Physical Education

Grade: K-1

Physical education classes at this level reflect a strong commitment to the individual student’s development in the areas of fundamental locomotor movement, body awareness and control, spatial awareness, and manipulative skills.  Activities include low organizational games, tumbling, exploration of space-time-force, rhythmic skills, and the use of large and small apparatus.  First grade classes meet daily for thirty minutes.  Kindergarten classes meet four times per week for 30 minutes.

Grade: 2 
The emphasis during the second grade year is on the continued development of skill and self-confidence in individual physical abilities.  Work is also done to instill a “sense of group” while refining manipulative and locomotor skills.  Individual skill development includes the introduction of basic sport-specific skills. Group activities emphasize awareness of others, sportsmanship, cooperation and fair play.  Classes meet daily for thirty minutes.

Grade: 3
The curriculum for this age level concentrates on individual development as well as group activities. The individual skill development emphasizes the refinement of manipulative and locomotor skills, and the introduction of basic sport specific skills. Group activities emphasize awareness of others, sportsmanship, cooperation, and fair play. Activities include skill work in soccer, basketball, tennis, football, lacrosse, kickball, field/floor hockey, tumbling, gymnastics, rhythms and dance, fitness, track and field, and cooperative games. The third grade classes meet daily for thirty minutes.

Grade: 4
The emphasis in this grade shifts from the refinement of general skills to the acquisition of entry-level skills for team sports. Students are encouraged to work toward understanding and accepting others in more structured game situations. The focus of the program in grades four and five reflects a progression of sport specific skill building and the application of game and movement concepts to individual and team play. In addition, a culminating experience to the study of Greece is the annual “Greek Day” Olympics held at field at the end of the year. The class meets four times a week for forty minutes.

Grade: 5
The fifth grade classes meet three times a week for one hour. The focus in these classes is the continued acquisition of sport-specific skills through class participation. Small-sided, intra-class games provide the means of exploring game strategies and practicing good sportsmanship. Activities include field hockey, soccer, flag/touch football, basketball, floor hockey, volleyball, wrestling, tumbling, lacrosse, tennis, track and field, and softball/kickball.

Grade: 6
The sixth grade physical education program focuses on applying concepts of both team and individual sports while developing sport specific skills and techniques. Activities include field hockey, football, speedball, tennis, basketball, badminton/squash, volleyball, wrestling, tumbling, lacrosse, softball/baseball and track and field. Fitness activities are an integral part of the program as well. In grade six, students have hour-long physical education classes three times per week for the whole year.  Extended class times in the fall and spring allow these students to travel to the GFS playing fields.

Grade: 7
The seventh grade program has two primary goals: the review of fundamental motor skills through non-traditional activities and the opportunity to strengthen social skills through participation in group and partner work, especially problem solving activities. Students engage in adventure education activities that emphasize group work and problem solving, create and present a game, and develop and execute a simple jump rope routine. Juggling, team handball and pickle ball round out the curriculum and provide ample opportunity for skill building and discussion of basic sport strategies. Seventh graders have physical education classes four times per week for one semester.

Grade: 8
In the eighth grade physical education program, students revisit and refine basic motor skills while deepening their understanding of sport strategies. Students take on additional responsibilities serving as team captains for intra-class games. Activities include football, badminton and floor hockey, as well as a culmination of games previously played in the middle school physical education program. All students participate in outdoor/adventure education activities, including learning the basics of top rope climbing. Eighth grade students have physical education class three times a week for the entire year.  The eighth grade course also includes a quarter of Sexuality Education.

830 Physical Education 9
required minor
Grade: 9

This program will center on lifetime fitness and wellness. The understanding, assessment, and management of one’s own fitness and health will be at the core of this year’s work including a thorough introduction to the use of our fitness room and equipment. The first half of the year will be spent concentrating on the concepts of flexibility, muscular strength, muscular endurance, aerobic exercise, and anaerobic exercise. Students then move into the classroom to continue the conversation about wellness by examining the components of stress, nutrition, and relaxation. Students also learn the basics of rugby, softball and ultimate Frisbee through participation in smallsided class games. Class meets 2x/week for the year.

840 Physical Education 10
required minor
Grade: 10

This program will encompass life issues and lifetime activities. One semester is dedicated to lifetime activities that may include badminton, volleyball, fencing, dance, and fitness.

One semester is dedicated to a Life Issues class, which is a course in sexuality. Topics include sexual health, lifespan sexuality, building healthy sexual relationships, and sexuality and social issues. The course presents a holistic conception of sexuality and a wellbalanced mix of information, activities, and opportunities for reflection and discussion. Class meets 2x/ week for the year.

860 Life Issues required minor Grade: 12 (meets either 3rd or 4th quarter)

The required Senior Life Issues course is a series of discussion-based classes focusing on gender issues, inter-religious and inter-racial dating, relationships, sexual orientation, sexually transmitted diseases, contraception, rape, substance abuse and life after GFS. Along with discussion we utilize film, lecture and guest speakers. Class meets 2x/week for one quarter. 870 Physical Education 11 and 12 required minor

Grades: 11, 12

Physical Education in grades 11 and 12 consists of quarter long courses in adventure education, lifetime activities and the pursuit of wellness. Activities may include: rock climbing, golf, tennis, dance, racquetball, fitness/strength training, ten pin bowling, billiards, table tennis, archery and hiking.

All students must earn a total of 4 points by the end of the senior year.

• Students may choose any combination of quarterlong PE classes (excluding senior Life Issues) and interscholastic sport seasons to satisfy this requirement. Each quarter of physical education and each sport season will be counted as 1 point.
• Students may request credit for participation in an outside-of-GFS sport/fitness pursuit. Students must submit a proposal which will be reviewed and approved by the PE Department. Request for Outside PE Credit Proposal

NOTE: Juniors are strongly encouraged to complete a minimum of 2 points in the junior year. All students planning to earn points through participation in physical education class must sign up for PE 11/12.