Dear Ridgecrest and North City families,
Our focus for PE the first trimester has been three components of health-related physical fitness:
cardiovascular endurance, strength, and flexibility. For informational purposes only we have been
participating in fitness tests to measure these components. Each of the test items was selected to assess
important aspects of a student's health-related fitness, not skills. Students are compared not to one
another, but to health fitness standards carefully established for each age and gender that indicate good
health. Throughout the rest of the year, we will be using these scores to set goals and track our progress.
You will find your child's scores attached to this letter.
Your son or daughter will be doing these fitness tests twice during this school year. His or her score can
be found on the left hand side of each box where it says fall/spring score. If there is a ‘*’ then they did
not do the test. If there is a ‘D’ then they started, but did not finish the test in the allotted time.
Sincerely,
Allyn Woods
Ridgecrest and North City
Physical Education
What Tests Did My Student Do?
1st and 2nd grade
Practiced Push-Ups, Curl-Ups
Tested Sit and Reach, ¼ mile run/walk, Shuttle Run, Flexed Arm Hang
2nd and 3rd grade split class and 4th grade
Tested: Push-Ups, Curl-Ups, ½ mile run/walk, Shuttle Run, Flexed Arm Hang, Pacer
5th and 6th grade
Tested: Push-Ups, Curl-Ups, Mile run/walk, Shuttle Run, Flexed Arm Hang, Pacer
What are these tests?
Curl-Ups: To measure abdominal strength and endurance. Students do as many curl-ups (like sit-ups)
as possible at a given cadence. When they stop their test is over.
Push-Ups: To measure upper body strength and endurance. Students do as many push-ups as possible
at a given cadence. When they stop their test is over.
Sit and Reach: To measure flexibility of lower back and hamstrings. Student sit at a special box with a
measuring scale on it. Students stretch their hands forward on this box as far as they can without letting
their legs come off the floor or bend.
Shuttle Run: To measure speed and agility. Students run between two spots 30 feet apart. Students run
down, pick up a block and bring it back two times.
¼ mile, ½ mile, 1 mile Run/Walk: To measure heart and lung endurance. Students run there given
distance as fast as they can.
Pacer: To measure heart and lung endurance. Students run between two 20-meter objects at a certain
pace. The speed increases as the test moves along. Students continue until they cannot keep the pace.
Flexed Arm Hang: To measure upper arm and shoulder strength and endurance. Students hold
themselves up with their chin by the bar as long as they can.
What are the different levels that I see in each test box?
The curl-ups, push-ups, sit and reach, 1/4 mile, ½ mile, 1 mile, and shuttle run are all part of the
Presidential Fitness Program. This program gives students three levels to achieve.
Healthy Level: The level at which they believe students that are living a healthy lifestyle can reach.
National Level: The level at which they believe students are demonstrating a basic, yet challenging
level of fitness. If you get above this level then you are in the top 50% of students your age.
Presidential Level: The level at which they believe students are demonstrating an outstanding level of
fitness. If you get above this level then you are in the top 85% of students your age.
The Pacer and Flexed Arm Hang are a different fitness program called Fitnessgram. This program
allows students to move toward scoring in a healthy zone. You will see for each of these tests there is a
healthy low and a healthy high. Students are encouraged to reach a level above the healthy low.
What can my son/daughter do to improve her score?
Curl-Ups: Try doing sit-ups, stomach crunches or other forms of abdominal exercises for 10 minutes per
day, 4-5 days per week
Sit and Reach: Try stretching for 5-10 minutes each day, perhaps before going to bed or after
awakening, as part of your routine.
Shuttle Run: Try doing activities that promote foot quickness and running in short bursts such as,
jumping rope, tennis, handball, or basketball at least three times per week.
¼ mile, ½ mile, 1 mile Run/Walk and Pacer: Try doing cardiovascular activities such as jogging or
walking, swimming, or bicycling, for 20 minutes per day, 3 days per week.
Flexed Arm Hang and Push-Ups: Try doing push-ups, pull-ups, chin-ups, or working with dumbbells
3-4 times per week. Do as many repetitions as you can without undue strain or discomfort.