Traditionally, teachers have tried to get their students to sit still and learn. Now Bayfield schools are starting on a program to get kids to move - before school, at recess, and in the classroom. The program called the Take 10 Initiative is for grades K-8 and is funded with a Colorado Health Fund grant through the Southwest Colorado Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES).
"We're really excited about this grant," Superintendent Troy Zabel told the school board on Oct. 11. There is a before school 100 Mile Club with a goal for each student to run or walk 100 miles over the school year; and movement in the classroom and at recess, he said. Parents will be able to participate in the 100 Mile Club with their kids.
BOCES representative Cynthia Erickson added, "They are running together as a community, a family.There are community runs that they can get credit for. We want the pre-school to take advantage of the 100 Mile Club. They already have a lot of movement during the day." She said pre-schoolers can do mini miles, one mile of credit for every half mile run.
Zabel said Bayfield is now in the planning phase, with hope to have that done by winter break so activities can start in January. If planning isn't done by then, the activities will start with the 2017-18 school year.
The district is offering full day teacher training on Saturdays, with stipends for participants, he said. "The activities are provided for them. There's an on-line resource for teachers to find other activities" such as simple dances the kids can do. All those activities are designed so kids can do them in a small space, such as standing next to their desk, Zabel said. The teacher training also includes ways to get kids to focus back on their school work after the activities.
At the mid school, the focus will be five minute activity breaks before tests, he said. "It helps them focus and can improve scores. Studies also show that if students move for five minutes every hour, it releases hormones that let them focus," and it can reduce problem behavior.
The last part of the initiative is unstructured play at recess, "so they move instead of standing around talking or doing things that aren't appropriate," Zabel said. The district will get several carts of play equipment, with the carts sized so kids can reach the equipment. The equipment will be chosen by school staff.
He made reference to a social and emotional health component to the initiative. Finance Director Amy Lyons told the Times that wellness is a big part of the grant that's funding the initiative, and social and emotional health are now recognized as an important part of wellness.
In other action on Oct. 11, Zabel introduced the district's new MTSS coordinator, Cori Poitry. MTSS stands for multi-tiered systems of support. The coordinator is a new position approved earlier this year to oversee the district's various intervention activities for students who need some additional help in one or more subjects.
"I'm really excited about this position," Zabel said. "I think we're a step ahead of the whole region. ... One of the things I've recognized is we have really good intentions regarding interventions, we identify the kids who need intervention and just expect teachers will do it."
Lyons told the Times, "It's helping teachers offer what kids need, the different types of intervention."
Poitry said she is working with the gifted/ talented, English language learner (ELL), and special education teachers. Teacher training is an immediate need and could be addressed with webinars, she said. It involves "a paradigm shift" in how teachers plan, and supporting teachers with practices that promote student inclusion.
