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Dear VAHPERD members,
I would like to take this opportunity to Thank You for being an
important part of VAHPERD and Thank You for all that you do for our
profession. All Virginians are experiencing difficult financial times in
education, healthcare, home ownership, jobs, and many other areas. Our
students need us now more than ever. Teachers may be the only
"constant" in our students' lives. We represent security,
care, understanding, thoughtfulness, and the difference in their health
and education. Our leadership and success as educators will make a
difference in their future. One of the most successful ways to ensure
their future will be there is to be advocates for the best health and
physical education. Advocacy starts at the grass roots level in our
schools and school boards, city and county government, state and
national government. I know this is a difficult time to ask you to be
advocates for our students when some of our school systems are cutting
PE programs and some of our colleagues are losing their jobs. But these
issues make it more vital for us to step up to the plate for our
students and profession.
VAHPERD participated in the Sporting Goods Manufacturing
Association's National Health Day on Capitol Hill to advocate for
Physical Education, PEP Grants, and recess. These programs will also
help alleviate Childhood Obesity. Kim Clancy and I were able to meet
with Senators and Congressional leaders to share success stories of VA
school systems that have been fortunate to have PEP grants. Henrico,
Fairfax, and Alexandria participated in the "PEP Demo" on
Capitol Hill to highlight quality HPE programs. Teachers taught mini
lessons in physical fitness, nutrition and crossing the curriculum with
technology and best practices. Students participated enthusiastically
and were great representatives of healthy andactive students learning
quality physical education. But more school systems need to receive PEP
grants. Only 10% of "PEP" grant applications are funded. We
need to inform our VA Senators and Congressional Representatives of the
importance of PEP. Senator Mark Warner: http://
www.warner.senate.gov/public/ (202)-224-6295; Senator Jim Webb:
http://webb.senate.gov/ (202)-228-6363 In January we had over 60
participants learning advocacy strategies and opportunities for HPE
funding at our annual VAHPERD Leadership Development Conference. Special
THANKS to Megan Wolfe, AAHPERD Legislative representative for teaching
"Advocacy 101". Mark Brandenburger and Kim Clancy also shared
advocacy tips and pointers and success stories that can be replicated.
Alison Spencer from ANTHEM Health Insurance introduced a RADIO DISNEY
grant opportunity for elementary teachers to provide extracurricular
physical activity for their students (Vanessa Wigand will send out info
in a Superintendent's Letter in September for HPE teachers to
participate in this program). Jon Lugbill (Richmond Sportsbackers) also
shared info for grant funding opportunities to provide physical
education programs, similar to the SHIPP program in Wmsbg-James City
County (Jeannie Trainum). Heather Board, VDH, is also providing
mini-grants for bicycle programs. Please check out our grants program on
our VAHPERD website. Walk 4 Life has also partnered with VAHPERD to
award a trip to AAHPERD next year. Mark Luckingbill (ING) and
VAHPERD's Chad Triolet "presented" at the AAHPERD
National Convention sharing ideas for running programs and grant
opportunities. ING has launched a new awards program that will provide
(60) $2,000 grants to schools that desire to establish a school-based
running program or expand an existing one. ING is expanding its efforts
to help fight childhood obesity and introduce kids to the benefits of
running, a habit of physical fitness and healthy lifestyle choices
through the ING Run For Something Better School Awards Program in
partnership with the National Association for Sport and Physical
Education (NASPE). Go to: www.ing/us. Also, check out Michelle
Obama's "Let's Move" website for ideas, programs and
funding. Governor McDonnell's wife, Maureen McDonnell, will be the
Honorary Chair for the "Weight of the State" Childhood Obesity
convention in Richmond on May 17th-18th. This will be another
opportunity for VAHPERD to advocate for quality health and physical
education. There are a lot of grant opportunities, mentors, and programs
that want to help our profession. Please take advantage.
VAHPERD leadership teams have "reached out" to those in
need through education and mini workshops. Special THANKS to Terry
Gooding (OHPEP), Rodney Williams, and other VAHPERD members for
"presenting" and sharing ideas, equipment, and lesson plans.
We have also been preparing for our convention in VA Beach at the
Founders Inn: November 12-14, 2010. We are using the feedback from last
year's convention to make this convention "the best"! We
have a lot of great state and national presenters, "corporate
partners" and vendors that will enhance our HPE curriculum,
programs and extra curricular activities. I have a few suggestions for
you to "pay it forward" for our profession: write articles for
the Virginia Journal, share lesson plans, photos and videos for our
VAHPERD website, talk to parents, school boards, local & state
government leaders, and get involved in VAHPERD leadership. If you have
skills and abilities, and I know you do, reach out to others and share
those gifts. If you are in need of help, reach out to your professional
organization. What can we do to help? Thanks again for your support. I
look forward to seeing you in November! Remember, the future of VAHPERD
is in your hands!
Sincerely, Vicki