On Jan. 10, the Dallas Fitness Stars, a division of the Dallas Stars Hockey team, visited CFB to train district Physical Education teachers in Floorball. Floorball is a popular sport in Canada and Europe – it mirrors many of the same rules (but not all) as Hockey, but without requiring an ice rink or skates. The sport requires similar handling of the stick as hockey and is often used as an off-season training method. It promotes hand-eye coordination as well as strategy.
P.E. instructors were shown the best way to teach Floorball to their students and how to show students how to avoid common errors when new to the game.
During the inaugural 2013 – 2014 school year, Carrollton-Farmers Branch was the first district to receive the Dallas Fitness Stars school grant designed to help students become less sedentary. All twenty-six (26) elementary schools in CFB ISD received a complete set of Floorball equipment, inclusive of nets, sticks, balls, and bags, lesson plans, training guides, and informational wall charts for all students. The Stars Foundation also provided incentives for every elementary student in the district upon completion of the five steps that are part of the grant parameters. Every elementary student across the district had to complete five challenges in the areas of strength, cardiovascular endurance, agility, cross training and nutrition (healthy food choices) during the school year. As the students accomplished each challenge, they received a Star for their own personal fitness bracelet, provided by the Foundation.
Carrollton-Farmers Branch has continued this partnership with the Dallas Fitness Stars annually. At a recent Elementary Physical Education Staff Development, CFB hosted Ron Corker, head of the Farmers Branch Stars Center, to “train the trainers” (our physical education teachers). At this meeting, our physical education teachers were given the latest updates to the grant and received all the student incentives for the 2016 – 2017 school year. The Fitness Stars once again reiterated that the focus of the Dallas Stars Hockey Club is to teach children the importance of healthy eating and keep them active through fun and unique physical activities. By continuing to join with the Dallas Stars Fitness program in the fight against childhood obesity, the goal is to make a healthy lifestyle both enjoyable and easy to maintain for all ages. Students will again participate in 5 Fitness Stars challenges, collecting a Star as they complete physical fitness or healthy eating initiatives. Those Challenges for Kindergarten – 5th Grade are:
- Complete 100 pushups- either in a row or cumulative
- Run three (3) miles- either in a row or cumulative
- Encourage families to try a healthy recipe at home-student brings, or emails, a photo of their healthy meal for credit
- Complete and show grasp of 3 hockey drills
- Complete Fitness Gram or Locomotor Assessment
All students will receive a bracelet upon the completion of their first Fitness Stars challenge with one Stars pendant. As they complete each challenge level, they will receive another pendant until they finally reach five total.
The Fitness Stars program has proven to be a very positive one within the realm of elementary physical education in CFB since 2013. Thank you, Stars!
To view more photos from this visit by the Dallas Fitness Stars, click here.
