Area students score high on fitness test

Sonora High School freshman Meara Allan leads her class in doing sit ups. Amy Alonzo Rozak/Union Democrat, copyright 2009

California law requires schools to administer a physical fitness test to all fifth-, seventh- and ninth-grade students each year. The test assesses six fitness areas including aerobic capacity (cardiovascular endurance), trunk strength and flexibility, body composition (percent body fat and body mass index), abdominal strength and endurance, upper body strength and endurance and overall flexibility.
   

During the test students walk, run, do push ups, pull ups and curl ups, and various stretches which measure fitness.

The results show the number of students tested who fall into the “Healthy Fitness Zone,” and those who need improvement.

Statewide, 55.7 percent of fifth-grade students met health benchmarks in five or more of the fitness standards. Also, 60.4 percent of California seventh-graders and 64.8 percent of ninth-graders met five or more of the fitness standards.

In Tuolumne County, 63.5 percent of fifth-graders, 73.4 percent of seventh-graders, and 64 percent of ninth-grade students met five or more fitness standards.

In Calaveras County, 58.7 percent of fifth-grade students, 70.5 percent of seventh-graders, and 62.4 percent of ninth-graders met five or more fitness benchmarks.

"Our county has done very well. I’m very pleased with the results. I think it shows what goes on in our classrooms is reflected in our scores,” said Joe Silva, Tuolumne County superintendent of schools.

The county schools office organizes a countywide fitness challenge each year, with help from the Sonora Sport and Fitness Center, Silva said. This school year’s fitness challenge will begin in February. 

Students at Connections Visual and Performing Arts Academy in Tuolumne ranked the highest in both counties for seventh-grade students, who all met five or more of the fitness standards.

Tenaya Elementary students also tested well. According to state Department of Education data, 84.4 percent of fifth-grade students and 84.8 percent of seventh-graders met five or more fitness test standards.

“I’m very excited that our school has scored so well on the physical fitness test,” said Marianne Quinn, principal of Tenaya Elementary School in Groveland. “It’s a real tribute to Mr. (Randi) Mittelstadt’s physical education program. He has a well-rounded program that every student can succeed in. It’s based on individual achievement.”

Quinn said physical fitness is a priority, part of the district’s wellness policy, and that teachers have students doing physical activity aside from P.E. class. The school also participates in the SmileKeepers dental health program and promotes healthy eating and snacks.

At Summerville High School in Tuolumne, between 76.8 and 96.4 percent of students tested into the Healthy Fitness Zone.

“You certainly could say fitness is a priority when we require three years of physical education and the state only requires two,” said Summerville High Principal Dave Urquhart. “It is clear that our teachers are doing a good job of keeping our students fit.”

At Mark Twain Elementary School in Angels Camp, 82.1 percent of seventh-grade students met five or more state fitness standards.

Athletic director Tom Owens said the staff tells students to treat the fitness test like an academic test.
 

“We motivate them ... You want to do as well physically as you do mentally,” Owens said.

Students are encouraged to do their personal best, and reports are sent home to parents. Students run one mile each month and, Owens said, the most challenging parts of the test are the mile and push-ups.

In Calaveras County, students scored lowest in flexibility, trunk extension strength and aerobic capacity.

In Tuolumne County, the highest percent of students not in the healthy zone were in aerobic capacity, body composition and flexibility.