The 2017 Kentucky Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance’s (KAHPERD) annual convention will be Nov. 12-14 at the Embassy Suites, Lexington.

The year’s theme is “Developing the Well-Rounded Child,” with a focus on student wellness opportunities within the new Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). Sessions scheduled for the convention include:

  • Nov. 12, 4:30-6:30 p.m., Student Showcase and State Awards: This event recognizes Kentucky’s Healthiest Schools, KAHPERD Teacher of the Year award winners, student performances and other recognition awards from various state partners honoring those that are working to achieve a healthier Commonwealth.
  • Nov. 13, 8:40-9:50 a.m., Keynote Panel Discussion: The session’s speakers include:
    • Ben Chandler, CEO of the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky;
    • Brigitte Blom Ramsey, executive director of the Prichard Committee;
    • Major General (Ret.) Mike Davidson, Kentucky Mission Readiness; and
    • Jennifer Fraker, division director at Kentucky Department of Education
  • Nov. 14, 8:40-9:50 a.m., General Session: This session will feature the presentation of the proposed Kentucky Academic Standards for Health Education and Physical Education.

Professional development sessions also will be available at the KAHPERD conference, including:

The Functional FitnessGram
Shannon Maly, SHAPE America FitnessGram trainer
Nov. 12, 1-4 p.m.

This workshop provides an introduction to the FitnessGram program. It includes an overview of the fundamental aspects that make FitnessGram the most widely used tool in the world. Participants also will gain hands-on experience with the FitnessGram software and all it has to offer.

Learn to Move, Move to Learn
Lisa Perry, PE/PA senior adviser for the Alliance for a Healthier Generation
Nov. 12, 2-4 p.m.

Participants will learn strategies and get ideas to successfully infuse physical activity into the classroom, no matter the subject area or grade level. Participants will leave the session with the tools, resources and strategies that are sure to get students moving and learning more.

Teaching Dance for Understanding – A New Model for Dance in PE
Melanie Levenberg, program director for DANCEPL3Y
Nov. 13, 3-6 p.m.

Teaching Dance for Understanding (TDfU) offers educators a simple framework and activities that optimize student engagement, physical activity, positive thinking, group work and creative thinking skills. This active learning workshop goes through the six phases of the TDfU framework, where educators learn how to implement engaging, relevant and physically-active plans and units.

Participants will explore a variety of dance genres and learn how to lead simple dances using an interACTIVE class style. Teachers also will gain an understanding of different ways to assess outcomes for national and state standards in physical education and dance.

Skills-Based Health Education
Jessica Lawrence, director at Cairn Guidance
Nov. 13, 3-6 p.m.

This session will provide health educators with the opportunity to begin or improve an instructional unit for their K-12 classroom. Participants will be introduced to and use a variety of resources and tools, including health education rubrics, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Health Education Curriculum Analysis Tool (HECAT) and RMC Health’s Health Skills Models.

Participants will have the opportunity to review quality health education assessments from other educators and practice using rubrics to score student work. An assessment development toolkit will be shared that will provide support to educators on how to develop and implement quality assessments that allow students to demonstrate skills, not just knowledge gained.

Registration for the conference is available on the KAHPERD website.