Vaughn Elementary achieves championship fitness

By Danna Webster, KP News

When it comes to physical fitness, Vaughn Elementary School students are high achievers. In fact, they are the state champions for earning the most Presidential Physical Fitness Awards in elementary Category-2, which is probably the most common category in Washington, according to Vaughn coach and PE teacher Marc Ross.

Vaughn Elementary Presidential Award recipients (some of whom are now sixth-graders at KPMS) receive audience applause after accepting their certificates. Superintendent Terry Bouck was present for the occasion, congratulating each student individually as PE teacher Marc Ross handed out the awards with the help of Principal Mike Benoit.   Photo by Rodika Tollefson

This is the second year in a row for his students to earn state championship, and they did it by nearly doubling the previous year’s results. Such a high jump in the number of rewards was the result of a great effort by the students. “It was incredible to watch,” Ross says. “The sixth graders led the way, they just tore it up,” he says proudly of every one of the 62 students who earned the highest rank of the physical fitness awards.

Students begin training for the March physical fitness tests at the start of the school year. They set their goals, practice the skills, and push themselves to excel in the events that measure running speed, strength and flexibility. Based on their performance, they are awarded one of three levels of achievement: Participation, National, or Presidential. Earning the Presidential Award requires the student to excel in five out of five events.

The sit-up requirements for an 8-year-old boy are a good example of the different performance standards. Less than 31 sit-ups per minute ranks the boy in “Participation,” 31-39 improves his rank to “National” and for a “Presidential” performance standard, he must achieve 40 or more sit-ups per minute.

Many students have excelled in the endurance, speed and strength skills, where adrenaline boosts and strong effort pay dividends. But the one event that causes the greatest downfall for most students is flexibility. An example of this type of test is the “V-sit.” With feet apart, heels and knees touching the ground, they must place their hands flat on the ground and reach past their heels. For an 8-year-old girl to earn a “Presidential” award in flexibility, she must reach 4 inches past her heels.

Good flexibility scores usually require homework. It takes practice and discipline to improve flexibility and once or twice a week in PE is not going to gain it. “Flexibility killed everybody,” Ross says. “You can’t fool Mother Nature. An adrenaline rush works for excel sports, you can run a little faster; but in flexibility either you can stretch to a certain point or you can’t. You have to practice. It takes time management, discipline, setting goals and working at home.”

Parents have gotten involved with the program in more ways than homework. The Vaughn PTA has set up special lunch hour activities on Monday and Friday to encourage students in their physical fitness efforts. Parent volunteers supervise a Run and Walk lunch time. Score cards are kept for each student and prizes are awarded as bench marks are achieved. Students who are 6 and 7 must be able to walk and run a quarter mile for the test in March while 9- and 10-year-olds must run a mile. The PTA awards students as they accumulate mileage with prizes: T-shirts for 40 miles and a hooded shirt when they’ve gone the distance of 100 miles.

This year a Gig Harbor pediatrician, Dr. Thomas Herron, supported the physical fitness effort of Vaughn and all Peninsula elementary schools with a money donation for prizes.

Ross appreciates the recognition the kids have received as a result of their Presidential Awards. He feels that people don’t hear enough about the many great programs going on at Minter, Evergreen and Vaughn elementary schools. He thinks the kids deserve recognition for their success.

“The kids have really, really worked hard,” he says and adds that he makes it clear to students they should not be satisfied if they are not performing at their best and they should aim above “Participation.”

He tells them they must work every day to improve something about their performance. As they practice for the tests, he tells them, “If you walk away and gave it your best, be satisfied; if you know you can improve, then you work on that.”

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