School is back and so is PE. What you need to know...

 Welcome back to school students and families. We look forward to seeing you at our upcoming open house events, in the gymnasium, and out on the fields!

Our mission is to develop physically literate individuals who have the knowledge, skills, and confidence to enjoy a lifetime of healthful physical activity.

A few important things to remember...

• Water bottles are always ok and encouraged for our PE students. 
• Students should wear clothing they are comfortable moving in and are appropriate for the weather.
• Students should wear shoes/sneakers that are appropriate for movement.
• We ask that our students avoid wearing flip flops, slides, or Crocs to PE class.

• Middle School PE Students
• A reminder to wear comfortable clothing and bring your shoes/sneakers. 
• This is easy to remember as you have PE every day!
• We hope to spend some time outside as the school year kicks off. The morning can have a fair amount of dew. Extra socks are a great idea, or even a back-up pair of older sneakers. 
• Your feet will thank you!

We look forward to sharing more about our PE program this year using this blog, and we look forward to seeing you all in our teaching space soon.

Mr. King, Mrs. Kohlasch, and Ms. Kate

We look ahead to brighter days!

The WCS PE teams wants to thank our amazing students and families for their work during this challenging school year. It was a year of innovation, creativity, flexibility, patience, and fun as we reinvented our PE curriculum due to the COVID pandemic. We are proud to say that we spend over 90% of our PE classes outside this academic year. That would not have been possible without the partnership with our families, who ensured their students were ready to go with outdoor gear. And of course, the amazing participation of our students. We all deserve a pat on the trapezius!!!

We hope our students and families enjoy a restful summer full of fun, movement, and connections. 

We really are lucky to have been your teachers this year.

 Be safe! Be active! Enjoy time with family!

Mr. King, Mrs. McClintock & Mrs. Kohlasch

 

Winter Activities: Cross Country Skiing

Our 5th - 8th grade students have been taking advantage of the fresh snow with a cross country skiing unit! We have fantastic outdoor fields and trails to allow for a positive cross country skiing experience. We work towards the classic style of "kick and glide", and how to go up and down small hills. For some of our students, this was their first exposure to cross country skiing. A great lifetime activity that is important to know when you live here in Vermont! Enjoy the pictures below.

3rd/4th Grade: We Had a Guest Teacher When an 8th Grade Student Joined Us in PE!

The opportunity for peer teaching is something that can benefit all involved. From the students' being taught, to the student doing the teaching, and of course the PE staff ourselves. An opportunity to watch an 8th grade student rise to the occasion by preparing, planning, and teaching a PE lesson is always something special. A big shout out to Chloe Boliba (and her Dad, Jeff) for their involvement with our PE program. As part of her 8th grade challenge, Chloe wanted to spark some interest in the great, Vermont outdoor sport of snowboarding. Her lesson included cooperation/positive social interactions and balance. It was well received by our 3rd/4th grade students! Well done Chloe!! Enjoy some pictures of the action below.

Floor Hockey

Our 5th - 8th grade students are currently winding down our floor hockey unit. We begin with basic passing and receiving skills. Next, we move through some challenge activities that build these skills, and then transition into small sided gameplay. Small sided gameplay allows for more opportunities to participate and increase skill. The students really enjoy this!! We use two assessments within this unit. One assessment is skill related and is connected to successfully receiving and making a pass. The second assessment is connected to the concept of space. We ask the students to use space as a strategy within small sided gameplay. It has been a very successful unit!

3rd Grade: Catching!!!

Our 3rd grade students are currently working within our catching unit. Within this unit the manipulative skill of catching is reinforced, and students are provided with the opportunity to catch a variety of equipment. We begin the unit spending two days working through catching challenges using hula hoops and a variety of different equipment to catch! Students work their way through different equipment, and are given opportunities to choose the challenge level they are comfortable with. Providing this choice allows for maximum skill building, along with keeping this tricky skill successful for all students. We finish the unit applying our previously learned skill of "moving to open space" with our newly established skill of catching, within an activity called "Capturemania". Enjoy the pictures below!

Disc Golf!

Our 5th - 8th grade students are close to completing their current Lifetime Activity unit of Disc Golf. We begin this unit working on two important throws. The backhand and the forehand. Students are provided with an opportunity to practice these two skills, while throwing within an open field. Next, students are taught proper disc golf etiquette, and are shown a style of play called "best disc scramble". This style of play allows for students to move through the course at a faster speed, and to have the ability to take their throw from a more opportunistic spot on the course. The assessment used within this unit is connected to using positive social skills and using proper disc golf etiquette. Students play through our 12-hole course in groups of 3 or 4. Enjoy the pictures below!