Published: November 11, 2009 08:38 am      

Fitness Five

Corbin students participate in health assessments

By Becky Manley / Staff Writer

The Corbin Recreation Center was filled with students doing sit-ups, doing laps around a track and dancing to zesty Latin tunes Tuesday.

About 1,300 Corbin Independent School district students are expected to participate in Fitness Five assessments that began Tuesday and continue through Thursday, according to Audra Valentine, community health services technician for Baptist Regional Medical Center.

The assessments measure students’ cardiovascular endurance, body mass index, muscular strength, endurance and flexibility, Valentine said.

The primary, elementary and intermediate schools are participating in the assessments, Valentine said.

The data gathered from the assessments will eventually be distributed to students and their parents, Valentine said. The hope is that the information will be used to determine how each student’s fitness level can be improved.

Valentine said she first heard about such physical assessments while a student at the University of the Cumberlands.

As the new program is developed, Valentine said she hopes to develop in-classroom activities for students to boost their fitness levels throughout the school year.

The Fitness Five assessments will be repeated next spring to determine the progress students have made in becoming fitter, Valentine said.

“We want to educate the community on being healthy,” Valentine said.