Grades are entered! Students have four grades at this time: 1 quiz, 1 final test, and 2 fit testing grades. The leadership team helped to facilitate fitness testing; their scores are based on that.
Final Test: Students had the opportunity to take a practice final an unlimited number of times. Once they achieved at least an 80% or higher, and felt ready, they took the test. Most students did extremely well on this test.
Fitness Testing: The week of 3/26 we completed fitness testing; students were responsible for 7 tests, including one run test (students selected the run test they preferred). Students have two grades: one for completion/effort and one for online entry of fitness tests and scores. Students were NOT graded on their athletic ability. Students were expected to properly perform the 7 tests and give full effort to the testing process. This was the basis for assessment.
The purpose of fitness testing in the MMS PE program is to give students an idea of where their current fitness level is at (Healthy Fitness Zone OR Needs Improvement) so they can make informed choices to improve their personal level of fitness if they so desire. One of the many scores students are asked to determine is BMI (Body Mass Index). To do this, students needed to know their height and weight. We provided tools to take these measurements if students did not already know them. We did not weigh students. We provided a scale for this measurement and allowed students to take their own weight. We performed a height measurement for students who wished to have that done.
It is important to remember that BMI is based solely on height and weight and does not take into account the amount of muscle a person may have. For example, my son falls into the overweight category on a BMI chart based on his height and weight. His test results for every other test we do would be in a healthy fitness zone and his body fat percentage is in a healthy fitness zone. He is a high school athlete who is strong and healthy. I am not worried about his BMI. Just as there are students with an "overweight" or higher BMI who find that they fall into a healthy fitness zone on most (or all) of their fitness tests, there are students whose BMI is in a healthy fitness zone but they are unable to achieve the healthy fitness zone on most (or all) of their fitness tests. Weight is NOT the measure of health! We work hard to send this message to students in PE. Please help us to reinforce this at home. Healthy is not one-size-fits-all. Healthy looks different on every body!
Thank you for your continued support. We sincerely appreciate it!
Patrick Miller
