Students at Ryukyu Middle show growth through Presidential Fitness Test
OKINAWA, Japan — Ryukyu Middle School students joined peers across the Department of War Education Activity (DoWEA) in completing the Presidential Fitness Test this semester, measuring progress in strength, endurance and overall physical fitness through events such as the one-mile run, beep test, plank, curl-ups, push-ups and pull-ups.
For seventh grade student Jaxson Benvenuto, the mile run stood out as both a challenge and an opportunity to improve.
“I really liked the mile run, because it was pretty challenging,” Benvenuto said, adding that he lowered his time compared to the beginning of the school year.
Classmate Connor Crise said he found success in the strength-focused portions of the test.
“My favorite events were sit-ups and pull-ups,” Crise said. “The Presidential Fitness Test made me push myself harder.”
Crise said games and activities in physical education class prepared students for the PFT.
“We did stuff like capture the flag and manhunt, when you're running around a lot to prepare for the pacer and the mile run.”
Physical education teacher Joy Sims said 100 percent of students actively participated in the PFT, using the benchmarks to set goals and provide motivation.
“From the beginning of the semester, I frame the purpose of fitness testing as fitness testing is about showing growth from where you start,” Sims said. “I emphasize that all students are at different levels and everyone can improve at their own personal level.”
Sims paired the PFT with a FitnessGram post-assessment, allowing students to compare results with scores collected at the start of the semester.
“Since they have a baseline score of their fitness level from the pre-test at the beginning of the semester, they are super excited to see how much they can and have improved,” Sims said, adding students were especially motivated by seeing measurable progress after completing the PFT.
“The Presidential Fitness Testing provided a larger athletic benchmark and the students accepted that challenge,” Sims said.
