To help bring families and Ector County Independent School District together, PE for the Whole Family has been slated for 6 p.m. tonight at Crockett Middle School, 2301 N. Conover Ave.
The event is free. Three years ago, PE and Health Coordinator Michael Neiman said, a faculty fitness initiative started and the district is now aiming to draw the community in.
“We have members of the district in volleyball tournaments, basketball tournaments and kickball tournaments. We have dancing classes. We’ve had aerobics. We’ve had yoga. We’ve had Zumba. This year, we’re going to have a golf tournament in May,” Neiman said.
“Our motto is for the district, by the district, at the district and free. I have no money for this budget; not one penny for this budget. Everything is in our facilities. Our people are donating their time. All of the event directors are people that have volunteered to do that. Every event has a couple of people in the district who have volunteered. They run the whole thing. I just put out the advertisements,” Neiman added.
The students have been taught the activities in class, so they can teach their parents. Some of the sports include speed stacking, Bocce ball, spikeball, Peteca and Tchoukball Knockout.
“These are all games that don’t require a lot of skill,” Neiman said. “You can learn these games in the short time that you’ll be there in the evening from 6 to 9 (p.m.). They’re also designed to be either recreational or competitive.”
Middle schools in ECISD purchased new recreational game equipment through a $43,000 portion of a $120,847 federal Title IV grant. In October 2017, Neiman said he earmarked $2,000 for the Student Health Advisory Council.
Tracy Dunford, a coach’s aide at Ireland Elementary School, said she thinks the event is going to be “excellent.” Students will have a chance to meet people from across town and make new friends.
Coaches and volunteers will be at each station to explain the games, monitor participants and hope everyone has a good time.
“It’s just kind of a big, fun night having PE and playing games,” Dunford said. “Our main goal is to bring families together and have them be active together. School involvement would be a plus. We would be grateful for that.”
Peteca is a hand badminton game.
“The birdie is real big. It’s about 6 to 8 inches tall and you use your hand to hit it. You can play four square Peteca. Peteca tennis; Peteca volleyball …,” Nieman said.
There will also be ogo sport, which involves a round disk that can be thrown like a Frisbee, but the disk material is soft and bouncy. Also featured will be GoNoodle, a web-based program that gets youngsters moving in the classroom, Brickworks, foam bricks that can be used to build, promote hand-eye coordination and cooperation and juggling.
Nurses will be on hand to teach CPR, Neiman said.
Another activity night is being planned in April at Nimitz Middle School.
A 5K and 3K run and a 5K and 3K walk are planned for the end of February, starting at Ratliff Stadium. Plans are to have registration at the family event at Crockett Friday. T-shirts will be available.
