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Service Projects: Paradise U and No Excuses Documentary
  • ​​Paradise U Community Project​
  • No Excuses! - A Documentary on a Transformation Project in Harlem
  • ​Documentary Clips with Discussion Prompts​​​
QUALITY PHYSICAL EDUCATION ADVOCACY
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  • What Does Quality Physical Education Look Like?
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  • Effective Teaching Strategies - General
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  • Effective Teaching Strategies - ​Adapted Physical Education
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No Excuses! A Documentary About Quality Physical Education

  • Watch the Video
  • Reviews
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Now with Closed Captioning!
​​If you enjoy our film and/or found it useful, spread the word and help us advocate for quality physical education! Also available on Youtube​.​
  • A Physical Education Makeover​ (Inside Chico State)
  • New Documentary to Show Transformation of East Harlem School into Model of School Wellness (SPARK.org)
  • ​No Excuses! A Film about a Transformation in Harlem
  • Skillastics Included in New Documentary that Shows Transformation of East Harlem School into a Model of School Wellness
  • USGA Ambassador Sorenstam Visits Harlem School​
Miscellaneous​
Student Interviews
Our main sponsors for this project were SPARK and Goldman Sachs Gives, who generously donated training, curriculum, and equipment. Other sponsors include the Accusplit, Action Based Learning Lab, Annika Foundation, Fit Deck, Healthy Kids Challenge, Healthy Lifestyle Choices, Human Kinetics, Skillastics, Spikeball, and The First Tee. Thank you to everyone involved in making this project possible.

​Director and Producer
John Roussell, PhD
​Producer
Cathrine Himberd, PhD
Associate Producer
​Reece Hauf
Associate Producer
​Erica Markham
Associate Producer
​Lauren Miller-Galvin
Social Media Director
Negin Riazi

People Featured in the Documentary​
Dirk Bedford
Damma Bell
Craig Buschner
Dan DeJager
Donald Driscoll
Brandon Dunn
Eloise Elliott
​Lise Evans

Michael Evans
Julie Frank
George Graham
​Stella Heyliger-Mulatu

Cathrine Himberg
Joanna Horwitz
David Janinis
Stephen Jefferies

Tracy Krause
Anna Larson
Thom McKenzie
Missy Parker
Renardo Pope
Helen Primrose
Wendy Reynoso
Cheryl Richardson

​Marcus Samuelson
Sandy “Spin” Slade
Jan Gunnar Solli
Annika Sorenstam
Dave Spurlock
Deborah Tannehill
Michael Williams
  • ​​​Documentary Clips with Discussion Prompts​
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​In 2011, the Storefront Academy in Harlem, N.Y. (previously named The Children's Storefront School) was selected to receive a special makeover to implement quality physical education and a coordinated school wellness program. Cathrine Himberg began working with the teachers and administrators at the school to retire the "roll out the ball" "gym class" approach, and develop a quality physical education program that fit the students’ needs. After hiring a qualified credentialed physical education teacher, all teachers and most of the staff at the school participated in SPARK Programs training. A coordinated school wellness initiative was in the making, with quality physical education in the center. Physical activity was promoted during recess, as well as in the classrooms in the form of brain breaks (brain boosts). Improvements were made in the cafeteria, nutrition education was encouraged in the classroom, and parents were educated about the project and the important role they could play.

​The project was implemented at the Storefront Academy to show that "If you can do quality P.E. here, you can do it anywhere." In order to get parents' and administrators' attention, John Mathieu Roussell created a film about the transformation called "No Excuses!". The barriers the school posed were somewhat unique, and there were many. Lack of space was a serious challenge and the teachers needed equipment and resources to ensure success. The focus on brain breaks (brain boosts) in the classroom allowed classroom teachers and administrators to experience what the research has shown: that physical activity breaks during academic studies enhances learning and academic success. Roussell’s interviews with The Storefront Academy’s students, teachers, and administrators provide insight into their learning and growth over the first year of the project.

In the film, Cathrine Himberg also visits other teachers and administrators in California, South Carolina, Washington, and West Virginia who were experiencing how quality physical education and physical activity throughout the school day could be used as tools to improve students’ academic success, behavior in the classroom, motivation to learn, and overall wellness.

The “make-over” project at The Storefront Academy was funded by private donations but it can be replicated with less funds, as long as there is a REAL teacher involved and support from the administration. It is crucial that education leaders understand why they should care about quality physical education and realize the important role they play in ensuring that students receive it, along with opportunities to be physically active throughout the day.

We hope that “No Excuses!” and/or clips from the film will serve as useful tools in garnering administrators’ and parents' support for quality physical education and comprehensive school wellness. Parents and administrators who understand the science behind these concepts will be more likely to support the movement toward more movement in schools.

​Promoting Quality Physical Education through Advocacy and Free Access to Information and Resources