Sunset Ridge Competes for New Fitness Center, PE Grant

is being considered for a new fitness center worth $100,000 and a $6,000 grant for gym equipment, a state council announced Tuesday. 

Sunset Ridge along with eight other schools in the Bay Area and 115 statewide have been named finalists in the 2011 Governor’s Challenge Competition, which prompts students to be active for 30 to 60 minutes a day at least three days a week for one month, said Bill Bradley, spokesman for the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, which hosts the competition.

All 579 of Sunset Ridge’s students made that goal at least once this school year, said Bradley.

Combined, the school’s students, teachers and parents logged 120,900 days of physical activity this school year, and this is the third time Sunset Ridge has been named a finalist in the competition, said Bradley.

“Congratulations to all the Sunset Ridge students, parents and teachers who have been stepping up to make fitness a priority all year,” said Jake Steinfeld, chairman of the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports.  “And a special congratulations to Principal Cundiff and Governor’s Challenge Coordinator Daina Lujan--two great educators who have been relaying the message that being active not only helps you get healthier, it helps your mind work better and boosts your confidence and self-esteem too.”

Other finalists in the Bay Area include Holbrook Elementary in Concord, FAME Public Charter in Fremont, Junction K-8 in Livermore, Rancho Las Positas Elementary in Livermore, Los Altos High in Los Altos, Brooktree Elementary in San Jose, Ruskin Elementary in San Jose and Jefferson Elementary in San Leandro.

Six finalists statewide will receive the new fitness centers while one regionally will receive the $6,000 grant for new equipment. The winners will be announced at a ceremony in Sacramento in September.

The money for the fitness centers and grants come from sponsors of the competition--Anthem Blue Cross Foundation, the Coca-Cola Company, CVS/pharmacy, General Mills and Kaiser Permanente. 

According to Bradley, more than 1.4 million students, teachers and parents recorded more than 8 million days of exercise through the school year. Check out the complete log at www.CalGovCouncil.org.