Western Zone Newsletter
Spring 2022 NYS AHPERD
Message from the President, Brianne Blaszak:
Happy Spring fellow Western New Yorkers. This is always an exciting time of the year as we transition into longer days and the closure of another school year. As I reflect back over the last few months, I would like to say Thank You to all of you for attending our Zone Conference. It was a pleasure to meet so many of you in person and to enjoy the many wonderful presentations from so many of you. Our conference would not have been successful without any of you, but especially without our conference committee. Thank you to all of you for your hard work and perseverance over the last few months.
As we wrap up this year, I would like to invite you all to celebrate our zone teachers of the year along with our first Phil Haberstro Community Partner award winner on Monday May 23rd at the Tonawanda Island Launch Club. We will begin the evening at 6:30pm and start the award ceremony at 7pm. Please RSVP via this link https://forms.gle/TtPP4V4DrzmMJjk3A
Thank you to each and every one of you who join us for our professional development, volunteer to be a member of our executive committee, assist us at our conference/socials and for making the Western Zone an amazing network of future, current and past PE/health professionals.
Conference Photos
Keynote Speaker Anthony Carrano & Brianne
Health Presentation
Results of a few attendees giving curling a try
Aquatics - Anne Draves
It is just about that time of year again, the school year is just about ending and we are preparing for summer break. Many of us cannot wait to relax and sit by the pool and enjoy a hot summer day, but for many of our local communities that might not be an option this year. In the aquatic world we are experiencing a lifeguard shortage, and for many of our community pools this means that they will be so understaffed that they will not be able to open with full hours or even open at all. Working as a lifeguard is a great summer job and an opportunity for our students to become active members of the community.
You might be asking yourself what you can do to help? Since we work in the school and are close with many of the students we can create a bridge between the school and the parks and recreation departments. Teachers and administrators can assist their local parks and recreation department to recruit our students that are over 15 years old. We can encourage our students that are over 15 years old to get their lifeguard certification. There are several local organizations that are running lifeguard classes before the summer season starts. Places such as the Town of Tonawanda Aquatic and Fitness Center, The University of Buffalo, Local YMCA’s, and the Jewish Community center offer full certification and recertification classes. By encouraging our older students to take action against this lifeguard shortage we are also assisting our younger students to get active and enjoy swimming on a hot summer day.
Future Professional - Jami Wheeler
Technology - Brain Rosintoski
Technology is more prevalent in the world today as well as our profession. But the question remains, is technology a positive, negative or both? The students spend so much time on devices and social media throughout the day that students’ health is starting to be affected by technology. Many students are addicted to devices. In the past we have talked about using technology in physical education and this can improve our teaching however we want to make sure we are using technology to improve efficiency in instruction as well as improve learning based outcomes. We don’t want to use technology just to use it. Some great examples of technology that are beneficial are music, electronic whistles, smart boards, video screens, iPad, and apps. Using music as a start/stop is a great way to motivate students and doesn’t involve students looking at screens. Motivation is an ongoing issue and there are many apps that can be used to increase motivation.
One of my favorite is the TABATA app. You can set a timer that plays music and beeps after amount of time set. One of the best features is it starts again after a set time. Sometimes as teachers we get long winded and by having the students know exactly how long you need them to listen greatly improves efficiency.
Another set of apps that are very useful for end of year activities and field days is the radar gun app. You can use a simple app where you hit the button on throw, kick, or run and stop it when distance is reached. Students love seeing how fast they can throw, run, or kick and they don’t need to be staring at a screen. Another great thing about this is once you plug in distances students can run the app which gives students who may not be able to participate a reason to be engaged in the lesson or activity.
Team shake is another free app where you can plug students in and get random teams. This can be projected onto the screen so teams can be picked fairly and have everyone grouped in a matter of seconds. This is an example of using technology to improve efficiency.
Using technology like this is like cruise control in the car. It needs to be done but can be automated to give the teacher more time to communicate with students. Overall technology is improving our lives but it’s also becoming a distraction to students as well as adults. We as professionals need to help students put their devices down and model using technology that improves efficiency and academic learning without staring at screens for long periods of time.
Higher Education - Dr. Clancy Seymour
Secondary - Heather Wolf-Rochford
THE BULLDOG CHALLENGE
A few weeks ago at Kenmore East High School the PE teachers realized they were losing 2 teaching spaces for 2 weeks - a large gym and their fitness center. This is usually a yearly occurrence because the gyms get taken for students to take AP and IB exams. The teachers were tasked with coming up with an activity that would suit up to 120 students in a period while using 1 gym. While brainstorming the teachers talked about teamwork, creating a positive culture within the class and having some small sided competitions. Knowing the weather was not conducive to going outside the teachers created The Bulldog Challenge.
The Bulldog Challenge is a unit that was planned for 4 days of team vs team activities where 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners of each activity would receive points. The unit was 5 days, taking the very first day to organize, create teams and explain activities/games. At the end of the challenge the team with the largest point total would win a box of cookies to share!
Students were placed on teams of no more than 10 members and were given an activity packet which explained each activity for the 4 days. Team members were required to fill out a team roster, create a team name and then select the activities that they were to participate in each class. Students were required to compete in at least 1 activity per day - most competed in 2-3. The team/activity packet was the students guide each class as they were given them at the beginning of each class. They were able to organize their team and make substitutions if needed because of absences.
The activities each day were:
Day 1 -
*Scooter Relay (3 students/team)
*Corn Hole/Bean Bag Throw - for points (2 students/team)
*Plank Contest (2 students/team)
*Free Throw - as many in 2 minutes (1 shooter/2 rebounders)
*Iron Cross - hold a 5lb weight in each hand with arms in a T (2 students/team)
Day 2
*Shuttle Run - (2 students/team)
*Balance Beam Challenge -students were given individual 2x4 and had to hold a balance - (2 students/team)
*Frisbee Throw/Target Throw to Kan for points - (2 students/team)
*Frogs Across the Pond - (3 students/team)
https://youtube.com/clip/UgkxfTl-wjWamVmEy4XI05t62x9mJPjaB_iB
*Tennis Ball keep it up - (1 student/team)
Day 3 -
*Volleyball Keep it up - (At least 4 students/team)
*Horse, Gallop and Hay - gallop and gather challenge - (2-3 students/team)
https://youtube.com/shorts/q3-9nprMeDE?feature=share
*Noodle Jump Rope - (3 students /team) - https://youtube.com/clip/Ugkx_BMPK4cHEavaCrbKSSjBgV9neCyqlJkM
*Scarf Throw - https://youtube.com/clip/Ugkxhvz2VYtMzkORSW-GfgZ30QnfdZQW2Ohd
Day 4 -
*Tug of War - (Whole team activity)
*Boom Ball - whole team or 3-4 per team.
Although at first the students were hesitant, and the teachers were unsure of how it would go over - it was a HUGE success. The activity created comradery within the class and created a great buzz about PE class for those 2 weeks!
The following NYS Standards and focal points were covered:
Standard 4 - Applies knowledge of concepts, principles, strategies and tactics related to movement and performance.
Applies positive character traits in physical activity. (NY.S4.1.L1)
Applies the qualities of civility and citizenship in physical activity settings. (NY.S4.2.L1)
Analyzes ethical decisions made in physical activity settings. (NY.S4.3.L1)
Numerous administrators and teachers stopped down to see what the fun was all about! The students and staff are already looking forward to The Bulldog Challenge in the 2022-2023 school year!
Western Zone Information
Email: bblaszak@globalccs.org
Website: https://nysahperd.org/western-zone/
Phone: 315-823-1015
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WesternZoneNYSAHPERD
Twitter: @WZ_NYSAHPERD