* * * * * * * * * * * * UPCOMING EVENTS IN PHYSICAL EDUCATION * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
AUGUST/SEPTEMBER: WELCOME BACK IW STUDENTS!!! Hope you had a relaxing and restful summer, and are ready to enjoy some fun and challenging team-building games and activities.
Students will be assigned new P E squads, and share the responsibility of leading their classmates in warm-up / stretching exercises prior to the start of physical activity. Students rotate the "squad leader" position at the start of each month.
Back-to-School games such as left-foot kickball, no relay-relay, sinking ship challenge, sneaker slap, and various soccer games, kept PE classes in high gear as we kicked off the new school year.
Eighth grade "studio class" began the first quarter playing golf on the IW ball field. Need I say we lost a few golf balls in the woods! That's because there are some outstanding 8th grade golfers who can drive the ball long and far!
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT FOR STUDENTS IN GRADES 4-8: As stated in the IW online handbook, all students are required to be in full PE uniform for class. The new P E uniform requirement is a white t-shirt with school logo on front, last name on back, green uniform shorts with last name (only) in white box on back of shorts, tennis shoes and socks. Girls with long hair are encouraged to wear a head-band, as to not impair their vision.
OCTOBER: Beautiful fall weather gave way to many exciting outdoor games of soccer, pirate ball, and flag football frenzy. Volleyball games abound the Incarnate Word PE classes mid month, along with health lessons focused on learning the bones of the human body. Students continue to enjoy the traditional IW "Spooky Bone Hunt" during the week of Halloween. October also marked the beginning of the motor perception program for primary grades K-2. Day 4 for kindergarten, and Day 6 for grades 1-2. All primary parents are welcome and encouraged to volunteer for this fun and memorable experience.
NOVEMBER: Students began "cupstacking" to sharpen their hand-eye coordination skills. CUPSTACK is a system or process of stacking cups invertedly ( upside down ) into pyramids ( upstack phase ), returning to starting point, then unstacking cups back into their original position ( Downstack Phase ). Pyramids are built in predetermined sequences. CUPSTACK is used as an individual or team sport. Cupstack relays seemed to be a favorite!
BUMP, SET, SPIKE is familar terminology in the IW gym, as students participated in multiple volleyball games in PE class. PRESIDENTIAL FITNESS TESTING also begins with "curl-ups," testing abdominal strength and endurance.
DECEMBER: A short, yet very busy month as fourth and fifth grade student's engage in a TATU Program presented by students at Westminister Christian Academy. TATU stands for Teens Against Tobacco Use and yhr WCA students gave an outstanding presentation on the hazards of smoking, chewing tobacco, and all tobacco products that are harmful to the human body. Inflating a pair of "pig lungs" was a highlight and eye opener for the 4th & 5th grade audience.
7th grade Studio Day Class took a fun and exciting field trip to "Dierbergs Scjhool of Cooking" to explore healthy ways to prepare healthy food! This was a participation class, and students took part in making delicious taco pockets, veggie dip with fresh cut veggies, a garden salad, orange julius drink, and apple cinnamon bake. A great lesson in nutrition for all.
Presidential ftiness testing continues as classes move to the "pull-up" event. This challenging event measures upper body strength / endurance by maximum number of pull ups completed. The shortened month of December ended with a fun fitness video featuring the 12 days of Christmas.
JANUARY: Students started the New Year playing one of their all-time favorite games, basketball. Squad vs squad scrimmage and sideline basketball are at the top of the list. Students demonstrated knowledge of rules through class participation. Classes move forward with Presidential Fitness participating in the "shutlle run event." Shuttle run measures the ability to maintain speed while changing directions.
Current Health is a Weekly Reader Magazine that is read in "Health Class" each month. The January issue focused on Keeping An Eye On Your Vision, how Nuts are a ppowerhouse of nutrition, and what to do when you are "Home Alone."
The safety zone portion of Current Health stressed the importance of being ready in case of an unexpected event arises.
Does your family have a plan in place?