COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

P.O. BOX 2120

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA 23218-2120

SUPTS. MEMO NO. 87

April 11, 2008

INFORMATIONAL

TO:	Division Superintendents
FROM:	Billy K. Cannaday, Jr. Superintendent of Public Instruction
SUBJECT:	Virginia Health and Physical Activity Institute, July 21-24, 2008, James Madison University

The Virginia Departments of Health and Education and the Virginia Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance extend an invitation to all administrators and teachers to participate in the 2008 Health and Physical Activity Institute. The institute theme this year is “Healthy Kids, Healthy Virginia.” The institute is scheduled for July 21-24, 2008, at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia.

This high-quality staff development provides opportunities for sharing effective teaching and learning practices that improve the health and educational performance of children through better nutrition and physical activity instruction in Virginia’s schools.

The 2008 institute will feature several nationally acclaimed educators. A variety of concurrent sessions will also be offered that will focus on nutrition, technology, fitness, dance, curriculum resources, standards-based assessment, and differentiated instruction for special needs students.

In addition to the highlighted keynote and concurrent sessions, there are several special events that require early arrivals on Sunday, July 20, 2008.

The Bicycle Education Certification Course for teachers will be offered again this year. This 12-hour Bike Smart Virginia workshop covers types of bikes, helmets, gears and shifting basics, bike maintenance, and K-12 instructional resources.

A Heart Saver CPR in Schools Class will provide 25 teachers with the skills and instructional resources to take this curriculum back to their middle and high schools.

Virginia Commonwealth University will offer a three-credit health and physical education graduate course, and James Madison University will offer a three-credit Technology in Health and Physical Education course (KIN 511).

The CDC Physical Education Curriculum Analysis Tool (PECAT) Workshop will help school divisions analyze their physical education standards-based curriculum and enhance existing curricula to deliver quality physical education in Virginia schools.

National Archery in Schools Program Instructor Course (NASP) is an 8-hour Basic Archery Instructor certification course sponsored by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries Outdoor Education Program. The National Archery in the Schools Program is designed to teach students in grade 4 through 12 international-style target archery concepts, and covers archery history, safety, technique, equipment, mental concentration, and core strengthening physical fitness skills. Schools with two NASP-certified teachers will be eligible to receive a class set of NASP equipment. For more information about the course and the equipment, please go to http://www.nasparchery.com/activea.asp.

Registration information for the Health and Physical Activity Institute and additional information about the special events is available online at http://www.jmu.edu/kinesiology/hpainstitute/.

If you need additional information about the 2008 Health and Physical Activity Institute, please contact Vanessa Wigand, principal specialist for health education, physical education, and driver education, Office of Middle and High School Instruction, by e-mail at Vanessa.Wigand@doe.virginia.gov or by telephone at (804) 225-3300; or Dr. Jacqueline Williams, professor, James Madison University, by e-mail at williaja@jmu.edu or by telephone at (540) 568-6957.

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