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"No Excuses!" Documentary
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.
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.
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.
Documentary News and Reviews
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Bonus Footage from the Documentary
Documentary Clips with Discussion Prompts: This page has selected clips from the documentary that highlight different issues in physical education. We have also included some example discussion prompts that can be used and links to additional resources.
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Miscellaneous Videos - Youtube Playlist
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Student Interviews - Youtube Playlist
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Sponsors for the project
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.
Documentary CREDITS
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Featured in the Documentary
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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 |
