Fifth-graders in the four fit for learning schools in the Evergreen School District are more physically fit than their counterparts in the other schools in that district, in Santa Clara County and in the state, according to results from the 2009 state-mandated Physical Fitness Test.

It's too early to draw the conclusion that the fit for learning program, which focuses on healthy nutrition and physical activity, is the only explanation for the Evergreen students' performance on the PFT, said fit for learning coordinator Michelle Mount. But it could be a contributing factor.

"Fit for learning raises awareness and generates conversations about health and wellness," she said. "The students learn that it's important to be healthy and make healthy choices."

Fit for learning, a nationally recognized program, was launched in 2005 by SCCOE to respond to increasing rates of childhood obesity. The program provides a resource guide to help teachers incorporate healthy nutrition and physical education into lessons and activities and helps schools create healthier campuses. A parent and a staff member at each school are trained to become "Champions" to lead fit for learning efforts.

 "We need to go back to those four Evergreen schools and find out what they're doing that is effective and share it with others," Mount said.

The state Physical Fitness Test is given annually to students in grades five, seven and nine and measures six fitness areas: aerobic capacity, body composition, abdominal strength, trunk extension strength and flexibility.  The fifth-graders in Cadwallader, Cedar Grove, Matsumoto and Norwood Creek elementary schools outperformed other student in those fitness areas.

Nearly 52% of fifth-graders in Evergreen's fit for learning schools met all of the six fitness criteria compared to 38% of fifth-graders at the other 11 Evergreen schools; 78% met five of six criteria, compared to 68% at the other schools; and 87% met at least four of the six criteria compared to 80% at the schools not participating in fit for learning.  In schools across the county and state, only 29% of fifth-graders met all six fitness criteria.

The resource guide provides hundreds of ideas for introducing healthy eating habits and physical activities into the classroom. But schools also generate their own enterprises.

 At Matsumoto Elementary School, for example, students were introduced to new fruits and vegetables at a fresh fruit and veggie "tasting" created by the district's food service department.

"We saw a lot of kids trying things they hadn't tried before," Mount said. "We also heard them say, 'This is good. I'm going to eat this again.'"

Date last updated: February 5, 2010