Clayton Ellis wants to make a clear distinction between the old and new trends in teaching P.E.
Ellis, the physical education instructor at Central High School, is intent on expanding the definition of the curriculum beyond the standard flag football games or weight lifting exercises required in high school gym classes 30 years ago. It’s a message Ellis wants to spread at the Aurora Public Schools’ inaugural “Family Fitness Night” slated for May 1 on the Central campus.
“We’re bringing in personal trainers, and some of them have some really innovative techniques for the way that they train the public,” Ellis said. “What I’m trying to point out is there’s more to a quality P.E. program than just lifting weights and traditional team sports.”
That message will come in appearances by a broad range of trainers and coaches, including Denver fitness guru Jamie Atlas, Denver Shaolin Kung Fu Taiji Institute instructor Sifu Tony Timmer, Bungee Boot Camp trainer Paul Serafini and motivational speaker Mark McIntosh from Mile High Sports Radio. What’s more, the free, three-hour event will feature vendors from the city of Aurora, the Tri-County Health Department, the Colorado Governor’s Council For Physical Fitness, Sol Vida Dance on East Colfax Avenue and a host of other organizations.
The event will run from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at both gyms at Aurora Central High School, 11700 E. 11th Ave.
“I’m going to have vendors around the outside of the gym, the demonstrations will be on the gym floor. People can come and work on fitness drills on the equipment,” Ellis said. “The big goal, the key message points are to raise the awareness of quality physical education programs.”
It’s not a new message for Ellis, who started teaching in the Aurora Public Schools district 10 years ago. In the past two years, he’s been named the National High School Physical Education Teacher of the Year from the National Association for Sport and Physical Education and has been appointed to the Colorado Governor’s Council for Physical Fitness. In all of his posts, Ellis has worked to redefine physical education standards, insisting that activities like yoga and tai chi can be just as effective as team sports and push-ups.
The inaugural “Family Fitness Night” is a chance to spread that message to the larger community, Ellis said. With free access to trainers, equipment, door prizes and a wide range of activities, the event will be geared toward students and parents alike.
“I would like to see it expand to something like a big fitness festival type thing,” said Ellis, adding that the event aligns with the National Association for Sport and Physical Education’s larger “Sports Week” event. “This year, it’s completely free to families and students. I could see it in the future being a large fundraising piece (but) this year, I just wanted to throw it out there and I got people to do it for free.”
Reach reporter Adam Goldstein at agoldstein@aurorasentinel.com or 720-449-9707