Media Advisory from the San Diego Unified School District, April 18, 2016
Report: Increased Physical Activity During School Day Can Boost Academic Achievement
Reporters/Editors: You’re invited to the following press conference hosted by San Diego Unified, Mission Readiness – Military Leaders for Kids and The Alliance for a Healthier Generation
WHO:
Speaking at press conference and available for interviews:
- Rear Admiral (Ret.) James Rodman, U.S. Navy & Mission: Readiness member
- San Diego Unified School District Area 5 Superintendent Mitzi Merino
- Lynn Barnes-Wallace, San Diego Unified School District Physical Education Coordinator
VISUAL:
Following the press conference, Florence Elementary School students will provide physical activity demonstrations.
WHAT:
Education, community, and military leaders will gather Tuesday, April 19, to release a research report on the importance of increasing physical activity during the school day. In California and across the U.S., more than one-third of children and adolescents are classified as being overweight or obese. Further, obesity has become the leading medical disqualifier for military service.
The report, “A Roadmap for Increasing Physical Activity in California Schools,” by Mission: Readiness – Military Leaders For Kids, highlights physical activity best practices that are not only effective at getting kids active, but can also help them concentrate and perform better in the classroom.
The Active Schools/Active Minds Initiative, created by The Alliance for a Healthier Generation’s Healthy Schools Program with support from The California Endowment, is one such best practice. The Initiative provides free guidance, technical assistance, and training to schools. Specifically, it offers online assessment and action plan tools that provide a customized roadmap for schools to increase physical activity and improve physical education programs.
Officials from the San Diego Unified School District will highlight their district-wide efforts with IMPACT (Increasing Movement and Physical Activity in Class Time), a physical education program designed to keep local elementary students moving despite the lack of physical education classes in underserved San Diego schools. Increasing physical activity is one aspect of how San Diego Unified is improving the health of all students. The District is also providing healthy school food, trauma-informed care, and other services to make health happen at San Diego Unified.
WHEN:
Tuesday, April 19, 2016, 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. PST
WHERE:
Florence Elementary School, 3914 1st Avenue, San Diego, CA 92103
CONTACT:
For more information or to set up an interview, contact:
- Meghan Moroney: 415-450-1913 or mmoroney@missionreadiness.org
- Laura O’Connor: 202-360-2559 or laura.oconnor@healthiergeneration.org
ABOUT:
Mission: Readiness – Military Leaders For Kids is the national security nonprofit organization of over 600 retired admirals, generals, and other retired senior military leaders calling for smart investments in America’s children. It is a part of Council for a Strong America, the umbrella nonprofit for five membership organizations comprising the unique and powerful voices of retired military, business, law enforcement, faith and sports, working together to prepare young Americans for success in school and in life.
The Alliance for a Healthier Generation, founded by the American Heart Association and the Clinton Foundation, empowers kids to develop lifelong, healthy habits. The Alliance’s Healthy Schools Program helps school and district leaders to create and sustain healthier environments nationwide, including working with more than 2,000 schools in California.
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