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What Collaborators Say About SPARK "In 2002, Nike selected SPARK as its exclusive physical activity program partner for NikeGO, our US signature community program. Today, these programs have evolved to "Let Me Play," and SPARK continues to partner with Nike to provide research-based curriculum, professional training opportunities and age-appropriate programs to schools and community-based organizations nationwide. The partnership we forged with SPARK has allowed us the opportunity to create and deliver highly-interactive programming for thousands of kids, teachers, early-childhood professionals, after-school program providers and community programs. Based on our positive experiences, we strongly recommend SPARK curriculum and teacher training to schools and organizations." "SPARK has been working as a strategic partner with Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield for over 5 years. Highmark has underwritten SPARK workshops in Pittsburgh Public Schools (K-5 and 6-8) as well as the SPARK High School research study, POPI (Pittsburgh Obesity Prevention Initiative). Additionally, Highmark disseminates SPARK after school (Active Recreation) through a network of 5 SPARK trained and certified trainers, who are Highmark employees. This group conducts workshops in the 49 county Highmark service area comprising most of Pennsylvania. Highmark recently announced their 5 year plan to invest 100 million dollars on programs to prevent childhood obesity. SPARK is one of their key components, and we are currently populating the HealthETools for Schools website which is their primary deliverable of Coordinated School Health content and resources. I've been asked to go to Pittsburgh in January (date to be determined) for strategic planning meeting with partners for the 5-year rollout. I have a proposal in front of Highmark now that won't be acted upon until after this meeting, although it appears certain we'll be doing 30 AR equipment sets in the near future as part of my recommendations for improving the current AR dissemination" "We've worked with the State Department of Health on brining SPARK Early Childhood to various Head Start Centers in Albany, NY. The projects began in 2004. They have been pleased with our work and are planning on expanding the project to other areas." What Teachers Say About SPARK "I cannot tell you how exhilarated I was at the end of our staff development day May 24. In 28 years in NYC I have never had such a positive experience for staff development. I feel that I could sit with you for a week and still not have all the information you could teach me to teach children. I tried many of the activities you taught us that day with some of my groups. It was exciting for them and me! Thank you!!!!!!"" " I would like to commend you on your staff. They have always been friendly, informative and helpful." "The SPARK program is the best I've worked with in twenty years of teaching. The lessons are clear, easy to follow, and require very little prep time. Each skill is laid out step by step so they build on one another." "We loved SPARK at our school.....We learned a lot in those two years. We changed our program, which is a lot better and more active. They gave us super ideas that we have implemented in our classes. Because of SPARK, we are a better department. I am glad we had the opportunity of SPARK and we miss them!" What Principals Say About SPARK "SPARK is still being used (training occurred more than 4 years ago) and is very popular with teachers. I even see them using some of the management and organizational techniques in the classroom. This was one of the best staff development decisions we have ever made. Thank you." "From where I sit, you couldn't find a more appropriate name than SPARK for this impressive program. Since bringing it to my site four years ago, I have watched it "spark" energy and enthusiasm in a staff that used to dread the thought of teaching one more PE class. In fact, I can clearly remember the day when one of my veteran teachers begged me to not observe her instructing what she called a "deadly PE lesson." I watched anyway -- she was right." "I once asked my staff what has made the positive difference between PE as it was and PE as it is since SPARK. The answer was clear: through intensive training, they have developed a sense of confidence in an area that used to scare many. That confidence has served to "spark" a love for PE, both for staff and students. I see it in the faces of children; I watch it in the efforts of my teachers." "Now when I ask that same veteran teacher which lesson she would prefer I observe, she simply smiles and says, "SPARK, of course!"
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