Mount Ephraim Selected For NFL Play 60 Program | Gloucester City News
Thursday, January 26, 2012
By Leigh Anne Hubbs
Gloucester City News
Physical Education Teacher Martin Ware made a short presentation about the NFL’s Play 60 program during January’s Mount Ephraim Board of Education (BOE) meeting.
He said the program encourages children to get at least 60 minutes of daily physical activity, and that the district is one of only four from the Philadelphia region chosen to participate.
The six-week program will be open to students from fourth to eighth grade.
The program kicked off during an afternoon assembly January 17, with help from the Philadelphia Eagles mascot “Swoop” and a few cheerleaders.
For the next six weeks, students will log their activity time, and the winning gym class will visit Lincoln Financial Field for a tour.
Principal Michael Hunter said the program’s goal is to promote lifelong fitness, and that this is an exciting opportunity for the students of Mt. Ephraim.
Image via Wikipedia
In other news, Superintendent Joseph Rafferty said the district currently has 22 School Choice applications for next year.
With the nine students already attending, this could mean up to 31 School Choice students for the district, Rafferty said.
This program allows the district to fill empty seats with out of district students. In return the sending district pays tuition to Mt. Ephraim, he said.
Supervisor of Special Services Amy Francis said more than 250 cards were sent to the troops overseas last month for the holiday season.
Mr. Rafferty added that the students do many great things for others.
On December 30, Audubon Fence, Inc. replaced the damaged fence that surrounds the Mary Bray playground at a cost of $3,190.
Business Administrator Melisa Raywood said the new fence is sturdier, and should last much longer than the last one.
Raywood also said the district will switch its phone service to VOIP (voice over internet protocol), which will save almost 50 percent.
For this school year, X-Tel Communications cost $12,021.25.
But by switching to VOIP, the new rate will drop to $6,160 for the 2012-2013 school year, she said.
Board Members approved Stacie Martinez to be a substitute classroom teacher and substitute paraprofessional at a rate of $80 and $60 per day, respectively.
Mr. Hunter announced December’s Student of the Month Winners, one of whom is a School Choice student. The winners are:
First grade Camille Immendorf, Second grade Aaron Rampolla, Third grade Thomas Krieg, Fourth grade Hunter Capner, Fifth grade Julianne Brown, Sixth grade Mackenzie Greenwood, Seventh grade Angel Dougherty and Eighth grade Danielle Nicklas.
The next BOE meeting will be Monday, February 13, at 7:30 p.m. in Kershaw’s Media Center.
