UMass Pediatric Physical Activity Laboratory Seeks 3rd and 4th Grade Participants for Recess Study

The UMass Pediatric Physical Activity Laboratory is looking for third and fourth graders to join the Smart Minds with Aerobic and Resistance Training during Recess (SMART Recess) Pilot Study! Children in either the third or fourth grade at Fort River School or Crocker Farm School in Amherst, MA are invited to participate in an 18-week study. This 18-week study includes three weeks for baseline measures, followed by a 15-week program.

What you and your child will do:

-You will be asked to complete a brief demographic questionnaire.
-Before and at the end of the programs, your child will be asked to participate in some measures (i.e., height/weight, brief cognition tasks, fitness, and classroom behavior).
-Your child will be asked to wear a physical activity and a heart rate monitor at times throughout the study.

Depending on what school your child attends, your child will either:

-Participate in a 15-week fitness program during school recess, -OR-
-Participate in a 15-week health and academic tracking program (Note: this school will receive the fitness program after the study ends) 

Click here to express your interest in the study by completing our interest form!

Families can call us at 413-545-6104 or email us at kinpedlab@umass.edu with any questions.

UMass Pediatric Physical Activity Laboratory (PPAL) Recess Study

The UMass Pediatric Physical Activity Laboratory (PPAL) is excited to announce that we are conducting a recess study at Fort River for 4th, 5th, and 6th graders. All students in those grades will be invited to participate in fun and active games that our team will be leading during recess periods, but we will only collect data on students that have officially signed up for the study. To determine if your child is eligible and to learn more about the study, complete the bottom portion of the flyer that will be sent home with your child and return it to his/her teacher, or visit this link: 

https://umassamherst.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6tIX1XDKld8bRwF

PPAL team members will be available after school at parent pick-up to answer questions on Monday, 2/13 and Tuesday, 2/14 and at the Hillside Pizza pick-up on Thursday, 2/16.

Baseline measurements (for students that enroll) will be taken between March 6 and 10 (during your child's recess period). The games will be offered 3 days per week for 4 weeks starting March 20.

Spanish Flyer

English Flyer

Feel free to contact our team at kinpedlab@umass.edu!

-- 

Christine St. Laurent, MS, CSCS

Doctoral Candidate

Pediatric Physical Activity Laboratory

Department of Kinesiology

University of Massachusetts Amherst

http://www.umass.edu/kinpedlab/

Eversource Fundraiser Recap - THANK YOU!

Thanks so much to the 14 families (and one administrator!) who participated in the Eversource fundraiser. Eversource kindly returns 100% of the purchase price of light bulbs and energy efficient power strips. This year Fort River earned $832!

ALL of this money will be used to purchase recess equipment and playground accessories! 

Thank you so much to those who participated in this green fundraiser 💚💚💚💚 It was healthy for our planet and for our kids!