Dear Clissold Parents:

I have again registered our 4th and fifth grade students to participate in the PE Central Challenge©. The PE Central Challenge© is a unique program designed to encourage students to practice and improve their motor skills and be recognized for their accomplishments. This program was designed and is sponsored by PE Central (pecentral.org), the premier Web site for Physical Education teachers. It is designed to encourage families, schools, and community organizations to help all children become more skillful movers, which, in turn, will encourage youngsters to become more physically active.

The PE Central Challenge© is not a one-time test, but rather a set of challenges that your child can practice and improve upon. Your child is encouraged to take as many chances as it takes to complete each of the challenges. There are 6 tasks that make up the Challenge©. These six challenges are:

• Continuously jumping a single rope for 90 seconds.
   
• Throwing and catching using the hands with a partner.
   
• Strike a ball with a paddle or a racket in the air continuously for 60 seconds to your self.
   
• With a partner, travel across an eight foot long 2" x 4" board placed on the ground and switch places without touching the floor.
   
• In a group of 3, volley a ball (not a beach ball or balloon) without letting the ball hit the ground.
   
• Hula hoop for 20 seconds without letting the hula hoop touch the ground.

Participation certificates can be earned by all participants and individual pins will be awarded to those students who successfully complete all or most of the challenges.

The PE Central Challenge© is a wonderful opportunity for your child to improve and be recognized for their motor skills. To increase your child's chances at successfully completing the tasks and earning a pin or certificate I am strongly encouraging our students to practice at home.

We will begin the PE Central Challenge© on December 8, 2008The last day for students to complete the Challenge is March 26, 2009

If you are interested or need more information about the tasks, their criteria, and ideas for practicing at home, please email me at document.write(String.fromCharCode(60,97,32,104,114,101,102,61,39,109,97,105,108,116,111,58,108,109,116,97,114,118,101,114,64,99,112,115,46,101,100,117,39,62,108,109,116,97,114,118,101,114,64,99,112,115,46,101,100,117,60,47,97,62));">