Hello and Happy Spring!  

I'm thrilled to have this opportunity to share with you a brief summary of our Physical Education and Health programs, along with a snippet about our work related to the effects of aeorbic exercise and academic performance.

Our students engage in Physical Education class for two sessions per week throughout the year. At the K-2 level, they are learning through the Skill Themes Approach, working on fundamental skills to create a sound foundation for future movement opportunities. This approach uses language such as pathways (straight, curve, zig zag), levels (low, medium, high), and force (easy, medium, hard), as students work (and play!) through skill sequences.  

Our students in Gr. 3-5 (and beyond) learn sport-related skills through the Tactical Games Approach, which allows them to quickly engage in small-sided game play while acquiring new skills.  

"What are we doing in gym today?" used to be the student mantra. This approach helps alleviate the question because students know that they are playing a game and we know they are highly active while acquiring skills. In Grades 6-8, students continue to build skills and increase focus on physical fitness and lifetime activities so that they will engage in and enjoy activity throughout their life.

All grade levels work to increase skill acquisition, physical fitness, and social/emotional growth.

Students receive Health Education for 2 sessions per week in Grades 7 and 8. They learn a wide variety of content and skills. Examples of skills learned include communication, assertiveness, listening, coping, media literacy, conflict resolution, media literacy, and goal setting. These skills are woven into our content units, allowing continued practice and therefore skill acquisition.  

In Grade 6, our community police officers join teachers to present several AWARE lessons (substance awareness, violence prevention, and internet safety). Pierce students in Grades 5-8 recently had the opportunity to participate in a competition with
DanceDanceRevolution (DDR), thanks to our national physical education organization known as AAHPERD.  

It was amazing to see the DDR screens and pads set up in the Pierce gym and so many kids having fun and trying hard (and raising those heart rates!) CONGRATULATIONS to Grade 8 students, Priscilla C. and Tavian D., who went to the finals to compete at the AAHPERD National Convention in Boston. There were only 22 finalists from the State!

Did you know that increased aerobic activity throughout the school day results in improved learning readiness and school performance? Our district has engaged in learning about exciting new research as described in Spark, by Dr. John J. Ratey, and is implementing these concepts into our schools.  

Pierce School has taken the lead, working to encourage cardiovascular activity throughout the school day whether in short intervals of exercises during transition times or by increasing activity within classroom lessons.  

Activating the brain in this way prepares the learner for increased focus and attention, decreased behavior issues, and overall enhanced brain performance. Ask us for more information about this exciting work!

Thank you for your support and interest in our programs!

Teddi Jacobs
K-12 Coordinator of Physical Education & Health