Physical Fitness and Scholastic Success the Focus of New Program at Fuller Normal Advanced Technology Charter School
Greenville, S.C. - October 21, 2009 -
FullerNormalAdvancedTechnologyCharterSchool (Fuller Normal) announced a program today that could revolutionize learning for students and parents at the school. The Physical Activity and Wellness Program, implemented at the start of this school year, will give Fuller Normal students an opportunity to experience the benefits of daily physical fitness, health education and proper nutrition in order to foster their academic achievement.The new project is part of an effort to both reverse the current obesity epidemic among
America's youth and give them a better chance at scholastic success.
Fuller Normal Board Chairman, William Brown, when explaining the impetus behind the program, cites recent studies that show that children who feel better tend to perform better in the classroom. "A small industrial town in
Pennsylvania started a similar program several years ago. They saw the standardized test scores of their students rise from below the state average to 17-percent above that average in reading and 18-percent above it in math. They also saw very positive results in student behavior," Brown commented. "In addition,
New York City's Health Department and Department of Education recently released testing of more than 600,000 school children for fitness. The evidence was overwhelming that physically fit students tend to outscore their peers on academic tests. We recognize the positive impact that health and wellness play in today's educational climate and believe this multifaceted approach to education - focusing on the whole child - will give students at Fuller Normal increased opportunity for success."
In order to ensure the highest degree of success for the Physical Activity and Wellness Program at Fuller Normal, organizers hired two nationally board-certified physical education teachers who boast nearly 50 years of combined teaching experience. These teachers provide all students in all grade levels 45 minutes of physical education five days a week. To further enhance the program, a state of the art fitness center was installed offering 15 stationary bikes, five elliptical machines and a universal weight training station.
In addition to giving students the opportunity to exercise for 45 minutes each school day, Fuller
Normal parents, teachers, staff and their spouses can participate as well. The fitness center will be open for parents, staff, teachers and spouses, free of charge, from
3:30 pm to
9:00 pm, Monday through Friday. Two fitness specialists holding degrees in Health and Exercise Science from
FurmanUniversity will be on hand during the after-school fitness hours of operation.
Bon Secours SaintFrancisHospital is partnering with Fuller Normal two evenings a week to provide health risk appraisals, nutrition education, counseling and behavior modification strategies to help parents and teachers learn, model and maintain healthy lifestyles. Group exercise classes are also offered two evenings per week for participants and tutoring is available from
5:00 pm to
7:00 pm, Monday through Thursday.
Brown says that organizers are trying to meet the many needs of parents and children to give the entire family an opportunity to thrive. "We understand the challenges and time constraints that parents face," Brown said. "We have developed an after-school program that allows students to receive tutoring services from
FurmanUniversity students while parents participate in the Physical Wellness and Activity program. It is important that the students' family members implement and benefit from healthy behaviors. This will allow parents to know that their children are cared for while they take time to care for themselves."
Organizers of the Physical Activity and Wellness Program at Fuller Normal appreciate the importance of a healthy diet in providing an optimal learning environment. As a result, Fuller Normal has partnered with Morrison's, the food service provider for
Bon Secours SaintFrancisHospital, to provide each child with healthy meals that surpass USDA requirements.
In addition to the Physical Activity and Wellness Program, there is also an extended day program for students, aptly named Turning Point Academy. This allows small groups of students the opportunity to work with certified teachers from
3:30 pm to
5:00 pm Monday through Thursday. The focus of Turning Point Academy is to increase student achievement in basic reading and math skills.
Fuller Normal's Physical Activity and Wellness Program is paid for with private contributions from supporters who wish to remain anonymous at this time.
ABOUT FULLER NORMAL ADVANCED TECHNOLOGYCHARTERSCHOOL: FullerNormalAdvancedTechnologyCharterSchool, which offers Kindergarten through eighth grades, is located in downtown
Greenville,
South Carolina's newly revitalized
West End. As a
CharterSchool, Fuller Normal is fully accredited and accountable to both state and local school systems as well as Federal law. However, Fuller Normal is governed by its own Board of Directors comprised of area citizens, business people and parents of students. This self-governing aspect allows the school to make quick, effective changes to meet the students' specific needs. Charter Schools are entitled to public school funding, but may also receive funding from grants, donations, and fund-raising efforts. Fuller Normal's nationally recognized curriculum is delivered to state-of-the art classrooms via the internet and "smart board" technology. Class size is kept very small
