Mayor Rybak to Kick-off School Fitness Program
21,000 students to participate in Presidential Active Lifestyle Award Challenge
NEWS RELEASE
February 2, 2006
Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak tomorrow will kick-off the Presidential Active Lifestyle Award Challenge that will involve over 21,000 Minneapolis students in physical fitness activities. A kick-off gathering will be held at Marcy Open School, 415 4th Avenue S.E. on Friday, Feb. 3, at 1:45 p.m. Mayor Rybak will be joined by representatives from General Mills, the University of Minnesota, and Minneapolis Public Schools, who are all supporting the effort.
The Presidential Active Lifestyle Award Challenge is a six-week fitness program that encourages 2nd-8th grade students to reach the goal of one hour of physical activity, five days a week. This is a daily cumulative total and includes physical education classes, sports, recess, walking, etc. This year’s challenge will run February 6-March 17 in all Minneapolis K-5, K-8, and Middle School classes.
Through the efforts of Achieve!Minneapolis, the General Mills Foundation has donated nearly $250,000 in the past four years to support the school district’s efforts in the presidential challenge. As a result of this generosity, each student participating in the challenge will receive a water bottle, logo pencil, activity log book, and a yellow wrist band with the words “I am a champion.” Students who reach their goal will receive a PALA badge and certificate. Participating teachers and staff will receive an instructional book along with a pedometer.
Before a large crowd of educators, parents, and elected officials at Roosevelt High School earlier this week, Mayor Rybak discussed a series of proposed efforts to improve city schools and youth programs in Minneapolis. One of the four main goals of the Mayor’s “Next Generation Agenda” was to ensure that youth are healthy and live in a healthy environment. “In a country facing a childhood obesity epidemic, in a city facing gaping health disparities, we have to do more to set better values about our kids health,” Rybak said.
What:
|
Presidential Active Lifestyle Award Challenge Kick-off
|
When:
|
Friday, February 3, at 1:45 p.m.
|
Where:
|
Marcy Open School, 415 4th Avenue S.E., Minneapolis
|
|