BOONE, N.C. — Local kindergartners through middle schoolers will once again have the opportunity to flex their physical — as well as social — muscles through Appalachian State University’s 2018–19 Home School Physical Education (PE) Program. Additionally, two new components of the program will allow pre-K children and parents of children in the Home School PE Program to be active as well.

Classes begin Sept. 11 and will meet every Tuesday and Thursday from 1–1:50 p.m. The annual cost for the program, which is designed for children ages 3–12 and is held on Appalachian’s campus, is $30 per child.

The Home School PE Program is part of the Beaver College of Health Sciences’ health and physical education, K-12 degree program at Appalachian and is overseen by Dr. Brooke Towner, lecturer in the college’s Department of Recreation Management and Physical Education. She has many years of experience working with children in both academic and recreational settings.

“Regular participation in physical education classes can provide significant benefits for children in all the developmental stages of life,” Towner said. “Some of the amazing benefits students can experience through this quality physical education experience are physical improvements in physical fitness and fundamental motor skills, mental improvements in confidence and well-being, and behavioral improvements in attention and interacting with peers.”

The Home School PE Program uses the innovative SPARK (Sports, Play, and Active Recreation for Kids) physical education curriculum, which has been shown in a variety of research studies to improve students’ motor skills and fitness, and to be enjoyable for students.

According to its website, SPARK “strives to improve the health of children, adolescents, and adults by disseminating evidence-based Physical Education, After School, Early Childhood, and Safe and Healthy Students programs to teachers and recreation leaders serving Pre-K through 12th grade students.”

This year, two additional physical activity programs will be offered in association with the Home School PE Program:

• The Play Pen — Play Pen activities are designed for children ages 3 and 4 and will be structured using the SPARK early childhood curriculum. The curriculum is designed to provide children with high activity, including academically integrated, enjoyable movement opportunities that foster social and motor development.
• The Parent Pack: Parents Walking Program — Parents are encouraged to be active, too, while their children are involved in the Home School PE program. This parent-centered physical activity program will consist of a structured walking program led by a junior-level health and physical education major at Appalachian. During the walks, participants will have the opportunity to discuss various physical activities and health topics with these student leaders.

For more information about the Home School PE program, contact Dr. Benjamin Sibley at sibleyba@appstate.edu or 828-262-6300, and/or Towner at townerbc@appstate.edu.

Home School Physical Education (PE) Program

The Home School PE Program is part of the Beaver College of Health Sciences’ health and physical education, K-12 degree program at Appalachian.

The program uses the innovative SPARK (Sports, Play, and Active Recreation for Kids) physical education curriculum, which has been shown in a variety of research studies to improve students’ motor skills and fitness, and to be enjoyable for students.

Learn more

About the Beaver College of Health Sciences

Appalachian State University’s Beaver College of Health Sciences (BCHS), opened in 2010, is transforming the health and quality of life for the communities it serves through interprofessional collaboration and innovation in teaching, scholarship, service and clinical outreach. The college enrolls more than 3,600 students and offers 10 undergraduate degree programs, nine graduate degree programs and four certificates across six departments: Nursing, Nutrition and Health Care Management, Public Health and Exercise Science, Recreation Management and Physical Education, Rehabilitation Sciences, and Social Work. The college’s academic programs are located in the Holmes Convocation Center on App State’s main campus and the Levine Hall of Health Sciences, a state-of-the-art, 203,000-square-foot facility that is the cornerstone of Boone’s Wellness District. In addition, the college supports the Appalachian Institute for Health and Wellness and has collaborative partnerships with the Wake Forest University School of Medicine’s Physician Assistant Program, UNC Health Appalachian and numerous other health agencies. Learn more at https://healthsciences.appstate.edu.

About the Department of Recreation Management and Physical Education

The Department of Recreation Management and Physical Education in Appalachian State University’s Beaver College of Health Sciences is an innovative, diverse and forward-thinking academic unit consisting of two undergraduate programs. The recreation management program prepares students for careers as professionals in three concentrations: commercial recreation and tourism management, outdoor experiential education, and recreation and park management. The health and physical education program prepares students for careers as K-12 health and physical educators, school-based activity directors and coaches. Learn more at https://rmpe.appstate.edu.

About Appalachian State University

As a premier public institution, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives. App State is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System, with a national reputation for innovative teaching and opening access to a high-quality, affordable education for all. The university enrolls more than 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and 80 graduate majors at its Boone and Hickory campuses and through App State Online. Learn more at https://www.appstate.edu.

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