Sudbury Catholic District School Board principals recently participated in an inservice session on how to implement the Ministry of Education’s new policy/program memorandum regarding Daily Physical Activity in Elementary Schools, Grades 1 to 8.

Bob Soroko from the Ontario Physical Health and Education Association (OPHEA) provided the principals with a framework of daily physical fitness activities as an important part of making schools healtheir places for students to learn.

Rossella Bagnato, Academic Superintendent of Education for the Sudbury Catholic District School Board was also in attendance at the Ministry’s presentation. “Our principals were the first in the province to receive this workshop,” stated Bagnato. “While the Ministry recognizes there will be differences in approaches and implementation, all elementary schools are expected to make their best efforts to ensure that all students are receiving at least 20 minutes of sustained moderate to vigorous daily physical activity during instructional time as soon as possible”, concluded Bagnato.

Over the next few weeks the Sudbury Catholic District School Board will begin the work of developing a Board Action Plan with full implementation in all schools by September 2006.