Warren opens new fitness center

DOWNEY - Jake Steinfeld, chairman of the Governor's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports Fitness, stressed the importance of both academics and fitness as he cut the ribbon Wednesday on the brand-new $100,000 physical fitness center won by Warren High School in the Governor's 2009 Challenge Competition.He said that during these challenging times, he nevertheless sees passion exhibited by the kids and the nurturing by caring parents and teachers, and this makes for a winning combination. A shining example of such caring, Steinfeld said, is the support provided by such people as Dr. Mary Stauffer, who was a guest at the upbeat ceremony which featured the Warren High band and cheer squad, as well as rows and rows of cheering students. WHS principal John Harris, who served as emcee, acknowledged that it was Stauffer who "helped start our fitness center." Stauffer donated a cardiac fitness center at West Middle School a few years ago. Kenny Rodgers, the Governor's Council executive director, said that, among the well-built Steinfeld's other accomplishments is his authorship of a best-selling book on physical fitness. In a reference to his main interest, body-building, that he shares with the Governor, Steinfeld said, "Body-building breeds confidence and self-esteem." These in turn lead to a readiness, he added, to stand up "for what you believe in" and "taking a shot" at your desired prize. "I urge you, if you have a dream," he said. "Go after it." He also lauded Warren High (and the district) for its attention to nutrition, and said the council was aware of the establishment of a culinary arts facility in the school. The Governor's Challenge Competition is an annual contest among K-12 California schools which encourages students, teachers and parents to be physically active 30-60 minutes a day, at least 3 days a week. A few hundred schools throughout the state took part in the competition last year, and out of 19 finalists chosen by the council, one elementary school, one middle school, and one high school was picked out to receive a grand prize each of a $100,000 fitness center. Warren High, where a total of 2,342 students completed the Governor's Challenge, won honored as California's 2009 High School of the Year, winning over 300 other participating high schools in the state. Ensconced in two elongated rooms directly below the stadium stands, the fitness center features an array of digitalized and video screen-supplied exercise equipment that includes such things as back, ab, tricep/bicep, and leg-stretching paraphernalia, jogging treadmills, etc. It even has a climbing wall. Warren High PE teacher Dan Latham, who along with his student teacher Chris Flores and Warren senior Alex Galiviz played leading roles in the school winning the $100,000 worth of equipment prize, said as matters now stand everyone in the district will be able to use the fitness center, starting with PE classes, etc.

********** Published: January 15, 2010 - Volume 8 - Issue 39