Dallas Elementary teacher named a top health and fitness leader across the country

KAMLOOPS — A Kamloops elementary school won national recognition as a Building Our Kids’ Success (BOKS) program leader.

Clay Cartie, a Grade 6/7 teacher at Dallas Elementary, won top marks across the country as a top “Defender of Physical Activity of 2021” on behalf of his school. BOKS is a free physical activity program designed to get kids active and establish a lifelong commitment to health and fitness. BOKS is based on the correlation between exercise, academic performance and behaviour issues.

“It really should be defined as a win by Dallas Elementary,” Cartie said. “And it is important to note that the Kamloops-Thompson School District may have one of the highest BOKS participation rates in Canada, which is leadership being shown not only by our school but also by the district.”

Cartie said the program makes exercise seem more fun and less fitness-oriented.

“There is such a difference in the kids in terms of the way they answer questions and are engaged in the classroom,” he said. “When we are unable to do this program, for example in the winter when it is cold outside and the gym is being used for the winter concert, the kids are definitely not as engaged. It’s sustainable because it is giving all students opportunities to participate, not just athletes. That half-hour in the day means kids are more focused and able to learn for the next four hours. It helps learning in the long run.”

Sherry Stade, SD73 health promoting schools coordinator, said BOKS started with one or two teachers in a school, then lead to half the school. While she doesn’t know the exact number of schools participating in BOKS, she was told by BOKS staff that they have the most participating schools in a district. She said half of SD73’s elementary schools participate.