We use a personal best method of testing our students in regards to their physical fitness levels.  We test in the areas of cardiovascular endurance, flexibility, agility, speed, and muscle strength.  With our 5th and 6th graders, we use the standards set by the President's Council on Physical Fitness as a guideline, giving the students a choice as to whether or not to pursue the Presidential or National Fitness Awards.  Listed below are the tests in which your child will participate.  Should you have any concerns regarding your child's participation in any of these areas, please do not hesitate to contact Mr. Timmers.  

V-Sit and Reach - tests flexibility of hamstring muscles - Students sit on the floor with their feet about 12 inches apart and placing one hand on top of the other.....stretch down toward their feet as far as they can.  The distance covered is measured by the end of their fingertips.  Their score is given in inches.

Sit Ups - tests abdominal strength - Students lie on their back with their arms crossed over their chest and their fingers touching their shoulders.  They sit up and touch their arms to their legs and go back to the starting position as many times as they can in 1 minute.  Their score is the number of successful attempts.

Pull Ups/Flexed Arm Hang - tests arm and upper body strength - (Pull ups) - Students start from a straight arm hanging position (underhand grip on the bar) and pull themselves up until their chin is passed the bar as many times as they can.  Their score is the number of successful attempts.  (Flexed Arm Hang) - With an underhand grip, the students hold their chin above the bar for as long as they can.  Once the chin touches or goes below the bar, the test is over.  Their time is given to them in seconds.

Rope Climb - test upper body strength - Students climb as high as they can on 1 of 3 ropes.  One rope has knots very close to each other (easiest), one has knots a little further apart (medium) and the hardest rope has no knots on it at all.  The results are in the number of ropes they can climb to the top or the number of knots they can touch with their hands.

40 Yard Dash - tests speed - Students start behind a starting line and run as quickly as they can past a finish line 40 yards away.  Their time is given to them in seconds and tenths of a second.

440 Yard Run - tests endurance (220 Yard Run for 1st grade) - Students start behind a starting line and run 220 or 440 yards, depending on grade, as quickly as they can.  Their time is given to them in minutes and seconds.

Shuttle Run - tests speed and agility - Students run back and forth in between two lines 30 feet apart from each other.  The students run 30 feet and pick up a bean bag and return to place it on the starting line.  They run back to the line 30 feet away and pick up another bean bag and carry it past the starting line.  Their time is given to them in seconds and tenths of a second. 

The results of the pretest will be sent home with each individual giving you rank by grade.  Mr. Timmers can inform you of exercises or activities to improve test scores.

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