Two Livermore Schools Finalists in Governor’s Fitness Competition

Here's an announcement via the :

Jake Steinfeld, Chairman of the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, announced today that and in Livermore are two of nine school finalists in the Bay Area Region and 116 schools state-wide that have been named finalists in the 2011 Governor’s Challenge Competition.

The Governor’s Challenge Competition is a contest that promotes increased physical activity and better nutrition among California’s children. The nine Bay Area school finalists are:

• Holbrook Elementary in Concord
• FAME Public Charter in Fremont
• Junction K-8 in Livermore
• Rancho Las Positas Elementary in Livermore
• Los Altos High in Los Altos
• Sunset Ridge Elementary in Pacifica
• Brooktree Elementary in San Jose
• Ruskin Elementary in San Jose
• Jefferson Elementary in San Leandro

The Governor’s Challenge is to be active 30-60 minutes a day, at least three days a week for a month. All 765 Junction and all 537 Rancho Las Positas students successfully completed at least one challenge this year, and together the schools’ students, teachers and parents engaged in more than 62,600 days of physical activity.

The announcement marks the fifth straight year that Rancho Las Positas has been named a finalist in the Governor’s Challenge.

In 2009 Rancho won the statewide Elementary School of the Year and then donated their grand prize fitness center to Tuolumne Elementary School in Modesto.

In 2008 Rancho was named the competition’s Bay Area Regional Champion and received a $5,000 award. Junction K-8 is a first-time finalist in this year’s Governor’s Challenge.

“Congratulations to all the Junction K-8 and Rancho Las Positas students, parents and teachers who have been stepping up to make fitness a priority all year,” Steinfeld said. “And a special congratulations to their principals and Governor’s Challenge Coordinators who have been relaying the message that being active not only helps you get healthier, it helps your mind work better and boosts your confidence and self-esteem too!”

The 116 school finalists named today are now under consideration for prizes including six brand new fitness centers valued at $100,000 each and 11 Regional Awards of $6,000 each, which will be used to buy new physical activity equipment and other school supplies. Award winning schools will be announced at a special ceremony at the Capitol in September.

Statewide more than 1.4 million participants recorded more than 8 million days of physical activity through the Governor’s Challenge in 2011. Complete physical activity records of participating schools in the Governor’s Challenge can be found at www.CalGovCouncil.org.

About the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports

The California Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to promoting physical activity for all Californians with an emphasis on children and youth. Council members include Chairman Jake Steinfeld, Vice Chairman Peter Vidmar, and California sports legends such as Tony Hawk, Misty May-Treanor, and Laila Ali. Governor Brown is the Honorary Chairman and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson is the co-Honorary Chairman.

Governor’s Council key initiatives include the Governor’s Challenge, the Governor’s Council Spotlight Awards presented by the Anthem Blue Cross Foundation, the Live Like a Champion Tour powered by Anthem Blue Cross and Exercise is Medicine. Founding sponsors are Anthem Blue Cross Foundation and Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports Awards Kaiser Permanente. Other sponsors include The Coca-Cola Company, CVS/pharmacy and General Mills.