Sound Body

                            Sound Mind             

                                         

     

 

 

 

 

Dear Franklin Middle School Families,

 

      The Franklin PTA is proud to tell you about a proposed Fitness Center.  We are asking you to   

      help raise $47,500 in donations for this exciting project.  Can you help?

 

 Why a Fitness Center at Franklin?

                

      For the first time in Franklin history we see students succumbing to the national trends of

      decreasing fitness and health!   The Fitness Center will give our P.E. teachers an additional tool to

      help students of all abilities learn lifelong fitness habits.   We would convert the former 

      wrestling room to a FITNESS CENTER with 20 pieces of equipment.

 

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT "SOUND BODY SOUND MIND"


Why do we need a fitness center? 


Remember playing a lot of dodge ball in gym class when you were growing up?
There has been a movement away from the traditional model of P.E. class from competitive games to providing more heart-healthy fitness activities. The fitness room would also provide a non-threatening environment for students who are typically less than enthusiastic about gym class.

In addition, the 6th grade class at Franklin this year is one of the largest in Franklin history, with 240 students. The gym classes have up to 40 students per class! Having a fitness room adjacent to the gym will allow the teachers to divide the class and better instruct and facilitate smaller groups.

 

Will the Fitness Center be used primarily by athletes? 


No, the Fitness Center would be available to and utilized by EVERY CHILD in the building.

SINCE WELLNESS AND FITNESS ARE GOALS FOR EVERY CHILD, the proposed Fitness Center will benefit EVERY STUDENT at Franklin Middle School for generations to come.

 

What does the total cost include?


It includes the purchase and installation of the equipment, installation of a rubber flooring for safety, and a 5-year maintenance and service contract.  Some electrical work will also be necessary along with installation of video surveillance. The proposed Sound Body Sound Mind Fitness Center will include:  6 Treadmills, 6 Ellipticals, 2 Recumbent Bicycles, 2 Upright Bicycles, 2 Recumbent Elliptical, and 2 Spinners.  It will be purchased from and installed by 2nd Wind Exercise Equipment.

Can't the money for this come from the school district?  No.

Why can't we use the equipment we already have for fitness? 
Ms. Schnell and Mr. Diers believe that the fitness room will benefit students in a couple of significant ways.  
          First, it will help them teach and demonstrate how to include fitness
          in a lifelong, healthy lifestyle.  
          Second, it will allow for "differentiation of instruction," that is, providing an alternative
          fitness activity to the traditional competitive games.   It will allow teachers to provide
          individualized fitness plans for children based on baseline fitness assessments with
          an emphasis on monitoring heart rate. In addition, students who have sustained injuries
          and are unable to participate in the regular gym class may be able to use the exercise
          equipment.

 

Why is fitness so important for our middle schoolers?


The current recommendation is that school-aged children have at least one hour of physical activity daily, yet research shows that nationwide, only 50% of children meet this standard. 

Recent data on the nationwide trends of childhood overweight and obesity are just as alarming.  Childhood obesity has tripled in the past 20 years, and it is now the greatest health threat facing American children today.  It not only results in greater risk for early development of chronic diseases including heart disease, diabetes, and some types of cancer, but also has an adverse effect on self-esteem, psychological well-being, quality of life, and academic achievement. It is now estimated that over 30% of American children are overweight or obese.  Eating disorders are also on the rise, and are becoming increasingly common in middle school students.  Students become more body conscious and image-aware during the middle school years, leading to an increased number of students at risk for eating disorders.  Sometimes, in an attempt to lose weight rapidly, children may engage in unhealthy eating practices that may also lead to problems.

 

Why are we seeing these trends in children?

 

With the onslaught of technology and bombardment of media, middle school students are enticed away from recreation and vigorous activity and drawn into sedentary activities such as video and computer games. For many of us growing up, there were no computers, video games, cable TV with 24/programming, and few fast foods.  Today US children watch an average of 20-30 hours of TV per week, and today’s children are 6 times more likely to play a video game than to ride a bike.

 

Is there a concern about safety?


The Fitness Center will have video surveillance, and there will be staff supervision at all times when students are in the room.

Also, students will be using heart monitors so that they will be exercising in his/ her safe heart rate zone.

 

Where will the wrestlers practice?


They will be in the main gym.  In fact, recently there has not been enough room in the old wrestling room for all of the Franklin wrestlers, so they have already been practicing in the gym.

 

 

      

We can't do it without you!

 

    The total cost of the project is $60,000.  The PTA gave $10,000 to jumpstart this campaign, and we

    have $2,500 in additional gifts. We are asking you to give a gift to the "Sound Body, Sound Mind"         

   campaign. We need $47,500 to get this new fitness room up and running by Spring Break, 2010!

 

 SOUND BODY SOUND MIND:  HOW CAN I DONATE ?
Select your tax-deductible giving level for your gift:
      up to $100 - "Varsity Member"
      $101-500 - "All-American"
      $501-$999 - "Olympian"

Another way to give is to purchase a piece of
equipment and receive a nameplate:
      Spinner:  $1000
      Treadmill:  $2500 
       Elliptical:  $5000

Payment Options:
Check   
* PayPal Option (See link at the bottom of the page)


Matching gift: 
Company Name/Address________________________________________________________

Your Name___________________________
Address______________________________
City/State____________________________
Zip Code_____________________________
Phone________________________________
e-mail  _______________________________
Name as you would like to have it appear on donor list _______________________________________________
_______ I wish to remain anonymous

 

Gifts may be given individually, as groups, or as matching gifts with an organization or employer.
 Gifts may also be given "in memory of" a loved one.

The Franklin PTA is offering a naming opportunity for the new fitness room. 
For a gift of $25,000, the room will be dedicated and named to the person or group as designated by the donor. 
This can be accomplished in several ways:

* Individual gift
* Matching gift with an organization
* A family gift
* A Class gift.  For example, alums from 1950 might want to come together and give 

a gift, then the Fitness Room would be named in their honor


Please contact Mr. Bucknell (sbucknell@cr.k12.ia.us or 558-2452) if you are interested in the naming option.

   

We ask you to give generously.  EVERY DOLLAR HELPS!  Send donations to:

Franklin Middle School, 300 20th Street N.E. Cedar Rapids, 52402.

                Make checks payable to  "Franklin Middle School."

 

               Thanks in advance for your support and generosity!

                   Christina Cuva-Rodriquez, PTA President

                   Mary Barnes and Jennifer Schnell, SOUND BODY, SOUND MIND Co-Chairs

 

Donate here Via Paypal

 

 

     For questions, please contact Mary Barnes: chbarnes@prodigy.net or 329-7200.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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