UIL SUCCESS
TRAINERS
pg. 5
CUBA pg. 7
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HILIFE 2305 East Main, League City, TX 77573
VOLUME 82
April 2008
ISSUE 6
Myths about the FITNESSGRAM debunked Chelsea Huebner
During the eightieth legislative session, the U.S Senate passed Senate Bill 530. This bill states that all students in grades 3-12 must be tested for physical fitness once a year, regardless of enrollment in a physical education class or not. Each testing school must compile the results into a summary, not containing individual student names, and organize the data according to specific categories as designated by the commissioner. Then, the school must send the summary to the Texas Education Agency, TEA. The agency analyzes the results and looks for correlation between the outcome and
academic achievement, school attendance, student obesity, disciplinary problems, and school meal programs. The agency also sends their findings to the School Health Advisory Committee. In Texas, the TEA has decided to use the FITNESSGRAM program to conduct their testing. The FITNESSGRAM is a program created over twenty years ago b y the Cooper Institute. According to fitnessgram.net the FITNESSGRAM program is a “health-related fitness assessment [that uses] criterion-referenced standards, called Healthy Fitness Zones, to determine students’ fitness levels based on what is optimal for good health.” The FITNESSGRAM offers different options to assess aerobic capacity, body composition, endurance, muscular strength, and flexibility. To test for aerobic capacity schools can choose between the PACER test, the one-mile run/walk, or the walk test. The school may choose either percent body fat (calculated from the triceps and the calf skin folds) or Body Mass Index (calculated from height and weight) to test for body composition. Assessing for muscular strength, endurance, and flexibility, a school tests using the curl up, trunk lift, and then
push up, modified pull up, or flexed arm hang, and back-saver, sit-and-reach, or the shoulder stretch. Once testing is completed, the FITNESSGRAM program produces a report for each student and a special report for parents. This report explains the student’s results and gives fitness suggestions to encourage the student to get into their “healthy fitness zone.” With physical education waivers and other on campus programs, there are many students who are not enrolled in a physical education class. These students must still be tested. While the large number of these students makes testing more difficult, the TEA allows the use of volunteers. These volunteers must be trained and approved by the specific district. The district also has the authority to determine who is not physically capable to take the FITNESSGRAM test. For example, those students who suffer from asthma are not capable to participate in the running portion of the test. Also, students who have a temporary medical condition, such as a broken arm, will be tested at a later date. According to fitnessgram.net, the FITNESSGRAM test measures good health, not athletic ability. The FITNESSGRAM report is to encourage better overall health, because it is easily understood
and offers individualized suggestions. The FITNESSGRAM test cannot be used as a grade. It is only to help the teacher, the student, and the student’s parents or guardian determine the student’s overall health. The results of the FITNESSGRAM will not be posted or made public. Once the student’s results are sent off to the state, the students name is removed from their results. The student’s scores will not be compared in any way. They are simply based on Healthy Fitness Zones, previously determined after twenty-five years of research. The FITNESSGRAM test is designed to help students become physically fit and healthy, not to make students feel too fat or too skinny. Before the end of the 20072008 school year, all schools in Texas must conduct the FITNESSGRAM testing, as according to Senate Bill 530. Photos by Stephanie Haechten
After eight district titles...
Creek golfers are still under par Megan McKisson
For eight years, Creek has had a longstanding tradition of golfing excellence. At this year’s District 24-5A championship, the team proved their skills once again with a fierce lead of 593. The team’s success ranked Creek as the number-one district champs yet again. Placing behind Creek was Clear Brook High School, with a final score of 634, and Clear Lake High School, with a final score of 643. Creek’s players were successful in the individual category as well. Juniors Will Dusenbury and Curtis Donahoe tied for first place with a score of 148. Dusenbury was declared first-place winner after a playoff game to determine the boys’ ranks. “I played well enough to win,” said Dusenbury. Other members of the team ranked as well, including Blake Wilson, 3rd, John Becker, 4th, Tommy Henshaw, 5th, and a tie for 6th place between R.D. Dusenbury and Travis Dennis.
Attention, PleasE!! Golf Boys left to right: Travis Dennis, Tommy Henshaw, Will Dusenbury, Blake Wilson, Curtis Donahoe, John Becker, R.D. Dusenbury Photo courtesy of Coach McWhorter
“I am thrilled with Curtis’ participation in golf. Golf promotes good sportsmanship, integrity, and hard work. I was very proud of his performance at district and so pleased his hard work paid off. All the Creek golfers performed well and with continued hard work and focus over the next week and a half should provide them with the
opportunity to perform well at regional play.” said Mrs. Donahoe Coach Glen McWhorter will be taking the varsity first team to regionals as well as medalists Henshaw and Dennis. The golf regional championship will be held on April 21 and 22.
The academic calendar for all high school campuses in CCISD has ben changed. The late arrival day that was scheduled for May 8 has been cancelled due to a conflict caused by AP testing. AP students have been preparing for these tests all year. AP testing gives students the opportunity to earn college credit for that class. Because AP testing begins at 8 A.M., in accordance to security procedure, the late arrival day was cancelled. All high schools in CCISD will be on a regular bell schedule on Thursday, May 8.