PE, Health & Wellness

April 2021 Newsletter

Physical Education Update

In a non-COVID school year, the physical education teachers work hard to align their curriculum to meet the five Shape America National Standards. This school year has been no different, except there has been a shift in the emphasis on which standards have a stronger emphasis. Due to the number of remote students and the strict safety protocols the department is having to implement, students are being held accountable to find ways in which they enjoy being active, in order to achieve and maintain health-enhancing levels of physical activity (standard 3), while also emphasizing overall personal wellness. Fully remote students continue to track personal wellness activities they engage with at home (standard 5), while in-person students are being given the opportunity to get moving while exhibiting responsible personal and social behaviors through social interactions (standard 4 & 5).

As the weather has gotten warmer, physical education has had many opportunities to take classes to Victory Field. Students have been given options to engage in various physical activities. Most students have continued to choose walking laps around the track, but others have chosen to engage in activities such as: tennis, basketball, and Kan Jam. Protocols have been established to ensure the safety of all students in all activities. Games have been limited to the number of students who can play at a given time, for example, tennis can only be played with singles, rather than doubles. Additionally, all students are expected to sanitize before and after engaging in any of the activities that involve equipment. The PE staff also sanitizes all equipment after being used. Lastly, students have also done a great job continuing to wear masks while engaging in all physical activities. It has definitely been great getting some fun back into PE!

Health Update

Heading into the final months of the school year, Health and Wellness classes will be getting into the bulk of the curriculum. As we head into April, students will be learning about various aspects of relationships in our Social Health unit, including positive communication and conflict resolution strategies. Students will also be presented with important information in our Mental/Emotional health unit. Before leaving for April Break, families will be notified about the upcoming Substance Abuse unit that students will be engaged in upon the return for break. In this notification, families will be provided with a brief outline of some of the topics that will be covered within the unit. This will provide families with the opportunity to ask questions and bring up and comments or concerns that may be associated with the information with the unit.

As the weather continues to improve, this provides classes with more opportunities to be outside to promote physical activity. Upon the return from break, and to promote more of the wellness model aspect to the course, classes will plan to regularly (at least once a week) take some time outside of the classroom and head to Victory Field where students can be physically active for a portion of the day. Students can use this as a great opportunity to take a break from the screens and enjoy the beautiful weather Spring has to offer!

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Wellness Tip

Spring weather is a great time to get outside! Head outdoors & try some of the following activities to improve your overall wellness:

Going for a walk/bike ride can boost your energy, strengthen your heart, and increase your immune system
By planting a garden you can eat fresh fruits/vegetables or showcase some beautiful flowers
Being in natural environments have a way of relaxing and de-stressing the body and mind
Having fun and playing outside with family/friends can increase creativity levels and boost your mood
A breath of fresh air helps to clean out your lungs and brings more oxygen to your muscles and cells

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Health Tip

Every year on April 7th, we recognize World Health Day in which the World Health Organization brings awareness to a variety of health-related topics. Check out the information behind this year’s World Health Day, "Building a fairer, healthier world for everyone".

This year’s World Health Day focuses on the continued impacts of COVID-19 across the globe. As the weather starts to become warmer, be sure to continue caring for yourselves physically, but also mentally/emotionally as well!

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Workout Challenge

The spring season tends to come with lots of colorful candy. As a family, we challenge you to complete a post-snack workout based on the candies you consume:

1 Reese’s PB Egg = 15 Burpees

1 Peep = 5 Push-Ups

1 Chocolate Egg = 5 Jumping Jacks

1 Handful of M&Ms = 5 Squats

1 Handful of Jelly Beans = 10 Crunches

1 Hollow Chocolate Bunny = 10 Lunges (each leg)

1 Misc. Candy = 30-second wall sit for each piece consumed

Share your family experience with the candy workout on Instagram by tagging us @WatertownPhysEd.

Community Engagement

Instagram

Follow us on Instagram and tag us in your at-home workouts! We look forward to seeing the sights from around town while on a run/walk/bike ride. Additionally, we hope to see some great photos from this months Planksgiving Challenge, don't forget to tag us (@WatertownPhysEd) and use the hashtag #Planksgiving!