Select: [Current News] [Legislative News] [District Information] [Celebrations]
Message from Michele Rusnak and Tracy Lunoff:
Welcome to the AISD Physical Education and Health Education web site. The goal of this web site is to provide educators information regarding the AISD physical education and health education programs.
For Physical Education you will find physical education and physical activity information regarding state mandates, district requirements, curriculum, physical activity, coordinated school health program, current news and research.
For Health Education you will find health concepts taught through a comprehensive integrated approach. Topics include, physical/social/mental health, environmental health, consumer health, disease prevention, human sexuality, parenting and paternity awareness, nutrition, alcohol, tobacco, drugs, healthy lifestyles, interpersonal skills, goal setting, decision-making, and CPR/first-aid/AED. You will also find national and state standards for health education, district requirements, current news and research. The high school credit health course covers all of the TEKS for Health 8-12th grade and National Health Education Standards. AISDs Health Education curriculum includes characteristics of effective health education instruction. (http://www.cdc.gov/HealthyYouth/SHER/characteristics/index.htm).
A quote from Michele Rusnak, the Physical Education Coordinator for AISD, “I have been an advocate for quality physical education for over 20 years and I am committed in providing an aligned curriculum and meaningful professional development for the teachers to improve students’ movement skills, knowledge, physical fitness and social development. Please join me in supporting the health and wellness of all AISD students.”
A quote from Tracy Lunoff, the Health Coordinator for AISD, “I am a passionate advocate for children’s health. The epidemic of childhood obesity and the link between healthy students and academic performance is significant. I believe health education is an integral part of the learning environment. Our role as educators is to teach students, teach our peers, and influence our schools and community that health is important and vital.”
Current News
Social Development Video
This video explains what "up time" is and it hits a lot of our social development TEKS.
Legislative News
Legislation Update
12/1/09
The State Board of Education (SBOE) met on November 18, 2009 to discuss the revised graduation plans and how Health and Physical Education would be affected. SBOE is attempting to formulate TEKS based standards for all Physical Education type classes, including all PE substitutions. There was discussion that Athletics would create and have their own TEKS based standards. The SBOE members will be voting on various options in January 2010.
TEA will be posting more information on their website within the next two to three weeks for public comment before the vote in January. The TAHPERD website http://tahperd.org/ is another resource for more information on this issue.
District Information
Physical Education District Information
The AISD Physical Education Department uses the following documents to strive for a quality physical education program:
- Mission Statement
- Mission Statement (Spanish)
- Definition of a Physically Education Person
- Statement of Purposes and Believes
Celebrations
CATCH Awards of Excellence
The University of Texas- Houston and the Michael & Susan Dell Center for the Advancement of Healthy Living announced therecipients of the 2009 CATCH MVP School Awards of Excellence earlier this year. Applications were assessed based on criteria regarding each component area (Food Services/Nutrition Environment, Physical Education & Physical Activity, HealthCurriculum/Classroom Lessons, and Family & Community Involvement) and overall coordination and collaboration efforts. Specifically, the reviewers examined the applications for programs and activities that established a healthy school environment, worked toward CATCH Program awareness, and emphasized healthy behavior change efforts. Congratulations to the following AISD schools:
| $3,000 CATCH MVP School Awards | $1,500 CATCH MVP School Awards | $750 CATCH MVP School Awards | CATCH MVP School Certificate |
| St. Elmo Elementary School | Cook Elementary School | Barrington Elementary School | Blackshear Elementary School |
| T.A. Brown Elementary School | McBee Elementary School | Houston Elementary School | Campbell Elementary School |
| Walnut Creek Elementary School | Odom Elementary School | Jordan Elementary School | Joslin Elementary School |
| Ortega Elementary School | Oak Springs Elementary School | ||
| Pleasant Hill Elementary School | Pillow Elementary School | ||
| Sims Elementary School | |||
| Sunset Valley Elementary School |
CATCH MVP Individual Awards
The CATCH Program and the Michael & Susan Dell Center for Advancement of Healthy Living announced the 2009 CATCH MVP Award recipients for Austin ISD. These individuals were recognized for their commitment to healthy living and the impact they have had on their school community. They were honored at the 2nd Annual CATCH MVP Awards Ceremony at the Thompson Conference Center on December 1, 2009.
Congratulations to these incredible folks who are helping kids make the healthy choice the easy choice.
- Theresa Artman (Joslin Elementary) CATCH Classroom MVP
- Lauren Mikulencak (Pillow Elementary) CATCH PE MVP
- Janice Hinojosa (Pickle Elementary) CATCH Child Nutrition Services MVP
- Josie Villarreal (Allan Elementary) CATCH Parent Leader MVP
- Charlotte Taylor (Palm Elementary) CATCH Principal MVP
- Karen Young & Elisabeth Leathe (Blackshear Elementary) CATCH Specialized Staff MVP

PHYSICAL ED. & HEALTH ED.