MONROE - The Monroe School District is planning on throwing its hat in the ring for a chance at landing a three-year grant for $100,000 to $750,000.
Federal Carol M. White Physical Education Foundation (PEP) grants are given to school districts across the country to enhance physical education programs as well as provide equipment and support teacher training education. Each year, grants of $100,000 to $750,000 are given to school districts.
John Ditter, a physical education teacher at Monroe High School, has been working on setting up a vision for the grant, with help from 20 PEP grant committee members representing the middle school, elementary schools, the Green County YMCA, Monroe Parks and Rec, and the Monroe community. Ditter said the goals are to develop students with lifelong fitness mindsets and to have them learn skills and knowledge to help them set up a personal fitness program that incorporates nutrition and healthy choices.
"It's not just playing games," Ditter said of P.E. curriculum. "It's about developing fitness patrons."
The committee is completing the early work on the grant, but the district may entrust the writing of the 25-page narrative of the grant to Focused Fitness - a private company that offers P.E. curriculum and grant writing resources to various school districts. Focused Fitness has taken the lead in writing PEP grants for Whitewater and Wausau school districts.
"This is a huge opportunity," Ditter said. "I think (Focused Fitness) is key to get it off the ground if we want it to have some traction."
In 2012, 56 school districts across the state received $27 million in PEP grant funding. District-wide, Ditter said the committee has focused on nutritional snacks, a healthy eating/cooking class, nutrition education, school garden and organic and non-organic foods.
At the high school and middle school levels, the district may consider brain breaks during testing days. The brain breaks would give students fitness opportunities between taking state tests. The wellness opportunities being considered are zumba, biometric screening, power walking, strength and conditioning and fitness centers.
Ditter said he would like to use pedometers with students and have them track the number of steps they take in a day with an iPad. Ditter said he also plans to have student-led fitness and training classes.
"Community partnerships are one of our goals to get everyone on board," he said.
The Monroe Clinic could have physicians come into classes for lessons on asthma education, fitness and wellness, biometrics, injury prevention and nutrition education. The YMCA could offer after school programs and swimming lessons. The Monroe Park and Rec Department is considering a Fab 5 after school program, family night fitness, and wellness and nutrition nights.
If the district received the grant, they would have to provide 10 percent matching grants in the first year and 25 percent in the second and third years. If the district receives a PEP grant, they will also be required to complete testing and data collection that includes quantitative and qualitative data.
Dan Keyser, the district's director of curriculum and instruction, said Focused Fitness would handle all of the reports and submit them so the district didn't lose it's federal grant.
Federal Carol M. White Physical Education Foundation (PEP) grants are given to school districts across the country to enhance physical education programs as well as provide equipment and support teacher training education. Each year, grants of $100,000 to $750,000 are given to school districts.
John Ditter, a physical education teacher at Monroe High School, has been working on setting up a vision for the grant, with help from 20 PEP grant committee members representing the middle school, elementary schools, the Green County YMCA, Monroe Parks and Rec, and the Monroe community. Ditter said the goals are to develop students with lifelong fitness mindsets and to have them learn skills and knowledge to help them set up a personal fitness program that incorporates nutrition and healthy choices.
"It's not just playing games," Ditter said of P.E. curriculum. "It's about developing fitness patrons."
The committee is completing the early work on the grant, but the district may entrust the writing of the 25-page narrative of the grant to Focused Fitness - a private company that offers P.E. curriculum and grant writing resources to various school districts. Focused Fitness has taken the lead in writing PEP grants for Whitewater and Wausau school districts.
"This is a huge opportunity," Ditter said. "I think (Focused Fitness) is key to get it off the ground if we want it to have some traction."
In 2012, 56 school districts across the state received $27 million in PEP grant funding. District-wide, Ditter said the committee has focused on nutritional snacks, a healthy eating/cooking class, nutrition education, school garden and organic and non-organic foods.
At the high school and middle school levels, the district may consider brain breaks during testing days. The brain breaks would give students fitness opportunities between taking state tests. The wellness opportunities being considered are zumba, biometric screening, power walking, strength and conditioning and fitness centers.
Ditter said he would like to use pedometers with students and have them track the number of steps they take in a day with an iPad. Ditter said he also plans to have student-led fitness and training classes.
"Community partnerships are one of our goals to get everyone on board," he said.
The Monroe Clinic could have physicians come into classes for lessons on asthma education, fitness and wellness, biometrics, injury prevention and nutrition education. The YMCA could offer after school programs and swimming lessons. The Monroe Park and Rec Department is considering a Fab 5 after school program, family night fitness, and wellness and nutrition nights.
If the district received the grant, they would have to provide 10 percent matching grants in the first year and 25 percent in the second and third years. If the district receives a PEP grant, they will also be required to complete testing and data collection that includes quantitative and qualitative data.
Dan Keyser, the district's director of curriculum and instruction, said Focused Fitness would handle all of the reports and submit them so the district didn't lose it's federal grant.