CASS wins national physical education award

NEWS RELEASE

CENTRAL ALGOMA SECONDARY SCHOOL

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Central Algoma Secondary School receives National Award for Quality Physical Education

Desbarats, Ontario -– Central Algoma Secondary School has won a National Award in recognition for their Quality Physical Education program. The Canadian Association for Health Physical Education Recreation and Dance (CAHPERD) has acknowledged that CASS, its teachers, and students are excellent role models for all other Canadian schools, by awarding them with the National Secondary School Recognition Award- Secondary Level.

CASS is leading the advocacy initiative for the physical education of all Canadian children. Research from leading national and international health and physical education associations and experts confirms that our children need a quality physical education program in order to enjoy healthy, active and productive lives. UNESCO goes as far as saying that quality physical education is a basic right of every child.

Quality physical education provides children with the opportunity to develop the knowledge, skills, attitudes and habits they need in order to be physically active and to enjoy healthy, active, and productive lives now and in the future.

Over the last decade or more, there has been a significant decline in the quality and quantity of school physical education being offered to our children. Most schools in Canada are not providing the recommended national standard of 150 minutes per week of physical education, or even the minimum requirements as set out by their own provincial curricula.

This school year, only 850 schools applied and qualified for an award out of over 15,000 schools across Canada. CAHPERD congratulates CASS for its leadership in providing Quality Physical Education programs to its students.

THE DEFINITION

Quality Physical Education (QPE) is a well planned physical education program that offers a variety of learning opportunities and is taught by qualified and enthusiastic teachers on a regular basis throughout the school year. A QPE program includes curricular instruction for a minimum of 30 minutes at least three out of five days per week, as well as interscholastic school sport programs, school wide events, and intramural activities where all students have the opportunity to participate.

AWARD LEVELS

Diamond: provides all students with Quality Daily Physical Education (QDPE) for a minimum of 150 minutes per week. Platinum: provides all students with QPE three to four times a week, for a minimum of 150 minutes.

Gold: provides all students with QPE three to four times a week, for a minimum of 100 minutes.

Secondary-For providing students with compulsory Quality Physical Education courses that are exceptional and enhanced by leadership opportunities and intramural activities.

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