This fall, the PE team has rolled out a sequence of units that push students in different ways, giving them real opportunities to work on coordination, strategy, and overall stamina.
Mastering the Fundamentals Through Badminton
Recently, all PE classes have been immersed in a comprehensive badminton unit. Students have been practicing foundational skills, from consistent serving to sustaining rallies, and working on both singles and doubles play. As they build control and accuracy, they also build confidence, learning how to adjust their positioning, anticipate plays, and communicate effectively with teammates during doubles matches.
Building Cardiovascular Endurance
Before badminton, the focus was on heart health. Students participated in fast-paced fitness games designed to push their cardiovascular endurance in an engaging way. These activities challenged stamina and pacing, helping students understand how consistent aerobic work supports overall wellness.
Introducing Hockey: Skill, Strategy, and Safety
This week marks the start of our hockey unit. Students are learning basic stick-handling, essential safety rules, and the fundamentals of gameplay. This introductory phase helps them get comfortable before the unit pauses for Thanksgiving break, after which classes will return to build on these early skills with more advanced movement and game strategy.
Strengthening the Body Through Warm-Up Routines
Across every unit, students maintain consistency with their dynamic warm-ups. Each week targets a different muscle group, building a strong foundation for athletic movement. Recently, classes have zeroed in on the abdominals and gluteus maximus, two muscle groups essential for balance, posture, and power. By understanding why these muscles matter and how to activate them, students are gaining body awareness that supports performance in every sport.
Nothing Like P.E. to Reset
For many of our students, especially those with ADD or ADHD, PE plays an important role in their overall learning. Movement gives them a chance to reset, regulate their energy, and practice focusing their attention in a different context. Skills like following multi-step directions, anticipating what comes next, and reading the environment around them all translate directly back to the classroom. The structure of physical education (clear routines, immediate feedback, and hands-on learning) helps students stay engaged while building physical confidence and self-awareness.
As the semester continues, PE remains a steady space for students to build skills, improve stamina, and deepen their understanding of how movement supports learning. It’s a program rooted in practice, reflection, and steady growth.
