Daily Physical Activity (DPA)
The Ministry of Education has announced the introduction of Daily Physical Activity to help students develop healthy daily physical activity habits. The program augments existing Physical Education, Health and extracurricular activities by mandating that B.C.’s K-12 students participate daily in healthy levels of activity.
Some examples include P.E. classes, school or community teams, intramurals, open gyms, community recreation, drop-in sports, individual activities, walking or cycling to and from school, skateboarding, dance, weight or circuit training, swimming, active play, physical labour etc.
Requirements: Quick Link to DPA Logs
• Kindergarten to Grade 7: 30 minutes daily of physical activity, five days out of seven, in minimum 10 minute intervals
• Grades 8-9: 30 minutes daily or 150 minutes a week of daily physical activity (replaces 80 hrs requirement for Graduation transitions)
• Grades 10-12: 150 minutes a week of daily physical activity, (replaces 80 hrs requirement for Graduation transitions)
Must be moderate to vigorous activity involving strength, endurance, and flexibility
Can take place during instructional and non-instructional time
Some examples include P.E. classes, school or community teams, intramurals, open gyms, community recreation, drop-in sports, individual activities, walking or cycling to and from school, skateboarding, dance, weight or circuit training, swimming, active play, physical labour etc.
Students’ activity will be monitored and reported out by schools
Term and Final reports will state Meeting/Not Meeting Requirement
A comment should accompany a Not Meeting Requirement statement
Guiding Principles:
• This is a socially responsible program, shared by the school, family and community, aimed at student health and learning
• Schools will encourage and offer a variety of opportunities for students to meet the DPA requirement, but opportunities and responsibilities for many other activities reside with the family and community
• Participation in PE Classes in grades 8 and 9 accounts for half or more of the required minutes, but it is the responsibility of students to engage in DPA on non-PE days and to record that activity
• Students in Grades 8-12, with parent participation and support, will be responsible for tracking and working with the school to provide their individual logs
• Students in Grade 8 & 9 will receive guidance and assistance in recording their DPA, with increasing responsibility for self-tracking in Grades 10 – 12
Some Suggestions to Assist Your Child in Meeting the DPA Requirement:
• Discuss with your child why he/she is not participating and/or documenting activities
• Reinforce the importance of physical activity through discussion and example
• Consider the time your child spends with T.V. Computers and video games, and encourage him or her to be physically active
• Take advantage of opportunities for DPA available at the school
• Develop a plan to increase your child’s activity, including such things as school and community facilities, walking or cycling to and from school, individual or family recreational pursuits, dance, household chores requiring physical activity (mowing, shovelling, etc.) structured and unstructured sports and activities, etc.
• Assist and encourage your child with engaging in and tracking physical activity
Links:
Ministry of Education DPA Website:
http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/dpa/
Program Guide:
http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/dpa/pdfs/program_guide.pdf
Link to DPA Logs