PE, Health & Wellness

December Newsletter

Transitioning from Virtual to Hybrid Health & PE

As we prepare for our hybrid return to school, physical education and health education will look slightly different. Please read the following to preview what changes have been made and what students can expect upon their return to in-person physical education and health.

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What to expect in Health & Wellness with Mr. Trant:

Mr. Trant has been working hard to rearrange the health classroom in order to maintain social distancing during health class. All of the desks have been moved 6-feet apart and are ready for the return of each cohort. Each individual desk has been numbered, and students will sit at the same desk every class period to allow for easier contact tracing if necessary. Students should bring their charged Chromebook to class every day. As with all other classes, students will be expected to wear their mask during health class.

If you are a student that is remaining as a virtual learner, you will be expected to simulcast into Health class via Zoom on the days your cohort meets in person (cohort A: Monday/Wednesday; cohort B: Tuesday/Thursday). The Zoom link for student simulcasting is the same as the one we currently use for remote learning, which can be accessed on Google Classroom. Please be aware that it may take several minutes for Mr. Trant to admit you from the Zoom waiting room as in-person attendance will be taken at the same time. Students simulcasting in will have the ability to see the same presentations as the students present for in-person learning. On the days where the cohorts do not meet in person, all students will need to complete the “Attendance Google Form” that will be posted on Google Classroom. Students are expected to complete this form within the first 10-minutes of the class start time for their attendance to count for the class period. Students will then work on completing their asynchronous assignment for the day.

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During the first days in hybrid health, Mr. Trant will review all of the classroom procedures and norms (entering/leaving the classroom, cleaning desks, etc). Students will then transition into the topic of Mental/Emotional Health, where they will explore aspects of their own identity, strategies on how to manage stress, and be introduced to some of the emotional health support staff present at WHS. Following this unit, Health classes will enter into the Human Sexuality unit. Since this information can be particularly sensitive, parents/guardians will be notified via email prior to the start of the unit with more specific details on day-to-day lessons that will be discussed. At this time, parents/guardians and students can have the opportunity to opt-out of particular daily lessons if they feel the information may be too sensitive, in which case they will be given an alternative assignment to complete in a separate location (either remotely or available space in the school building). This unit will span the weeks leading into the winter break.

What to expect in Physical Education with Ms. Glencross, Mr. Joyce & Mr. Flynn:

Physical education classes will look very different, but we will be able to finally move together away from Zoom! Upon entering the gymnasium, students are asked to sanitize their hands. The gym has been set up to allow for 10 feet in between all students. On the first day of hybrid PE, all students will be given a bleacher spot and a floor spot that allows for social distancing. Every day, students will report to their bleacher assignment and then move to the floor to participate in a movement break. All activities will be done with no equipment, while wearing masks, and include but will not be limited to static and dynamic stretching, bodyweight fitness, yoga/meditation, and different cardio activities. Following the physical activity break, students will help wipe down/sanitize their bleacher spot for the next class, and will also be asked to sanitize their hands once again. All movement safety and cleaning protocols will be explained in-depth on their first day of returning to the building.

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Gymnasium

The gym is lined with spots every 10-feet for movement breaks.

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Movement Spots

Students will remain on their spot for movement breaks.

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Bleacher Spots

Bleachers have yellow spots that will be assigned to students to maintain social distancing before PE starts.

If you are a student that is remaining as a virtual learner, you will be expected to simulcast into your physical education class on the days your cohort meets in person (cohort A: Monday/Wednesday; cohort B: Tuesday/Thursday). The Zoom link for student simulcasting will be posted on Google Classroom, please note that the simulcasting Zoom link is different from your Friday check-in Zoom link. For students simulcasting into PE, you will follow along with the physical activities being taught to the in-person students. All activities will require minimal space and no equipment. Please be aware that it may take several minutes for a physical education teacher to admit you from the Zoom waiting room, as PE teachers will be taking attendance and helping the in-person students move to their movement spots in the gym.

On days your cohort does not meet in person for physical education, you must complete the attendance Google Form on Google Classroom within the first 10-minutes of class. After signing in on the attendance form, you are expected to complete the asynchronous assignment posted by your PE teacher.

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Wellness Tip

The holiday season can be filled with much joy, but can also be a very stressful time, especially during the current situation of the pandemic. Finding time to disconnect and focus on you is one of the best ways to work on your personal wellness.

Check out the following 5 tips for teens to stay healthy during the holidays:

Fend off germs
Eat healthy and be merry
Chill
Beat the blues
Get some ZZZs

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Health Tip

Dehydration in the winter is very common because you typically are not sweating as much as in warmer weather and are usually feeling cooler. Because of these factors, many individuals forget to drink water, but making sure you stay hydrated is as equally as important as in the warmer months when we are more likely to notice our thirst.

Below are five major reasons to drink more water:

Fight Winter Dehydration
Improve your Skin
Increase Energy Levels
Reduces Weight Gain
Protect your Immune System

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Workout Challenge

As a family, we challenge you to engage in the Abdominal Snowman workout!

The challenge asks you to engage in different core exercises, feel free to break up the number of reps for each exercise in whatever way works best for you. Every day has a different workout and make sure you use those rest days! Share your family experience with the Abdominal Snowman challenge on Instagram by tagging us @WatertownPhysEd and using #AbdominalSnowman

Community Engagement

Parent-Teacher Conferences

We will be meeting with parents during parent-teacher conferences! Conferences are December 3 from 6:30pm-8:30pm and December 8 from 4:30pm-6:30pm via Zoom.

Please see the linked sign-ups below for the PE, Health & Wellness department parent-teacher conferences:

Adam Joyce, Physical Education

Hillary Glencross, Physical Education

Michael Flynn, Physical Education

Eric Trant, Health

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!