrations and for sale were curtailed.

Among the wellness guidelines: classroom celebrations involving food were limited to two times per month; only commercially pre-packaged and store-bought goods that have ingredient labels should be used; food/can will not longer to used as a “reward;” vending machines used by students offer only 100% fruit juice, water or unsweetened tea; snack machines used by students must have at least 50% healthy choices and may not have candy; school-sponsored groups (clubs, PTA, booster clubs, etc.) are prohibited from selling candy, cookie dough, soda, fruit drinks (less than 100% juice) or home baked goods for their fund-raising activities; whole milk in the lunch program was eliminated. Only 100% juice, low fat and skim milk, unsweetened tea and water are offered to students.

As well, Scotia-Glenville students have been getting more physical education time.

Beginning in September 2007, students in grades 4 and 5 received an extra 40 minutes each week of physical education. Beginning in September 2008, students in grades 1-3 also received an additional 40 minutes of physical education each week.

Those improvements make Scotia-Glenville one of the few area schools to meet the state mandates for physical education time.

The Carol M. White Physical Education Program (PEP) grant runs for three years, meaning the school district will receive a similar amount in the 2009-10, 2010-11 and 2011-12 school years.