By: Amanda Kennington, Healthy Community School Coordinator
Goose Creek CISD students are encouraged to participate in physical activity through a coordinated school health program, which includes physical education and physical activity components aimed to support the general wellness of the whole child and reduce childhood obesity. According to the CDC, regular physical activity can help children and adolescents improve cardiorespiratory fitness, build strong bones and muscles, control weight, reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression and reduce the risk of developing health conditions. Schools in GCCISD offer a range of before-and/or after-school programs including, but not limited to athletics, physical activity clubs and community-based programs and organizations to promote student participation in physical activity.
At Bowie Elementary, boys and girls are offered the opportunity to participate in after-school physical activity clubs. As team members of the step team, the Bowie Young Gents (BYG), or the dance team, the Bowie Bearettes, participants practice after-school learning to develop higher standards of behavior, academic achievement, and leadership skills both on and off campus.
“I love being on this team (BYG) because it helps me be way more respectful, have better manners, be more confident…a better student,” said Domanii Levine, fifth grade student.
Participating students are expected to model responsibility and are held accountable for their grades. In fact, once each week the first 20 minutes of the dance team practice is utilized for “Bearettes Literacy Time,” where students are required to read or work to complete assignments.
Courtney Boyce is the advisor for the Bowie Bearettes. A few participants of this group include Emma Mondragon, Angie Montalvo, Keron Haynes (Love), Amy Montalvo, and Jimena Covarrubias
Delilah “LOVE” Haynes, fourth grade lt. captain, said, “The Bowie Bearettes has impacted my life by boosting my confidence. Before, I was shy and now I’m more brave and sociable. I enjoy my coaches and teammates. I couldn’t ask for a better team.”
The physical activity clubs provide opportunities to improve, build and develop social skills and to be productive citizens of the school community.
Michael Jackson serves as an educational aide and sponsor of the Bowie Young Gents. He has always had a passion for the art of dance since high school when he “fell in love with the opportunities he was given while stepping!” Stepping is a rhythmic movement that uses the hands and feet as an instrument. The movements are synchronized and chants are coordinated by the leader or step master. Students build skills such as persistence, dedication, and self-confidence.
Bowie Young Gents advisor, Michael Jackson poses with a few members of the Bowie Young Gents. They include Jayden Guerrero, Ramone Spiller, Jr., Domanii Levine, Gordon Perio and Diego Benitez.
“All three traits transfer to the classroom by giving the boys the tools they need to learn, study, and achieve their academic goals. By developing these traits, their struggles don’t become their obstacles; their struggles become a time where it is important to demonstrate persistence and dedication to achieve their dreams,” said Jackson.
Jackson said he has seen tremendous change in his students. Gordon Perio, fifth grade student, was recognized as being “Gent of the Month” for his behavior and accomplishments.
“Being on this team is showing other kids that you can do this…I am happy that Mr. Jackson persevered leading the team,” Gordon said.
The team cadence concludes with, “We fail if we don’t try; every day we get better and better; nothing is given, everything is earned; BYG.”
Courtney Boyce, educational aide and sponsor of the Bowie Bearettes said, “We have had so much support from principal Dr. Regina Patrick-Sims and fellow staff members at Bowie.”
The Bearettes learn dance basics and introductions to many dance forms. Since the forming of the groups, the Bearettes and BYG have performed at the Be Well™ Baytown Day community wellness event and the City of Baytown Christmas Parade. The teams also participated at several campus programs, including the Bowie Anti-Bullying Rally; Hispanic Heritage Program and hosted the schools first ever winter production!
“I like to be part of the step team because I get to learn new kinds of dancing. I would usually just be playing games inside, but being a part of the team keeps me active because I go home and practice the steps,” Jayden Guerrero, fourth grade student, said.
The physical activity clubs provided at Bowie Elementary serve to address the needs of the whole child to improve learning and health.