DPA or PDA

If any of you attended a Christian school, college or university, you know what PDA means.  For those of you who didn't, it stands for "Public Display of Affection" and on site there was to be none of it!

At our most recent RSM, we were given some new direction on PDA at our school.  Yes, PDA!  When there were a few laughs and jeers, we quickly realized that they meant DPA (Daily Physical Activity)  which is very different!  Or is it?  Perhaps our DPA could involve some PDA as a family.  I have read that doing physical activity together can develop close bonds between the participants.  I think that is one reason homeschool families are described as being very close or connected - they have more time to do activities together. 

The technical implications of this new direction is that we need to record how our families are completing the Daily Physical Activity components of their program.  Many of you already use the DPA log that I sent in the Parent Pack or one similar; others provide the info in a weekly update.  Sometimes, however, it is difficult to record how each family is doing it - we know they ARE doing it, but we may not know HOW.  As such, we would like to be sure to provide accurate info on the reports as to how this is accomplished.  You will notice a new "course" on your report card specific for DPA.  On it, we will need to record HOW it is being done.  For those of you who have found a way to share the details of how you are doing your 30mins each day, keep it up and I will record that info.  If you have found it difficult, please let me know and I would love to work with you to find a way that works for you. 

Here are a few ideas or resources that could help:

• LearnNowBC has an ONLINE DPA LOG that may make it fun for the kids to manage themselves.
• The Ministry of Education has THIS DOCUMENT that includes information and a tracking log
• Here is another version in a CALANDAR FORM.

Perhaps it is a good idea to review the requirements of DPA:
a. The government requires that all students K to 9 be involved in daily physical
activities 30 minutes a day for five days a week. (15 minutes for K)
b. I believe all of you are already doing this and you do not need to do any extra
special weekly reporting.
c. In home schooling, the 5 days can come from any of the seven days of the week.
d. It does not have to be 30 continuous minutes, but each section must be at least
10 minutes long.
e. Activities can include cardio, flexibility or strength.
f. Activities do not have to be organized or directly supervised.
g. Some examples:
i. 10 minutes of running around the neighbourhood + a 15-minute family
walk + 10 minutes of morning exercises would count.
ii. Or a 1 hour ballet class.
iii. Or bike riding for 20 minutes + shooting hoops for 10 minutes.
iv. Or a soccer league game.
v. Or chopping wood for 15 minutes + walking to the store for 10 minutes +
10 minutes of morning stretches


So, keep up that PDA!  I mean... DPA.  and PDA! 

And, please don't forget to e-mail with a weekly update or arrange to skype.

Blessings,