In the United States the average kid (age 8-18) spends 7.5 hours a day in front of a screen or on the phone. To counter sedentary living patterns, national physical activity guidelines for youth have been developed. The guidelines call for at least 60 minutes of physical activity each day for children and teens. The guidelines are based on the amount of physical activity necessary to promote good fitness, health, and wellness. Only 29 percent of high school students meet the 60-minute daily guideline and 14 percent don’t do any physical activity that causes them to breathe hard or that increases heart rate on any day during the week.

Dear Mikey,

If anyone kicks off their retirement with a bang, it’s K.R. Scott.

J’ontar Coleman wanted what he felt was rightfully his all along.

Erin Andrews-Sharer, a graduate of Desert Vista High School and a sophomore at The College of Wooster, received the Elias Compton Freshman Prize and the Lyman C. Knight, Sr., Prize in mathematics and physical education at Wooster’s 43rd Annual Recognition Banquet.

Air Force Airman Kevin A. Ray graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas.

The United States has seen a deluge of much-needed attention to the issue of bullying in the last decade. Horrific examples of young people harassing and abusing their peers — sometimes to the point that the victims commit suicide — have forced parents and educators to begin thinking about the issue and to initiate or expand bully prevention efforts. What is often missed in these discussions, however, is the problem of adults who bully young people.

Army Pvt. Jesse A. Blas has graduated from basic infantry training at Fort Benning, Columbus, Ga.

When it comes to health care, the saying “you get what you pay for” doesn’t always apply. Sometimes, particularly in the realm of end-of-life care, “less is more.”

To avoid “brain drain” during summer vacation, local schools in Ahwatukee Foothills are offering up educational programs for kids.

According to the Government Accountability Office, the federal government operates 50 different programs for the homeless. There are 23 programs in housing, 26 for food and nutrition, 130 for at-risk youth. They also operate an astounding 342 programs for economic development, which government is notoriously bad at anyway.

Kyrene School District officials recently received tax credit donation results for 2012, showing a nearly $35,000 decrease.

Everest University Online and Everest College Phoenix recently presented the Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department with a donation of $5,000 for its Phoenix Afterschool Program. The Phoenix Afterschool Program is an affordable after-school recreation and enrichment program in many locations throughout the city.

Assumptions were made, jokes were told and Larry Holmes' confidence was shaken.

Summit School of Ahwatukee • 4515 E. Muirwood Drive

Change is hard, whether it be personal or professional. However, evolving is also a key element of progress. Last week at the Kyrene School District Governing Board meeting, we presented information about a year and a half study of our middle school program.

It may not be a question of knowing whether Beethoven is better for you than the Beastie Boys.

State lawmakers took the first steps Monday to what some hope will be outlawing the "isolation rooms'' used by some schools to deal with problem students.

In a previous column I discussed the PACER, a test of cardiovascular fitness that is part of the national youth physical fitness test battery (FITNESSGRAM). FITNESSGRAM, was developed at the Cooper Institute in Dallas and is now offered as a cooperative program with the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition (PCFSN) and the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance (AAHPERD). In addition to assessing cardiovascular fitness, the FITNESSGRAM Test Battery includes tests of muscle fitness, flexibility, and body composition.

Nearly 20 students from Mountain Pointe High School gave spectators a glimpse into their daily physical education activities on Thursday at the Arizona Adapted Physical Education Conference in Phoenix.