February 2, 2018

Dr. Christine Burton, Members of the Millburn Board of Education and Millburn Middle School Administration:

We are writing to urge you to support the proposal at Millburn Middle School for daily gym throughout the school year with health class as a cycle class. This approach is in line with the recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Currently students only have daily physical education for three quarters and have daily health class for one quarter.

Our students’ physical and mental wellbeing, as well as their academic performance, would benefit greatly from steady physical education in their schedule. The body of research supporting this expansive. Below are a few studies referenced in the “School Health Practices and Policies Study” from 2016:

• Janssen I, Leblanc AG. Systematic review of the health benefits of physical activity and fitness in school-aged children and youth. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 2010;7:40.
• Michael SL, Merlo C, Basch C, et al. Critical connections: health and academics. Journal of School Health. 2015; 85(11):740–58.
• Institute of Medicine. Educating the Student Body: Taking Physical Activity and Physical Education to School. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press, 2013.
• Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans Midcourse Report Subcommittee of the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition. Physical activity guidelines for Americans midcourse report: strategies to increase physical activity among youth. Washington, DC: U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, 2012.

Thank you for your consideration.

Best regards,

PJ Kaiser

Svetlana Itkis

Carolyn Rendell