CAMPBELL RIVER SCHOOL DISTRICT
SD72 partners with Sport for Life to expand physical literacy and physical activity in classrooms

Campbell River School District is one of a handful of school districts in British Columbia to offer a unique physical activity program. Starting for the 2021-2022 school year, the school district is partnering with Sport for Life and Pacific Sport to offer the School Physical Activity and Physical Literacy Project, a multi-component school-based health promotion initiative in Campbell River elementary and middle schools.

The project, which is being prototyped across several schools in school districts across BC, will provide both in-person and online professional development opportunities to help teachers deliver physical activity and physical literacy opportunities at school and support mental well-being. Not sport specific, the project's intention is to encourage physical activity throughout life.

In the Campbell River School District, the project will provide funding for a physical literacy coordinator to work alongside elementary and middle school teachers within the district for the 2021-2022 school year. With the help of this coordinator, teachers and support staff will uncover ways to incorporate more physical literacy and physical activity in their classrooms.

Physical activity has been proven to play an important role in promoting mental and physical health for all ages and by adding physical activity and physical literacy in classrooms students often exhibit better attendance, improved self-regulation and learning ability, as well as better overall health.

"We are really excited to work with community partners on this project for the benefit of our students," says School District 72 Associate Superintendent Morgan Kyle. "Body movement does not always need to be sport-related. By helping students realize this and learn to focus on their overall health, as well as how physical activity can help them with self-regulation and connection to their community - which right now is school - will benefit their learning and set the stage for overall wellbeing through an active lifestyle."

PLAY CR, a group focused on promoting physical literacy within the community across all ages comprised of representatives from education, recreation, sport, health, and communications/media sectors, has been instrumental in helping to get this project underway.

"We are so excited to be one of the first communities in the province to implement a program like the School Physical Activity and Physical Literacy Project, alongside the PLAY CR program. Many kids may only have the opportunity to be active and learn about healthy activity at school, so this is a timely program to encourage inclusion and a love of movement to all children in our community. Gaining the competency in the fundamental movement skills and having the confidence and motivation to be active is an integral part of lifelong health." - Sarah Wright, Sport for Life mentor for PLAY CR

The School Physical Activity and Physical Literacy Project is being developed, implemented, and evaluated by Sport for Life; Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity and Recreation Council (I-SPARC); Childhood Obesity Foundation; and Physical and Health Education Canada/British Columbia (PHE Canada/PHE BC).

The project is funded through the Province of BC under the Physical Literacy for Communities - BC Initiative and City of Campbell River.

Sport for Life strives to improve opportunities for enhanced physical literacy programming, prepare more Canadians to pursue excellence in sport, and increase the likelihood of Canadians staying active for life.