“…Kids who move more aren’t just healthier, they also tend to do better academically,…”
Physical activity levels of Alexandria City Public School (ACPS) students are low in comparison to national averages and declining. ACPS is embarked on several initiatives to reverse this trend; one of those will enable 3rd grade students to learn walking and bicycle safety and skills as part of their Physical Education (PE) classes and support an ACPS strategic objective to provide “activities and curricula designed to promote lifelong commitments to active, healthy lifestyles”.
We invite you to help ACPS sustain this project by donating funds to purchase bicycles, helmets and teacher training. In 2016, the Alexandria Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) raised sufficient funds to enable classes for 3rd, 4th and 5th grade students at Mount Vernon Community School (MVCS): Watch a video here.
You can help by sending a check today to Alexandria BPAC, 622 Fort Williams Pkwy, Alexandria, VA 22304 (preferred method) or donating online via this link: Fund Walking and Biking Education in Alexandria. Your donation will help more students learn to be active and develop life-long healthy habits.
Problem: A recent needs assessment found that “poor diet and exercise [are] problematic, especially among children” in the City of Alexandria.1 Surveys indicate that physical activity levels of ACPS students are low in comparison to national averages and declining.
Why is this important? “Research shows that kids who move more aren’t just healthier, they also tend to do better academically, behave better in class and miss fewer days of school.”2
Solution: Help expand walking and bicycling education in ACPS’ elementary school PE curriculum, as a component of a Comprehensive Physical Activity Program 3.
Please join us. We invite you to join us in helping ACPS expand walking and biking safety education to additional schools Please consider sending a check today to the Walking and Biking Fund of ACT for Alexandria, 201 King Street, Suite 200, Alexandria, VA 22314. Attn: John Porter (preferred method) or donating online via this link:
1. Community Health Needs Assessment for Inova Alexandria Hospital, May 31, 2013
2. Active Living Research, http://activelivingresearch.org/taxonomy/schools
3. School Health Guidelines to Promote Healthy Eating and Physical Activity, Division of Adolescent and School Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, September 16, 2011
Alexandria Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee 