St. Anthony on the Lake

St. Anthony on the Lake Parish School administers fitness assessments once a year to all students in grades 3-8. All students in those grades will complete a battery of four assessments covering the health-related fitness components. These tests are meant to be a "snapshot" of their overall fitness levels within the Healthy Fitness Zones for both boys and girls. It is not a measure of their athletic abilities nor is it negatively reflected on their progress report in any way.

20m PACER - measure of cardiorespiratory endurance

Typically, the most challenging component for students is the cardiorespiratory endurance assessment known as the PACER (Progressive Aerobic Capacity Endurance Run) test. Students run a distance of 20 meters back and forth across the gym to a specific cadence or “beep”. Each time they hear the beep they attempt to run to the other side of the gym before it beeps again. After each minute, the cadence gets faster. The second time a student fails to complete a lap, their test is over and the number of laps completed is recorded.

To give you an idea of what that is like, the Healthy Fitness Zone for our elementary students is considered 17+ laps. That equates to just over two minutes of running. While many students continue well past 17, I remind the students that everyone’s fitness level is unique and personal to them. Our focus is on the “process” of becoming more or continuing to remain active outside of class instead of focusing on the “product” of how many laps completed. This shift in thinking helps students value their own skills and abilities thus leading towards increased participation in active pursuits. Ultimately, it is this active participation that is going to have the biggest impact on their future health and well-being.

Back-Saver Sit & Reach - measure of flexibility in hamstrings and lower back

This is the fastest assessment to measure. Each student will get 2 attempts to stretch on both the right and left legs (as shown on right). Lower scores can help identify a potential risk in low-back injury due to poor hamstring flexibility. Incorporating "dynamic" stretching/warmups into both physical education activities AND at home can help increase flexibility of these muscle groups. Research has not shown any significant gains from "static" stretches at this age level. Some studies even show a detrimental effect. We all know that we never stretch a cold muscle. And the fact of the matter is that young students are not mini adults. They are much more flexible as their muscles/joints are the extremely pliable. At the elementary level, girls will typically be more flexible and score higher than boys.

Curl-Up - measure of muscular endurance

The curl-up assessment is performed to a pre-recorded voice over telling students when to come "up" and when to go back "down". Students attempt to stay right with the cadence. They must keep knees bent, feet in contact with the floor and hands down at sides palms down. They must come all the way "up" to the point their fingers travel 4" from the resting position to a line on the mat (as shown on right) and then return with their head touching the mat on the "down" command. Students are allowed to either get off the cadence or have one form break. The second time they get off cadence or have a form break, the test is over and the number of curl ups performed is recorded. This assessment targets overall core/abdominal strength & endurance.

Push-Up - measure of muscular strength

The push-up assessment is also performed to a pre-recorded voice over telling students when to go "down" and when to go back "up". Students attempt to stay right with the cadence. They must keep their body straight and elbows must bend at a 90 degree angle on the down phase. If they fail to stay with the cadence or body doesn't remain in a straight line (hips sag, butt up in the air, or elbows not bent at a full 90 degree angle) it is considered a form break. They must come all the way "up" arms locked out straight and body straight (as shown on left). Students are allowed to either get off the cadence or have one form break. The second time they get off cadence or have a form break, the test is over and the number of push ups performed is recorded. This assessment targets overall upper body strength & endurance - primarily the chest (pectoralis major) but also the triceps and front deltoids as the secondary movers.

FITNESSGRAM Healthy Fitness Zones

**Please note these are minimal standards for health-related fitness components

Fitness is influenced by a number of factors beyond physical activity. These include: heredity, maturation, age, nutrition, environmental conditions (heat, humidity, pollution), access to physical activity opportunities, socioeconomic status, and trainability (amount a person is physically capable of improving their own fitness).