Physical Education and Health

The physical education program is based on helping students develop healthy, active lifestyles by experiencing a balance of activities in a positive, responsible, and cooperative environment. These activities include the movement areas of dance, fitness, adventure/cooperative education, and sports/games. It is through these experiences that we address the diverse needs of our students in the physical, social, emotional, and cognitive domains. The health education program offers a foundation of functional health information and skills so that students become health literate.  Content areas are multidimensional, encompassing the areas of emotional wellness, intellectual wellness, spiritual wellness, social wellness, physical wellness, and occupational wellness. The dynamic nature of wellness requires that our curriculum focus on critical health skills, such as communication, decision-making, goal-setting, advocacy, self management, analyzing influences, and accessing information.

Substance Abuse Prevention
A component of physical education classes in grades 9, 11, and 12 will focus on substance abuse prevention. These classes will include basic information about chemicals and their effects on the human body and society. Students will examine their own attitudes as they practice communication skills, decision-making skills, and refusal skills.

Medical Excuses
All students are expected to attend and participate in physical education class. We recognize that during the course of the year, a student may become sick or injured. A student with an acute illness or injury (upper respiratory infection, sprained ankle, etc.) should present a note from his/her physician to the nurse. Excuses from physical education class are valid from the time the doctor’s note is received by the school nurse and only for the time period stipulated by the doctor.  Retroactive excuses are not acceptable unless immediately following a school absence covered by the doctor’s note.

Medical Exemptions
There may be a time in a student’s career when, because of chronic illness or injury, a medical exemption from physical education class is requested. The parent/guardian should follow the process outlined below to request an exemption.
1. The student will contact the school nurse, inform her of the need for exemption, and obtain the required medical form.
2. The parent/guardian will mail the medical form to the student’s physician. The doctor must clearly indicate on the form the types of physical activities in which the child can participate (mild, moderate, vigorous, or full exemption).
3. The physician will specify the length of the exemption or modification in the student’s physical education program.
4. The school nurse will inform the physical education teacher and the counselor of record of the desired exemption.
5. In the event that adjustments must be made in a student’s schedule and program, the adjustments will be made through the school counselor who will notify the physical education teacher.