After attending a recent meeting with other health and physical education teachers they realized that their school, Secord Elementary in Toronto is an exception when it comes to offering an exceptional QDPE program. In a school with over 900 students, QDPE is something that is scheduled daily into the timetable of every class. This has been made possible due to the support from our office administration. Secord Elementary has only one gym, but they have overcome this in a creative manner. Not only is the gym booked every minute of the day, they also use a multi-purpose room and a gym at a local community centre.
Classes also use the schoolyard and encourage activities in halls and classrooms.
They take advantage of other community facilities, such as skating at the local outdoor arena and running in the valley at Taylor Creek Park. Nancy states that the staff is very supportive of the QDPE program and their actions show it. They spend many hours before school, during lunchtime and after school on a very active co-curricular sports and club program. With their help, our school now has desperately needed equipment. In addition, parents volunteer at special event days such as Jump Rope For Heart, Junior Track Day, and Kindergarten Playday.