2018CANADIAN ANNUAL REPORT

OUR VIS ION

Life-changing events take different forms. That was the case for Kathleen Tullie, Founder and Executive Director of BOKS, who after 18 years in the corporate real estate world, decided she wanted to spend her time working on something that makes a difference.

Kathleen had a desire to engage the community and leave a lasting positive impact on children. Being an athlete, she knew exercise made her feel good and more focused, but it wasn’t until reading the book SPARK, by Dr. John Ratey of Harvard Medical School, that she had evidence to support her feelings. Dr. Ratey laid out a compelling argument for the positive correlation between exercise, academic performance and behaviour issues. A sedentary life and poor eat-ing habits can lower kids’ performance in the classroom and start a cycle of health problems later in life. Studies show that kids who exercise see significant boosts in intelligence-test scores and core subjects at school, compared to their inactive peers.

OU R S TOR Y

To reverse the worldwide pandemic of physical inactivity and its crippling effects.

OUR MISSION

To empower school communities to improve our children mentally, physically and socially by strengthening their minds and bodies through movement.

At the end of the 12-week BOKS program, children participating three times a week had significantly better BMI scores – an age- and sex-specific measure used to track changes in weight status – and a greater chance of moving to a lower BMI category – such as normal instead of overweight – than did children in the comparison group. Three-times-a-week participants also had better scores regarding their engagement in schoolwork, while those in the two-times-a-week group had significant improvements in mood, vitality and energy.

Exercise for kids is first and foremost all about playing and having fun. It helps them develop physically (keeps them from being obese and diabetic), emotionally (decreases anxiety, bad behaviour and poor mood) and is necessary for proper brain development (makes them smarter, more motivated and helps their brains grow properly). Physically, the goals for children are to develop endurance, strength and flexibility. Emotionally, play and vigorous activity will help them more easily deal with stress, improve attention span, fit in with their peers, as well as be more resilient.

I have been a strong supporter and advocate of the BOKS program since its inception in 2009. I am thrilled that my book, SPARK, provided the inspiration and motivation for Kathleen Tullie to launch BOKS almost 10 years ago and I continue to be encouraged by those who are taking matters into their own hands and bringing much-needed and evidence-based programs to those who need it most– our children. By bringing BOKS to your school or non-profit organization, you are a part of something much bigger than yourself. You are working towards solving a global physical inactivity crisis. Together, we can reverse this trend and change the trajectory of our youth, one child at a time.

A NOTE FROM DR. JOHN RATEY

— DR. TAVERASProfessor of Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School

“Childhood is an important time for the establishment of healthy habits and routines that might protect children from chronic diseases including obesity, heart disease and depression, which are the biggest contributors to morbidity and mortality in the U.S. Programs such as BOKS that help children not only develop healthy habits to promote optimal growth trajectories but also promote social and emotional skills that can help them better handle stress, peer interactions and negative feelings; are just what children need and should be broadly scaled.”

— DR. JOHN RATEY, MD, AUTHOR OF SPARK (2008)

“Exercise is the single most powerful tool you have to optimize your brain function.”

A 3 day/week before-school physical activity program resulted in improved BMI and prevented increases in child obesity. Both Build Our Kids' Success

groups had improved social−emotional wellness versus controls.

Results from a recent study done by Mass General Hospital for Children have been published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine demonstrating the impact BOKS has on children’s brains and bodies.

EXERCISE BACKED BY SCIENCE

PROG RAM OFFERINGS

We are constantly adding to our collection of lesson plans with timely, themed lessons that can be run at various times throughout the year – for example, Olympics Lesson, Jump Rope Lesson, Spring Celebration, Playground Lesson…the list goes on and on. These plans follow the same evidence-based formula as our flagship program.

THEMED LESSON PLANS

BOKS Bursts are short 2 to 10 minute in-classroom physical activities created to help kids stay active throughout the school day, energizing their brains for enhanced learning. All Bursts, whether individual, partner, or team focused, are designed with a classroom setting in mind and can be performed with minimal space.

BOKS BURSTS

BOKS and Tara Stiles (founder of STRALA Yoga) teamed up to create fun and easy yoga and mindfulness activities. Designed to activate the body’s relaxation response by breathing deep, matching your breath and body together and moving your whole body in harmony with itself, these activities are perfect for students of all ages.

YOGA & MINDFULNESS

This curriculum keeps young kids (aged 2-5) active throughout their day as well as teaches them about healthy eating habits. This early childhood curriculum provides younger children a safe, fun environment to practice skills through play, while building confidence and developing lifelong healthy habits.

EARLY CHILDHOOD

Targeted at older students, this curriculum “hides” functional fitness skills and concepts within games, relays, and obstacle courses. By combining traditional playground games, typical ball sports and fast paced relay races and obstacle courses, BOKS provides moderate to vigorous physical activity programming.

MIDDLE SCHOOL

This 12-week curriculum focuses on getting elementary kids moving while developing a functional fitness skill of the week (ex. squat, push up, plank). Each class includes a free play period, warm up, skill, running related activities, class game and short nutritional talk.

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

1. Lay down on the ground with your tummy touching the floor. “Swim” for 30 seconds in a row.

2. Do a “v” sit on the ground and cycle (pedaling movements with feet while you pretend to hold the handles of the bicycle or place hands behind you to balance) for 30 seconds.

3. Stand up and jog on the spot for 30 seconds.

4. Repeat sequence 10 times.

Individual, little space, 5-10 min, K-8 gradesTRIATHLON BURST

1,163SCHOOLS

ENROLLED

8,461WEEKS OF ACTIV IT Y

2,660

23,102VOLUNTEERS

KIDS ACTIVE THIS YE AR

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Ranch Park Elementary enrolled in BOKS in 2014, and has been actively running the program ever since, incorporating local high school volunteers to help mentor the children. Thank you for making a difference!

RANCH PARK ELEMENTARY Coquitlam, BC

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1 0 0 0 TH BO K S

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Part of a board-wide initiative to get children in Halifax more active before school, Caudle Park Elementary began running BOKS this past fall, with 45 children participating weekly. Welcome to the BOKS family!

CAUDLE PARK ELEMENTAR Y Lower Sackville, NS

W ITHIN CANADALOCATIONS FROM 1 SCHOOL TO 1 0 0 0 SCHOOLS, COAST-TO-COAST

““Everyone talks about it at school. We have had several positive comments from parents. Neighbouring schools have even registered!

We are doing the program with two special needs classes. We find that it’s a structured plan that gets the students moving, resulting in less behaviour issues and higher heart rates.

“The kids in different grades are playing together, not only in the morning, but out on the playground as well. It is bringing our learning communities together.WE OFT EN HEA R FR OM

ADM INISTRATOR S AND PARENTS AB OU T T H E DIFFERENCE T H EY S EE IN TH EIR CH I L DR EN. HERE IS HOW T H EY FEEL ABOUT BOKS , I N T H EI R OWN WORDS. . . “It allowed for movement and

allowed students who might not otherwise be able to afford an extra-curricular activity to benefit from one.

ADMINISTRATORS,TEACHERS & PARENTS

STORIES

“We see better concentration in students following the morning exercise. Students like to move more and more, ask for more exercise, and participate more in various physical activities.

STORIES BY TRAINER S

What makes BOKS so successful is our incredible volunteers. Our volunteer base is made up of school staff, parents, high school students, and community members. And it seems they appreciate BOKS as much as we appreciate them!“

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I love watching the children grow and change year-to-year, and from the beginning of the school year to the end of the year. Seeing their confidence grow, seeing who is becoming a natural leader and who is stepping outside of their comfort zone. I’m honoured and proud to be a part of this program.

Teachers are saying that students come into the classroom ready to learn. Students have shared with them that their brain is more turned on after BOKS.

BOKS has really made a difference with our kids…especially students with some behaviour issues. We’ve seen them become more empowered and positive at school. The fitness level of our students has also increased and we have noticed that they are much more focused/sharp (mentally) in the morning.

We had some staff members that were questioning the impact it might have, however, they have seen the positive impact on their own students, and they themselves have become BOKS trainers. I have teachers tell me that they notice when students have BOKS or don’t.

TRAFFIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOL GAME

Format: Individual activity Materials: None or white board to write down cues Set Up: Kids spread out across gym or field Object: Get moving! Details: Kids follow cues to change movements

• Red Light - stop moving • Green Light - run • Yellow Light - side shuffle • Speed Bump - bunny hops • Carpool - get a partner and travel together interlocking arms • Deer Crossing - gallop

STORIES FR OM BOKS KIDS

I like BOKS because of the games.

— Briyanna, 8-years-old

I like BOKS because there are fun and cool games. I also like the yoga poses.

— Eryx

I like BOKS because it wakes me up.

— Brooklyn, 6-years-oldBOKS rocks! BOKS is awesome! Thank you for teaching BOKS. It is very fun. It gives you a lot of energy.

— Wyatt, 7-years-old

There is nothing like hearing from our BOKS kids - why they love BOKS, what their favourite activities are or how they think their trainers are awesome. BOKS Rocks!

WO RLD MAP O UR GLOBAL REACH

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BOKS grassroot movement is truly international, with schools enrolled around the globe. We know that fitness is a universal language, and that no matter where children live and play, through sport we have the power to change lives.

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THANK YOU TO OUR2018 PARTNERS

For more information on BOKS, please visit us at

BOKSKids.ca