1. Does my child need to change for gym class?
2. Does my child have an assigned gym locker?
3. Why are students tested for physical fitness?
4. Does Mr. Bergman play a lot of dodgeball?
5. What is Mr. Bergman's most important rule?
6. What is 6th grade physical education all about?
7. What is 8th grade physical education all about?
8. What if my child loses something in the gym, where can it be found?
9. How does Mr. Bergman grade?

Does my child need to change for gym class?

Yes, changing for class is required.  Kids get dirty and sweaty in gym 
class, 
and changing out is a good idea.  In particular, shoes are very important.  
Spare clothes are avaiable, as well as shoes.  Spare shoes, however, are not 
as plentiful in choice.  Clothes are regularly washed as well.

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Does my child have an assigned gym locker?

No, but there are day lockers available for your child to put his or her 
pack 
in during class.  Clothing and other items safely stowed away in a bag and 
in 
the locker area are best kept secure.  Do not leave items in the changing 
rooms unattended.

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Why are students tested for physical fitness?

In line with our school philosophies, much can be learned about ourselves in 
regard to our fitness levels and the process underwhich the tests are 
conducted (scientific meathod for example).  Testing provides a measurement 
of variables important to overall physical fitness.  Testing is done through 
the  Fitnessgram test via the Cooper Institute.  All measurements are for 
student use and review only, not for grade. To be outside of 
the "hypokinetic" range, or rather in the Healthey Fitness Zone is the goal. 
Reviewing those variables over the course of time and seeing how they differ 
and exploring why they differ can be a positive way to learn about ourselves 
and our 
abilities.

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Does Mr. Bergman play a lot of dodgeball?

As a matter of practice, I stay away from the activity of dodgeball.  In and 
of itself, the activity can be rigorous and instructional, but its social-
emotional consquences maybe harmful in some ways.  In general, Dodgeball 
games, in my opinion are violent, exclusionary, and degrading. That being 
said, however, there are a few games that employ the use for what would be 
called "dodgeballs" that take the focus off the "merely hitting a person for 
the sake of hitting a person" goal away that are useful activities that I do 
have my students play, but only as a learning and warm-up tool, not as a 
unit or time filler to any great degree.  It is fun to be sure for many kids 
but I think there are many more worthwhile activities out there that the 
kids will enjoy just the same or more.

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What is Mr. Bergman's most important rule?

The number one rule in my class at all times is safety - both physical and 
emotional.  While I can do most of the arrangements to make physical safety 
an almost guarantee, students still need to exercise caution and work within 
their abilities to help with this.  As for emotional safety and wellbeing I 
always look out for and promote the positive attitudes and behavior in our 
students, this too is dependent on students, however.

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What is 6th grade physical education all about?

Look at the 6th grade syllabus on the "PE handouts" link.

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What is 8th grade physical education all about?

Look at the 8th grade syllabus on the "PE handouts" link.

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What if my child loses something in the gym, where can it be found?

We go through the changing rooms at least 3 times a week to inspect them for 
cleanliness.  If anything of value is left out in the open we put it in 
the "Discarded" box in the lobby.  If it is a shoe we put it in 
out "borrowed shoes" box outside my office next to the spare clothes box.  
If it has a name on it we make an effort to find that person to return their 
item. When the "discarded" box gets too full we announce that the box is 
full, and students should check to see if they may have something in it.  
Later that day it is taken to Goodwill.  Basically items lost only in the 
gym have a good chance of being recovered in the gym.

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How does Mr. Bergman grade?

You can easily find the answer to the by looking at the course descption 
found in the documents section of this webpage.  But, briefly a student's 
grade is largely dependent upon their effort in class in addition to written 
and daily assessments that involve various factors.  Those student's who 
give their best in class each day do well each term.  Unlike in other 
classes where a grade can be cummulatively linked to papers and tests, PE 
relies on the observations of a student  during all aspects of physical 
education class, from arriving on time and being prepared for class, to 
paying attention during instruction, participating in warm up, practice, and 
activity to showing respect for others and their abilities and the subject 
as well.  Written assignments are few but when assigned should be completed 
and turned in on time. I believe the responsiblity of a student to a class 
in being diligent as well showing effort is much more importaant than what a 
student's will show in and of itself as we do learn from our errors in the 
long run.  For further details please view the course descriptions.

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