CFISD students 'Fuel Up to Play 60' at Texans game

CFISD students gather before and during the Houston Texans game on Sept. 29 as part of a Fuel Up to Play 60 / Dairy Max promotion.

Forty students and their PE teachers from Kahla Middle School and Lee, Lieder and Postma elementary schools attended the Houston Texans game on Sept. 29 as part of a Fuel Up to Play 60/Dairy Max promotion. 

Fuel Up to Play 60, the leading in-school health and wellness program empowers students and educators to work together to build healthier schools and create healthy, high achieving students. The program offers a variety of opportunities for adults, students and schools: from in-school wellness initiatives to funding opportunities, there is something for everyone! Fuel Up to Play 60 inspires students and educators to make a meaningful, long-term impact in their school environments while enabling students to become leaders by providing them with resources to make significant changes and opportunities to build confidence and lifelong skills through teamwork. 

PE teachers, from left Tammy Bain (Lee), Alexis Harvey (Kahla), Elishah Pendleton (Lieder) and Danyelle Minchow (Postma) stand on the sideline at the Houston Texans game on Sept. 29. 

The program is introduced to all elementary and secondary PE and health teachers in the entire district during Staff Development Week each school year. The teachers then create a profile, prior to the beginning of school and log their fitness and nutrition activities throughout the year. There are incentives along the way for campuses who are more active than others. Kahla, Lee, Lieder and Postma were chosen at random from a group of six schools that had met the first deadline. The students were treated to a tailgate party, photo opportunities with cheerleaders and former players. They also got to go down into the tunnel during half time. The next round of incentives includes signed footballs by current Texans players for students, these schools will be chosen at the end of this month.

Kahla MS student Cindy Ramos enjoys the Houston Texans game with Texans cheerleaders on the sideline.

Secondary Health & PE Coordinator Sydne Marshall, Elementary Music & PE Coordinator –Loretta Bourn and Off-Campus PE Curriculum Coach Julia Elder all attended the game with the campuses as district-level administrators.

"We had an amazing time," Marshall said. "Some of our students may never get the opportunity to attend a pro football game with the red carpet treatment. They were treated like superstars, and they enjoyed every minute of it. I can’t think of a more deserving bunch than our physical education teachers and students. Our health is our wealth!"

Kahla MS students gather before the Fuel Up to Play 60 / Dairy Max event at NRG Stadium.

CFISD students and Kahla MS PE teacher Leslie Rash celebrate with retired Texans player Eric Brown prior to the football game on Sept. 29.

Fuel Up to Play 60 Excellence Awards

From left, Chase Yancey, PE paraeducator at Matzke ES; Scott Moore, PE teacher at Matzke; and Houston Texans offensive lineman Duane Brown celebrate the teachers’ Fuel Up to Play 60 Excellence Awards.

The first-ever Fuel Up to Play 60 Excellence Awards were recently presented by Dairy Max to honor leaders of school wellness at NRG Stadium. 

Three CFISD teachers were recognized at the event, including Sandra Burns, Copeland ESl; Scott Moore, Matzke ES; and Maria Woods, Postma ES. 

Fuel Up to Play 60 encourages students to eat healthy and move more. Food Services manager Rhonda Popham represented Copeland ES at the event.  

Due to the nutrition component of FUTP, the program works best when there is a strong partnership between the food service and physical education departments.

“The awards night was a great experience for the teachers involved,” said Loretta Bourn, district coordinator for elementary physical education. “Hopefully, their success will encourage other teachers and schools to embrace the program.”

Fuel Up to Play 60 at Matzke ES

Houston Texans player Jeff Tarpinian leads Matzke ES students through a Texans banner and onto the playground during a Fuel Up to Play 60 event on May 8.

As a result of being a top participant in the Fuel Up to Play 60 program, Matzke ES earned a Houston Texans pep rally at the school on May 8. 

Former Texans player J.J. Moses and current player Jeff Tarpinian spoke to the students about healthy eating and living an active lifestyle. Two Texans cheerleaders joined the festivities and even taught the students a dance! 

As part of the Fuel Up to Play 60 program, students commit to 60 minutes of daily physical activity and eating healthy. Matzke’s P.E. teachers, Scott Moore and Chase Yancey, have more than 150 students participating in the program and offer them a before-school “boot camp” a few days a week. 

“The students and staff had a great time!” said Cathy Jacobs, Matzke ES principal.

Former Texans J.J. Moses and current player Jeff Tarpinian welcome Matzke ES students to the May 8 pep rally on the school playground.

Houston Texans cheerleaders greet the Matzke ES students and prepare to lead them in a dance.

Matzke ES P.E. teacher Scott Moore celebrates with students at the Fuel Up to Play 60 event.

Matzke ES students (L-R) Kayden Weyker, Kiley Pierson, Emma Goike, Carmen Pena and Amaya Ceaser had a blast at the Fuel Up to Play 60 event.

Matzke ES students Lexus Simpson and Hailey Grant enjoy the visit from the Houston Texans.