Activities

Obesity is being found commonly at an alarming rate in children. To counter this problem let us first understand what childhood obesity is.

• By a rough definition, the extra amount of body weight can be defined as childhood obesity.
• The excess body weight can be found out by a devised calculation of Body Mass Index (BMI). The child's height and weight is measured to find out the extra weight.
• If the BMI of a child is 95% or more, compared to other children of his or her gender, age and height.
• The BMI figures alone do not mean your child is obese. These are other growth patterns like muscle and bone growth, that it not taken into consideration.
• Despite the BMI, get a diagnosis done by your doctor to confirm that your child is obese.

Diet and lifestyle patterns in the west have rapidly changed in the last four decades affecting human health in several ways. Let us now look into the reasons of childhood obesity.

• High calorie food items with no nutrition value have become common food items in the west. Most of the food consumed is processed. Food items like fruits are rarely consumed as obtained from nature.
• Fatty foods are consumed by more than 60% of the American youth, more than 20% of this percentage; do not consume five or more fruit servings that are recommended every day.
• Potato chips, and other calorie-rich snack foods have become part of popular culture through branding and commercial-based culture.
• The free time spend by the children are directed at deskbound or immobile activities. The most widespread of these is the favorite pastime of watching television. In fact studies have concluded that the highest cases of obesity occur in homes where more hours are allocated to TV watching.
• Kids watching TV consume huge amounts of snacks. This may be also due to lack of after school activities.
• The solution may be to include a fitness plan to your family activities. Swimming and jogging are good for reducing calorie consumption in your body.
• Girls are prone to obesity because there are lesser chances of them being participants in physically rigorous sport activities.
• Family history can play a decisive part in causing overweight problems in your child. 25% to 40% children have become obese because they have genetically inherited the condition.


Provo Canyon School Students Play Chess

Chess is considered to be one of the most ancient games. It is also a game that requires concentration, skill and thinking. Research has shown that the game helps in better concentration, more emotional control, developing better reading skills and in logical thinking. A chessboard with 64 chequered squares has two rows each of black and white chess pieces. The chess pieces are made to resemble various segments of an army. The king, the queen, the knight, the rook or the chariot and the pawn are important pieces that each side has. The movement limitation defines each piece.

# Intramural Program

General Information The Provo Canyon School Intramural Program is one of the largest co-curricular activity programs within a residential treatment center setting that complements the formal academic curriculum. The Intramural Program encompasses both the Provo Canyon School boys and girls campuses as well as the Academy at Canyon Creek. It offers extensive opportunities to currently enrolled students in over 20 competitive and structured activities each year. Participation in the program is voluntary and determined by interest. Participation can provide one with opportunities to have fun, learn new sports, meet people from other cultures, test one’s physical ability as well as offer a break from routine. Team sports generally take on a league structure with four league contests and a post-season tournament to determine divisional champions. Special events range from one-day to several day tournaments. In most events, skill levels and divisions are established to allow competition for Men’s, Women’s, Co-ed, and Mixed teams on an intramural basis.

The PCS Intramurals Program is housed within the Division of Clinical Services. Participants are encouraged to come in and meet with the Intramural Director regarding any issue, which interferes with the delivery of program services. In compliance with the American Disabilities Act, PCS makes reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities. In order to ensure the accessibility of programs and services, we encourage anyone needing information, assistance and/or accommodations of any kind to contact the intramural office. Every effort will be make to find ways to assist with any special needs in a confidential manner.

Participants are encouraged to provide feedback and/or concerns regarding activities and/or student officials/supervisors. Feedback can include completing a participant’s evaluation form of officials available in the intramural office, or meeting with members of the intramural staff. The growth of Provo Canyon School intramural activities depends primarily on student involvement. The intramural office is open for suggestions and ideas to add more variety and expansion to the program to serve the student body.

PURPOSE & PHILOSOPHY

The mission of Intramural Activities at Provo Canyon School is to provide a variety of recreational activities selected on the basis of their contribution to the development of the whole individual; physically, socially, intellectually, and emotionally.

"Play and recreation are more than mere diversions, they are recuperative requisites in the process of physical, intellectual and moral development."
-Karl G. Maeser- 1893

The intramural office strives to provide programming for all levels of ability and experience. Our aim is to serve the recreational needs of the majority of the student body and not just the athletic minority.

A competitive spirit of fair play and good sportsmanship is encouraged in order to provide all with a wholesome recreational experience. Participants and employees are asked to conduct themselves in a manner consistent with and support of the values set forth by Provo Canyon School.

Team Values

OPENNESS: I strive to be open and honest with my teammates. I view problems as natural and as opportunity to grow. Instead of trying to hide and deny my problems, I own them. I know that only by owning and facing my problems will I ever have the power to overcome them.

TRUST: I am honest with my teammates so that they can trust me. I expect others to be honest with me. Trust must be earned through honest, dependable behavior. Undependability and dishonesty are weaknesses that hurt my teammates.

CARE AND CONCERN: I show care and concern for each member of my team by doing nothing that is harmful to self or others. I do not try to solve other’s problems, but focus on my own problems and encourage others as they work on theirs. HELP AND SERVICE: I help and serve my teammates and others. Helping others makes me a better, happier person, and it also makes my ream a better place to be.

RESPONSIBILIY: I accept responsibility to honor my team values and help my teammates do the same.

GRATITUDE: I am mindful of good things people do for me, and I frequently express appreciation. Instead of feeling sorry for myself and focusing on the negative, I choose to see the positive and be grateful.

LEADERSHIP: Before I lead, I will learn to follow the positive examples of teammates and staff. I will be a positive influence on my teammates at all times in the things I say and do.

"Athletics are explosive, as any of us know who have participated in them. Athletes make every effort to win. The problem therefore, is to do everything that is fair and honorable to win, and also to know the line where sportsmanship stops and mockery starts…Stop short of winning if integrity is to be impaired…Sportsmanship is the spirituality in athletics." - Ezra Taft Benson

A Chess Proposal

Chess is a game rooted in antiquity. It has been played by many of the great minds of our civilization and has been extensively studied. The most recent article about it that I have seen was in last months Scientific American. Among adolescents, research has shown that it helps them with emotional control, logical processes and reading. In each game, there is usually a winner and a loser, and these results can be established in less than 15 minutes among beginners. Learning to win with dignity and lose gracefully is part and parcel of the game, since you will do both many times as you learn to play. Plus it can be a lot of fun!

Here at Provo Canyon School, chess must fit into the therapeutic plan. Finding time for the children to get together and play must not interfere with therapy. Finding a time when most of the patients and staff would be able to get together suggests a plan where the coach makes his room and equipment available several days a week after homeroom. Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday have been identified as days that are most appropriate. Tuesday and Wednesday and thought to be optimal.

Therefore, it is proposed to establish a gathering of interested parties in Room 8 after Home Room on Tuesdays and Wednesday to learn and play chess. Students would be eligible to come if they meet criteria to be established. It will be explicitly stated that attendance as a session may not conflict with any group or therapeutic activity, and that a therapist may limit participation if there is any problem. This program mush be supportive to the therapeutic mission of the after school time at Provo Canyon School.

There are tournaments for school aged children that occur frequently within easy driving distance. Once a cadre of qualified participants is developed, and appropriate staff support is secured, this cadre could go and compete as individuals and as a team against other adolescents and High Schools. This would be a long-term goal of the program.

Karl Paterson
9-19-06