Activity Trackers: Health and Technology Education in the Classroom

Lawrence Bohl, Physical Education (PE), and After School program

Saint Luke Academy

$2,000

Research suggests that children who experience regular physical activity during the academic day, not only perform better in the classroom, but are also happier to be in school. Unfortunately, with the growing demands of academic success on younger students, teachers often lack the time to provide new, engaging activities that motivate students and make movement fun! Mr. Bohl wishes to revolutionize physical activity so that students will be eager to participate in physical activity. His dream is to implement wearable technology coupled with exciting PE lessons, so that students perceive physical activity as a reward rather than a punishment or mundane task. By fulfilling Mr. Bohl's dream, he will be able to create a new era of PE, setting forth an overall healthier and happier environment for students to learn and grow!

"I was inspired for this project by a fellow physical education (PE) teacher from Naperville. He had spearheaded a research project and physical activity (PA) program to measure the effect of increasing PA on certain students. His findings showed that the students with increased PA had better grades, attitudes, and overall success in school (Ratey et al., 2021). I wanted to take his findings of increased student performance with increased PA and get students motivated to move with wearable technology."

Make this dream come true and help shape healthy hearts and happy minds!

Faith & Fitness

Trina Pongco, Multiple Grades

St. Paul Lutheran School (Austin)

$1,985.61

"Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies." - 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Ms. Pongco's Dream is to encourage students at St. Paul Austin to take care of their God given bodies. God has given us the beautiful gift of life in human bodies, and it is important that students learn the importance of keeping their bodies healthy. By granting this wish, Ms. Pongco will stress the importance of exercise, body movement, and health in the name of God.

By granting this wish, Ms. Pongco will stress the importance of exercise, body movement, and health in the name of God.

ACE!

Matt Runge, K-8 Physical Education

St. James Lutheran School

$1,387.34

The members of the St. James community love to play volleyball. St. James currently has both a boys and girls team, a JV team that practices, an adult group that plays once a week and the school hosts a women's volleyball league for the Chicagoland area churches. The volleyball poles do not have protective mats around them, increasing the risk of an athlete running into the pole and injuring themselves. This is why Mr. Runge is asking that you fund his dream of new protective mats, new volleyballs, as well as a net antenna. A net antennae is an important tool in volleyball which gives volleyball players and referees a visual aid to judge whether or not a ball is in play or out of bounds as it travels over the net.

Funding this dream for Mr. Runge would provide the St. James with enjoyment, community gatherings, and would decrease the risk of injury for everyone who enters the gym!

Reverse, Reverse! Basketball Uniforms

Matt Runge, K-8 Physical Education

St. James Lutheran School

$,1900

The St. James basketball program is expanding and the need for both home uniforms and away uniforms is rising. Having these uniforms would allow the student athletes the ability to have both a home and an away uniform in the convenience of one uniform! These new uniforms will give each athlete a greater sense of school pride, promote team spirit, and enhance the overall game experience.

As the saying goes, look good, feel good, play great! Funding this dream and help Mr. Runge's athletes do just that… look good, feel good, and play great!

Lutheran School League Track Meet Dream

John Franklin, 6-8 Math, Religion, PE, Health, Technology

Walther Christian Academy

$1,200

Any true sports coach wants his/her team to have the best athletic experience possible. This is the case for Mr. Franklin, whose dream is to provide the Walther Christian Academy Track and field athletes with a true track and field meet experience in 2023. This is why he is asking for the funds needed to supply an automatic timing system and an official starter for our annual track meet held in May.

Having an official automatic timing and track meet management system, along with a track official starter, would allow all athletes from our city Lutheran schools to participate in an organized and "official" track meet similar to the high school and the state track meets. It would also allow coaches to spend more time coaching and working with their athletes during the track meet instead of focusing on other areas.

Grant this dream and allow the entire track team to enjoy an official track meet day!