Project Fit America

In the spring of 2004 I received word that Sierra Vista had received a Project Fit America grant. Project Fit America (PFA) is a national non-profit charity organized for the sole purpose of donating to schools, grade K-12, fully funded cardiovascular health and fitness programming. The majority of sponsors of Project Fit America are hospitals. Presbyterian Hospital is the hospital that sponsored PFA at Sierra Vista. Project Fit America has been working with schools for the last thirteen years to implement their health and fitness curriculum. The goal and driving purpose of the program is to improve the fitness testing levels of children and to teach lifelong fitness skills. This is accomplished through educational programs and equipment, which allow schools to successfully teach fitness education year after year. I, along with the help of Ms. Jaramillo and our staff prepared to receive the grant which included having outdoor workout equipment installed. Many details were addressed. We had an opening day kick off in September 2004. Many of our civic leaders as well as a representative from Senator Tom Udall's office attended. Representatives from Presbyterian Hospital and Cardinal Health were also present. A letter from Mayor Martin Chavez praised our efforts. Radio Disney, Stanley from the Scorpions hockey team and Orbit from the Isotopes Baseball team established the excitement for our children and staff.

Sierra Vista Elementary serves as a regional model and host demonstration site for New Mexico.

Our school Principal Ms. Jaramillo is a wonderful advocate for health and fitness.
She gives tremendous support to the Physical Education program and intramural activities.
New Mexico Scorpions mascot "Stanley" and Albuquerque Isotopes mascot "Orbit" built excitement and fun for the children and adults during the Opening Day Kickoff and Dedication of the Project Fit America Equipment.

           Permanent outdoor fitness equipment was donated to our school and installed by Intel Employees who volunteered their time.
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 Albuquerque Isotopes mascot "Orbit" demonstrates his athletic prowess on the parallel bars.  One of our PTA Executives Assists with setting up.

 

Cardinal Health and Project Fit America Fitness Challenge

The Cardinal Challenge is a school-based fitness and nutrition competition developed by the VHA Health Foundation and underwritten by the Cardinal Health Foundation. The program linked to local community hospitals, was implemented at five sites Sierra was the only elementary school) across the country utilizing the Project Fit America educational curriculum, state-of-the art fitness equipment, and the VHA Health Foundation's nutrition education program
"Type 2 - We're On to you!"
The Challenge was for each school to reach the highest fitness scores and student self-reported behavior scores possible in the 2004 fall semester. The school with the highest scores was designated the winner of the "Cardinal Health Challenge" and receive $1000.00 of physical activity equipment.
Local staff from the Presbyterian Healthplex, with support from the VHA Health Foundation, assessed the student’s fitness and nutritional levels and behaviors in students by administering and scoring student self report pre and post tests. Staff from the Presbyterian Healthplex also conducted the nutrition component with all of the fourth and fifth grade students.

Sierra Vista did not win the challenge. However, the Cardinal Health personnel were so impressed with our effort and results, that they awarded $250.00 to our school. The Presbyterian staff also believed that our students showed exemplary attitude and improvement. They presented a $750.00 check to Sierra Vista.