The New London-Spicer Educational Foundation awarded $2,800.00 to Jacob Beranek, Physical Education teacher, for his grant titled, Lifetime Activities Course. 

The goal of this project is to create opportunities for students to experience the positive impact of maintaining a healthy lifestyle post college. Most students are unaware of the activities that their community has to offer. By providing safe opportunities for participation in activities they may not otherwise try, this course may inspire interest in hobbies that can be maintained for years. The Lifetime Activities course will offer learning opportunities in the classroom, like bike safety, injury prevention, pickleball, spikeball, and group dance. They will also have a unit on the sport of frisbee golf.

This new course will be offered to 30 high school students this first year. In future years, Mr. Jacob Beranek would like to offer the class to 60+ high school students a year (one class per semester) as well as open it up to students in the summer through a partnership with NLS Community Education. The first course will begin in the fall of 2024.

“I feel that it’s important that we teach high school students different ways to maintain a healthy lifestyle,” Beranek continued, “Most students assume the only way to stay healthy is by getting into the weight room. This is an opportunity to teach students other ways that can be more adaptable for them to stay healthy for years.”

This engaging physical education course will include hands-on labs, physical units, and project-based learning. Students will also be required to have reflection time, which will help them personalize their learning and will aid in the retention of material.