PE, Health & Wellness

January 2021 Newsletter

A Health Class Update from Mr. Trant

As students returned to school from the Winter break, they entered the final stretch of Quarter 2, and Semester 1 as well. With Health being only a half-year course, this stretch includes covering the last pieces of information for the year.

Upon the return in January, students entered into the Tobacco/Alcohol/Substance Abuse unit of the curriculum. Students have been focusing on the negative effects of a variety of different substances, with a focus on nicotine products (vaping/e-cigarettes), alcohol, and marijuana, amongst others. Students have been identifying the effects these different substances have on the body, and classifying them into groups based on these effects. Students have been given information on a variety of treatment options for people suffering from substance abuse/addiction and information on how important it is for people suffering from addiction to receive the help they need.

Upon completion of the Tobacco/Alcohol/Substance Abuse unit, students will be entering the final unit of the year, which will cover information on Nutrition. In this unit, students will explore the current food guidance system, known as MyPlate, and the value of a healthy diet. Students will learn about the different nutrients we receive in the foods/beverages consumed on a daily basis, and learn about reading nutrition facts labels to help determine the nutritional value of these different products we consume.

In lieu of a Final Exam, students will be given the opportunity to engage in an optional assignment to help improve academic standing for the semester. This optional assignment will be a project-based assignment, focusing on student performed research of a topic from one of our final units (either substance abuse or nutrition). This assignment and the details around it will be presented to all students, with the hope that many students will take advantage of this opportunity to improve their overall grade and academic standing for the course.

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Physical Education Update

Physical education has looked different in the hybrid setting, but students have done a great job adapting to the new routines. Students have been engaged in various bodyweight exercises. The return to hybrid started with basic stretching and we have since moved into some agility exercises. As we have progressed through the workouts, students have learned about the importance of stretching, types of stretching (static and dynamic), as well as what agility is, and how speed and power play a role in making one more agile.

With the hybrid model, the physical education workout routines have been designed by SworkIt, an app, and website that can be continued to be used for free at home! By using this program, the physical education department has been able to simulcast the same workout to students that remained in remote learning; these students were also able to hear all of the benefits and definitions taught by the PE staff.

As the fall semester of PE comes to a close, we hope to engage students in some final standing yoga poses. There will not be a final exam in PE for the fall semester. We look forward to seeing some new faces in a couple of weeks for the spring semester!

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Wellness Tip

Are you stressed out or finding yourself in stressful situations? Try box breathing, a breathing technique used to heighten performance and concentration, as well as reduce your stress level. Check out this video to help you get started!

If box breathing isn’t working for you, check out this simple breathing meditation video. If nothing else, the building and breakdown of the shapes will leave you mesmerized.

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Health Tip

Has leading a healthier lifestyle been a New Year’s Resolution you developed this year, or in years past? A key to healthy weight loss and leading a healthier lifestyle involves a relationship between a balanced nutritional diet and regular exercise. Many people may search for weight loss programs and popular diets to help them lose weight quickly or maintain their weight, but oftentimes these programs can be difficult to follow and expensive to be a part of. Below are some tips to help achieve a more healthy lifestyle as we enter 2021:

Follow a SMART goal formula, and focus on making goals realistic, measurable, and attainable
Clean up eating by adding more fruits and vegetables to meals, exploring healthier options for snacks, and staying well hydrated
It can be difficult to find time in the day for physical activity. Focus on developing an exercise plan that is realistic for you, and that allows you to monitor your progress
Continue to be mindful of your mental health, and focus on the positivity! Try not to focus on the occasional slip-ups, and focus more on trying to consistently improve every day!

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Workout Challenge

As a family, we challenge you to engage in a SworkIt of your choice!

All you need to do is go to www.sworkit.com. You can sign up for free to enjoy already made workouts. Share your family experience with SworkIt 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!