The Riverhead School District will be the recipient of special recognition for the successful first year implementation of “Project Fit” in a ceremony to be held at 1:15 Wednesday, at the Pulaski Middle School. County Executive Steve Bellone, Legislator Al Krupski and Dr. Linda Mermelstein, the Chief Deputy Commissioner of Health Services for the Department of Health, are scheduled to attend.
Childhood obesity has tripled since 1980 according to the U.S. Surgeon Generals’ Report. To counter this alarming trend, Project Fit America (PFA) a nonprofit organization that donates fully funded fitness programs to schools, was integrated into the Riverhead School Districts' K-6 curriculum for the 2013-14 school year.
PFA has given more than 870 grants to schools in 300 cities and 43 states across America since 1990. The program includes state-of-the-art fitness equipment specifically designed to address the areas where children fail fitness tests; indoor mobile fitness equipment; a dynamic curriculum with games and activities kids can play on the PFA outdoor and indoor equipment; and in-class instruction on subjects such as smoking intervention and nutrition. PFA also provides support to the schools for two years with training on site.
Riverhead was the first school district in New York State to be chosen for the program. Research shows that not only is physical education important for a child's physical development, it actually helps kids read and learn math. A healthy active child is a better learner," said Stacey Cook, PFA Executive Director.
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