The Cumberland School District is taking steps to increase physical activity for students.  This movement started back in 2004 when the school was awarded the Carol White Pep Grant. This program provides grants to initiate, expand, and improve physical education programs for K–12 students in order to help them make progress toward meeting state standards for physical education.  With a state of the art fitness center, climbing walls, inflatable jumping castle, slide and obstacle course – not to mention the new Dance Revolution equipment, Phy Ed is one of the favorite classes for most students.

Healthier Cumberland partnered with the Cumberland Elementary School in February 2007 to start the "Feeling Good Mileage Club". The goal of this program was to teach children the importance and pleasure of walking and regular physical activity.  Students had the option to walk (or run) during each recess period.  They received tokens for every mile completed and when significant mileage levels were achieved. 

Many Cumberland students are participating in the Healthier Cumberland Plug In to Fitness community challenge this fall by tracking both their physical activity and TV viewing time every day for six weeks.  Prizes will be awarded at the end of the challenge, including a Nintendo Wii system – a fun, high tech way to “plug in to fitness.”  Students are also teaching each other to have fun and stay fit.  National Honor Society students and Healthier Cumberland volunteers are leading Elementary and Middle School students in a variety of fitness activities on Friday mornings throughout the fall semester.  Activities include football relays, parachute games, and a walking challenge. 

Third graders at Cumberland Elementary school will try to “Walk Around the World” this year.  During health times and alternate phy. ed days, the third grade teachers are planning to take their students on walks.  They will keep track of how far the students walk and keep a running total of the miles.  Their hope is to visit countries all around the globe and expand the students’ geographical knowledge.

What can parents do?

Start at home by:

• Giving gifts that promote physical activity, such as balls, jump ropes, bats and gloves, bikes, ice skates, skis, sport lessons.
• Designating indoor areas for physical activity (places where your child knows it is okay to jump, run, and tumble).
• Using physical activity as a reward – take the family to the playground, on a bike outing, to free skate.
• Turning off the TV.
• Walking – for fun, to the store, from the back of the parking lot.
• Setting an example by being physically active and having fun.

Favorite Physical Activity Websites