Students at Brownwood Intermediate School will be enjoying an expanded PE program this year, thanks to a Texas Fitness Now Grant from the Texas Education Agency.  The grant provided new sports equipment and instructional materials worth $8,271.00.

New sports that will be added to the PE curriculum are pickleball, golf, tennis, la cross, baseball and badminton.  “This will definitely enhance everything we’ve already been doing,” said Coach Stefenia Phipps.  Already part of the Intermediate PE classes are traditional sports like basketball, football and volleyball.  Lifetime sports include bowling and archery. 

Another addition to the PE program is 60 pedometers, which are electronic step counters.  “The pedometers will add a fitness component for kids who are not into sports,” said Coach Phipps. Also included in the new equipment is a field day package, jump ropes with stand,  dance CDs, portable air pump, an assortment of balls and books with suggested activities. 

The grant was obtained by Liesa Land, Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum, earlier this spring.  “Without Mrs. Land’s help, we would not have been able to add all this equipment to our program,” said Coach Phipps and Coach Brandon Brown. 

“PE has changed,” said Coach Brown.  “It’s not kickball on a dusty field.  Kids are able to get involved in a lot more variety.”

Caption: Liesa Land, Coach Phipps and Coach Brown show off some of the new sports equipment they received for the Intermediate School from a Texas Fitness Now Grant.