U.S. Surgeon General Steven Galson joins first graders from PS/MS 126 in
an upper body workout.
Students at PS/MS 126 welcomed a special guest into their Physical Education class this past week: the A
cting United States Surgeon General, Rear Admiral Steven Galson.
The Acting Surgeon General, who visited the Manhattan school to observe its efforts to improve students' health and fitness, joined several classes of students in a scooter activity designed to improve cooperation and upper-body strength.
“It was cool that the surgeon general didn’t just stand and watch us,” a sixth grader said. “He got a workout too – and he looked like he was having a lot of fun while he was doing it with us.”
Galson was in town highlighting his Healthy Youth for a Healthy Future initiative, which focuses on preventing and reducing childhood obesity.
“Here at P.S./M.S. 126, our goal is to teach kids why physical activity is important for their health and to help them find enjoyable ways to be active for the rest of their lives,” Physical Education teacher John DeMatteo said. “In each physical education class, we use a combination of exercises to help students improve their health-related fitness. We also have a number of before- and after-school programs so they can be active on a regular basis in a way that is fun for them.”
“The PE classes at P.S./M.S. 126 are a great example of the fitness education that is going on all over the City,” Director of Fitness and Health Education Lori Rose Benson said. “This is the kind of approach that has a lifelong impact and our students are better off physically and academically because of it.”
The Department of Education has a comprehensive approach to fitness and health education, which includes a partnership with the City's Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
If you have a story about a NYC school or student, e-mail us at MyStory@schools.nyc.gov .
Please include a photo with your story. Photos of students require a signed media consent form , which you can fax to (212) 374-5584