The goal of Mesquite Independent School District's Physical Education program is to provide a variety of physical activities and instruction that nurtures a desire in each student for a lifetime of health and fitness. Below are program features that are designed to motivate students to develop a positive attitude towards good health practices.

1. School Health Advisory Council: The MISD School Health Advisory Council (SHAC) is made up of 18 parents, community members, teachers and administrators. The purpose of the SHAC is to be an advocate for healthy students by making recommendations to the school board pertaining to the coordinated school health program. SHAC members provide input to ensure community values are reflected through regularly scheduled meetings. The SHAC meets at least four times each year at the Professional Development Center. All SHAC meetings are open to the public. Click on the link below for more information and to view minutes from previous SHAC meetings and dates of upcoming meetings. Please contact Susan Henderson, Council Co-chair, at 972-882-7413 if you would like to attend a meeting.

RELATED LINKS:
Physical Education
School Health Advisory Council (SHAC)
Special Activities and Events
Staff

2. Indoor Rock Climbing Walls: All MISD elementary schools are equipped with 48' X 8' traverse climbing walls. A.C. New Middle School, Terry Middle School and Horn High School are equipped with 48' X 10' traverse walls. Climbing attracts a wide variety of students, including those who do not normally enjoy traditional physical education offerings. Cooperation, teamwork, problem solving, strength, cardiovascular endurance, and perseverance are just a few benefits these walls bring to our physical education curriculum.

3. Pedometers: Each of our elementary schools has a set of digital pedometers called Digiwalkers. A Digiwalker is a small "pillbox" type device that clips to a students waistband and records and displays the number of steps each student takes during PE class. Pedometers allow students to set personal goals for physical activity and monitor their own progress.

4. Heart Rate Monitoring:  Monitoring heart rate gives students immediate feedback on individual performance during exercise.  MISD Physical Educators show students how to manually check heart rate as well as offer technology for students to monitor heart rate.  Some schools use the group heart rate monitoring system where students wear a chest belt transmitter and individual student heart rates are projected in a grid on the wall.  As students’ heart rates increase, their individual grid changes color so teachers and students can monitor exercise levels.

5. Marathon Kids/Feet Across Mesquite: Elementary students participate in MISD’s district wide walking/running program called Feet Across Mesquite. Students and teachers log walking/running mileage during PE class, during classroom outings and outside of the school day. The school with the most mileage at the end of the year (calculated on a percentage basis of the total school’s population), receives the FEET ACROSS MESQUITE trophy to be displayed and “bragged about” until the next year’s competition.  Marathon Kids is a free statewide program incorporated within Feet Across Mesquite.  Mesquite K-5 students are challenged to run or walk 26.2 miles over six months and eat five servings of fruits and vegetables at least 26 days of each month.  Students and their families are invited to a Marathon Kids Kick-Off celebration at Loos Stadium with 6000 other Dallas area students at the beginning of the program.  A Final Mile Celebration is held at Loos Stadium at the end of the program where students who complete 26.2 miles receive their medals.  All students who complete 26.2 miles receive a Marathon Kids Finisher T-shirt in May.  Go to www.marathonkids.com for more information.

6. Fitnessgram: Fitnessgram is a method of measuring physical fitness levels of students. Students fitness levels are measured in several areas: aerobic capacity; body composition; and muscular strength, endurance and flexibility. The Fitnessgram software program was developed by The Cooper Clinic and compiles individual results for each student so he/she can compare their fitness levels from year to year.  Fitnessgram is administered to all students in grades 3-12 annually.  The test is a criterion-referenced test that assesses health related fitness.  Fitnessgram tells students if they are in “healthy fitness zones” for each area of fitness so they can set individual goals and strive to maintain or improve.  All physical education students receive a printed Fitnessgram report card each year.

7. Coordinated Approach to Child Health (CATCH):  All Texas school districts are required to implement a Coordinated School Health Plan.  MISD recognizes that a healthy student is a better learner and adopted the CATCH program to aid in achieving coordinated school health. The goal of CATCH is to help schools, children and families adopt healthy eating and physical activity habits. The CATCH Program has four components: a classroom health component, a physical education component, a food service component and family/home component.  Each K-8 campus has its own CATCH Committee that plans yearly goals for coordinated school health and evaluates progress.  Contact your schools physical education teacher if you would like to serve.

8.  Family Fitness Nights:  Schools offer family fitness nights to bring together students and families in the school setting to explore healthy living concepts focused on fitness and nutrition in a fun, social way.

9.  Team ActiveLife School Websites:  Each K-8 Mesquite ISD school has its own ActiveLife website.  It allows schools to share healthy lifestyles with the community.  P.E. teachers can post blogs, upcoming events, pictures and videos so parents and the entire community can follow what the school is doing to promote coordinated school health.  Go to www.activelifehq.org to sign up and search for your school to become “a fan”.