Grants Awarded for Physical Activity + Learning Projects

This February, the Michael & Susan Dell Community Collaborative for Child Health (the “Collaborative”) awarded over $5,000 in mini-grants to Central Texas schools and non-profit groups who are initiating unique physical activity projects on their campuses. 

The Collaborative has dubbed this collection of projects Physically Active Learning; the theme reinforces Center research like the Active Play, Active Learning project, and publications like “Promoting teacher adoption of physical activity breaks in the classroom: findings of the Central Texas CATCH Middle School Project” (Delk J, Springer, AE, Kelder, SH, Conklin, M; Journal of School Health, 2014).

The recipients of the 2015 Physically Active Learning Grants are:

- Bagdad Elementary School (Leander ISD)

- Blanton Elementary School (Austin ISD)

- Casey Elementary School (Austin ISD)

- Creedmoor Elementary (Del Valle ISD)

- Eastside Memorial High School (Austin ISD)

- The Ghisallo Foundation Youth Bicycle Program at Lee Elementary School (Austin, TX)

- The Ghisallo Foundation Youth Bicycle Program at Reilly Elementary School (Austin, TX)

- Katherine Anne Porter School (charter high school, Wimberley, TX)

- Keep Austin Beautiful Green Teens Program (Austin, TX)

- River Oaks Elementary School (Pflugerville ISD)

- St. Austin Catholic School (K-8 private school, Austin, TX)

- The University of Texas at Austin Department of Kinesiology and Health Education (Doctoral Dissertation in Seguin ISD)

More than 20 teachers, district leaders and program managers submitted applications for a Physically Active Learning Mini-Grant. The selected projects aim to increase child activity levels, engage families, improve classroom performance, build teamwork, and instill confidence.  The projects vary from supplying a high-need classroom with stability balls instead of chairs, providing interactive stencil markings on playgrounds, administering bike riding and safety clinics, and experiential learning through hiking and camping excursions. Each grantee has a unique and deliberate plan in place to improve learning opportunities through physical activity.

Congratulations to all of our 2015 Physically Active Learning grant recipients! We look forward to celebrating your achievements and sharing your best practices and successes at our 3^rd Annual Wellness Summit, which is open to the public, later this spring.

The Collaborative is composed of 19 community leaders from Central Texas who represent a range of stakeholders, including community-based organizations, school districts, research institutions, the faith community, and parents.  Members of the Collaborative meet quarterly throughout the academic school year.  The group aims to foster family, school, and community partnership for the promotion of children’s physical activity and healthy eating in Central Texas. Funds for this year’s Physically Active Learning projects are provided by the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation and St. David’s Foundation. Learn more at: www.childhealthcollaborative.org.

Written by:

Tim Cooley

Dell Health Undergraduate Scholar

Amy Blum

Special Programs Coordinator

Co-Chair, Michael & Susan Dell Community Collaborative for Child Health