Teachers get involved in Year of Physical Activity
More than 300 teachers from primary and secondary schools across Brisbane are meeting at Chandler today to share best practice and success stories as part of Queensland’s Year of Physical Activity. Education and Training Minister Rod Welford said today’s conference was the first of four to be held across the state.
(PressZoom) - More than 300 teachers from primary and secondary schools across Brisbane are meeting at Chandler today to share best practice and success stories as part of Queensland’s Year of Physical Activity.
Education and Training Minister Rod Welford said today’s conference was the first of four to be held across the state.
“Year of Physical Activity conferences will also be held on the Gold Coast ( Thursday 8 May ), Sunshine Coast ( Monday 12 May ) and Townsville ( Wednesday 14 May ),” Mr Welford said.
“These conferences aim to give both state and non-state school teachers an opportunity to help their students become more physically active.
“The 2008 Year of Physical Activity draws attention to the strong relationship between physical activity and academic achievement.
“It’s important to engage teachers in the process of embedding physical activity across the curriculum.
“By featuring practical workshops as well as expert speakers at the conferences, teachers receive both practical and theoretical ideas about how and why they should incorporate the required 30 minutes of activity into the broader curriculum.
“They also gain insight into how physical activity can improve children's health, wellbeing and learning. Teachers will also learn the important role they play in implementing physical activity and leading and promoting change within their school communities.”
Mr Welford said 2008 marked the start of a new, healthy era for Queensland students.
“A Queensland Healthy Kids Survey in 2006 found that one in five Queensland children aged from five to 17 was overweight or obese,” he said.
“The Year of Physical Activity highlights our Government’s commitment to acting on child obesity and encouraging all young Queenslanders to enjoy lifelong good health.
“With the support of these conferences, our teachers will play a key role in this defining year in education in Queensland.”
From 2008 under the Smart Moves program, state primary school students will do at least 30 minutes of physical activity every school day. Secondary school students will get active for at least two hours a week. Special schools will allocate similar curriculum time for physical activity.
State schools will also increase community access to their sport and recreation facilities, offer teachers professional development, work closely with community and sporting groups and report annually on their allocation of physical activity in the curriculum.
Media contact: Emma Clarey on 3237 1000
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