Several years ago, Madison Avenue Elementary was awarded a PEP grant that provided our school the opportunity to purchase new equipment for perceptual motor work, manipulative skills, cardiovascular conditioning and fitness testing. This grant also provided for training in implementing the PE4LIFE program.

The PE4LIFE program stresses fitness activities that can be performed from the age of 5 to possibly 95 years of age. This program includes activities that help with learning teamwork, increasing listening skills, increasing physical activity and increasing cardiovascular activity. Different fitness games or units are introduced every one to two weeks. Some of the activities the children learn during these units include scarf juggling, jumping rope, studies on health and nutrition, proper stretching techniques and tying shoes.

Fitness testing is completed twice a year for all 1st and 2nd graders. This test involves a ½ mile run/walk, sit and reach test for flexibility, and calculating the child’s body mass index.