By
the time you read this, you will already be
back at school ready to embark on the critically
important task of equipping children and youth
with knowledge, attitudes, and skills for making
healthy lifestyle choices. I challenge you
to make this the best year for the kids you
teach – motivate them, encourage them
every day, and help them to be “on their
way” to a more “fit” lifestyle.
My
year as OAHPERD President will end with the
Convention in October. And, what
a great Convention it is going to be! The Convention will once again be held
at the Clarion Meridian Convention Center in Oklahoma City on October 2nd and
3rd. Be sure to check out the sessions for the Convention and the Pre-Conference
Workshops in the journal! The Pre-Conference workshop has become so popular that
it has turned into an all-day event. The Early Childhood Workshop has shifted
from the afternoon to the morning time slot and will “showcase” Oklahoma’s
best. If you are interested in presenting your favorite game/activity, look for
the submission guidelines in the journal or on the website. Other pre-conference
workshops include: Successful Coaching, Yoga/Dance and, the ever-popular Rock
Climbing.
The
Friday sessions will begin with the 8:00
a.m. General Session and continue
until the Closing General Session at 3:00 p.m.
The Board and Council
are very
excited to have Beth Kirkpatrick as this year’s special guest/presenter.
Beth has 20 years of experience in teaching health and physical education and
is considered a pioneer of heart rate monitor use in education. Her program
has been featured in Life Magazine, Newsweek, and on NBC Nightly News. Be sure
to
attend the POLAR Pre-Conference Workshop (hands-on session) and the 8:00 a.m.
General Session on Friday to hear her speak. Southern District AAHPERD President,
Dr. Milton Wilder will also speak at the Opening General Session.
OAHPERD
will once again be honoring it’s retired
members at the Banquet on Thursday evening,
so be sure to attend! Nicki Keele will be
video-taping
these pioneers in our field on Thursday afternoon and creating a video-library
that
will be available to the membership.
Drawing
an end to the day on Friday, during the Closing
General Session,
the new OAHPERD Board and Council Elects
will be introduced, and the theme
for
the following year’s convention presented. I will pass the gavel
to President-Elect Trey Cone and wish him luck in this adventure.
In
closing, as I was “surfing the net” for something profound to
pass on to you, I found a poem that I couldn’t resist sharing, written
by Josimar H. (an elementary physical education student). As this year’s
convention theme is “It’s a BIG Deal” I thought this
poem was appropriate!
Jump
Up & Down
If
you are fat, don’t gain more pounds
Run around, jump up and down and lose those
pounds!
You are strong, you can do it
All you have to do is put your mind to it!
Be
fit, don’t be fat
You can lose those pounds, how about that!
Do as I say, just 30 minutes a day
And you’ll find you’re on your
way.
Kathy Hixon
2008 OAHPERD President
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