Skyuka Hall School has been awarded a Shape the State grant from the BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Health Foundation to upgrade its physical education with hundreds of pieces of new equipment.
There have been 20 Shape the State grants awarded each year since 2011 when the program was launched. The grants, valued at $10,000 each, provide the nationally acclaimed SPARK physical education (PE) curriculum, teacher training and equipment for each recipient school.
In addition, each school will receive $1,000 to spend on PE, nutrition and wellness efforts.
“There are now 100 schools that have been awarded Shape the State grants since 2011, and based on past experience, we know physical education will be transformed at Skyuka Hall,” said Calvin Anderson, BlueCross senior vice president of corporate affairs and executive director of BlueCross’ Tennessee Health Foundation. “Their desire and commitment to improve physical education for their students contributed to their selection to receive a grant. We look forward to watching the teachers and students at Skyuka Hall achieve success together.”
This fall, faculty and staff from the Shape the State schools will gather for training from SPARK professionals to learn how to use the program with their students. In addition, they will receive complete SPARK curriculum materials, as well as 800 pieces of accompanying exercise equipment.
SPARK was launched in 1989 after being developed by researchers at San Diego State University. Since then, its evidence-based curriculum has been used in public schools, YMCAs and other settings across the nation.