Physical Education

Elementary Staff-
Hutchinson School- Jim Thompson.  jthompson@pelhamschools.org 
Colonial School- Sara Bagwell- sbagwell@pelhamschools.org
Siwanoy School- Keith Maley- kmaley@pelhamschools.org
Prospect Hill School- Nick D'ambroso- ndambroso@pelhamschools.org

Pelham Middle School and Pelham Memorial High School Shared staff- 
Maribeth Albin- malbin@pelhamschools.org - ext. 1109
Amy Lucas- alucas@pelhamschools.org - ext. 1263
Jack Plunkett- jplunkett@pelhamschools.org - ext. 1178
Brian Leighton- bleighton@pelhamschools.org - ext. 1183
Steve Magarelli- smagarelli@pelhamschools.org - ext. 1183

The Pelham Physical Education Curriculum centers on three main approaches:

Grades K-2 Movement-education

Grade 3 Movement-education/skill themes

Grade 4 Skill-themes

Grade 5 Sport-education

Movement Education

Movement-education is a child-centered approach that helps students understand how the body moves. The main categories of the movement vocabulary are body awareness, 
spatial awareness, effort awareness, and the relationships between movements. The theme of each lesson is generated from this vocabulary and offers the students the 
opportunity to explore in a safe environment. The philosophy of the program encourages individualized creativity within the parameters of the theme of the day’s lesson. 
Problems are presented in a logical progression to encourage experimentation. Movement education is noncompetitive with the hope of raising a student’s confidence in different 
physical endeavors. This individualized approach leads to very high activity time and helps to raise students’ fitness levels. Students who complete movement education are 
confident attempting many physical challenges in the upper grades. 

Skill Themes

A skill-theme lesson uses the philosophy of movement education but applies it to a real sport-skilled situation. Activities are chosen to highlight one skill or theme rather 
then a full competitive game. As an example, students might be challenged to dribble a basketball at different levels before concluding on the level that gives them the best 
opportunity for control. A game might follow that only uses the basketball dribbling skill, saving shooting and passing for another day. Competition is introduced at this level. It 
can be self-competition, such as trying to better one’s individual score, or a team effort that involves trying to reach a goal, rather than outscoring their opponent. 

Sport Education

In a sport-education curriculum, students experience all of the components of a sports season and what it means to be a member of a team. The season (unit) starts with a 
preseason, in which students name their team and assign different responsibilities to team members, for example, scorekeepers, statisticians, and equipment managers. During 
the preseason, captains run practices that prepare the team to use the skills needed for that particular sport. During the season, teams play games and practice, leading up to 
a postseason. During the postseason, a class champion is crowned. Sport seasons are chosen based on class size and the facilities available.

Fitness Education

In the primary grades, the main focus on fitness is based on high-activity time in the movement education curriculum. Pelham movement education classes have activity  levels from 60% to 90% of the class time. The structure of the class allows the students to challenge themselves at their own pace. Starting at the end of third grade, through  fifth grade, the focus on fitness is much more knowledge-based. Students learn about the concepts of health-related fitness. By fifth grade, they are asked to create their own  personal fitness program. At the end of fourth grade, students take a fitness test gives them information about their bodies. At the start of fifth grade, they use this information  to help create their personal fitness program. They take the same fitness test at the end of fifth grade, with the emphasis on improving their fitness level from the previous year.
The goal of every elementary physical education class in Pelham is to meet the standards of a quality physical education program as defined by the National Association for Sport  and Physical Education, an opportunity to learn, meaningful content and appropriate instruction.

The Middle School Physical Education Department serves as an extension of the Elementary School program while providing a bridge to the High School as well.  The Sport Education program is used primarily while the students are transitioned to Sports and Activities more commonly performed at the High School level.

Middle School Physical Education requirements-
-Participate enthusiastically and demonstrate responsible personal behavior while engaging in physical activities.
-Wear proper attire (athletic footwear, t-shirt, athletic shorts or sweatpants) and protective gear when necessary.
-Handle equipment safely and responsibly.
-Demonstrates competence while leading and participating in group activities.
-Accepts teammates regardless of ability and treats opponents with respect and courtesy.
-Apply the correct techniques for locomotor, non locomotor and manipulative skills.
-Attain competency in a variety of physical activities.
-Exhibit a physically active lifestyle.
-Achieve and maintain a health enhancing level of physical fitness.

-There will be two Castle learning assignments per quarter.
-There will be one quarterly written assignment.  

Activities will include-
-Badminton, Football, Soccer, Volleyball, Pickleball, Floor Hockey, Big Bat Bopper/Matball, Softball, Handball, Basketball, 4 square.

There are three options students are given for High School Physical Education.  Listed below is a brief description of each.  The High School P.E. grade is an equal part of the students grade point average.  Therefore a certain amount of rigor is required.  This is not a pass/fail class.  Students will receive a numeric grade. A students grade is achieved in a manner that is unique from other classes.   85-95% of the grade is determined by daily class performance and participation. Therefore, when a student is absent from class, they are unable to earn the points designated for that class.  If a legal absence occurs for any reason other than a school sponsored event (these missed classes do not need to be made up) the class can be made up.  The student may make up the class by attending a different class at any time with any teacher in any H.S. P.E. class, by obtaining a class make-up form, making up the class and returning the signed form to their P.E. teacher. 

Competitive Physical Education- 9/10, 11/12
-Students are asked to engage enthusiastically in a variety of individual and team sport activities.  
-Demonstrate competency in a variety of activities.
-Apply proper techniques.
-Exhibit a physically active lifestyle.
-Achieve and maintain a physically active level of physical fitness.
-Students are required to have a change of clothes for class.  If they do not have proper clothing, they will not be allowed to participate, which will have a negative impact on the students grade. Students may not make up a class when they are unprepared.  Athletic sneakers, t-shirt and athletic shorts or sweatpants are required. 
-There will be one quarterly writing assignment due at the end of each quarter.

Pecs- 10-12
----The description for Pecs class is identical to Competitive with the following exception.  Pecs class is designed for those students who play and compete at the highest level.  All units are competitively driven.  Competition is fierce and those students who enter this class should be prepared for a highly aggressive and combative environment.

Sports and activities for Competitive and Pecs classes.
-Badminton, Football, Ping Pong, Handball, Pickleball, Basketball, Volleyball ,Floor Hockey, Eclipse Ball, Nitro Ball, Softball, Ultimate Frisbee, Big Bat Bopper/Matball.

Lifetime- 9-12
-----Lifetime P.E. is designed for students who do not enjoy traditional P.E.  Non traditional and non competitive activities are featured in Lifetime Phys. Ed.  Those activities include Power walking, Cardio kick, Dance, Step aerobics, Bocce, relaxation and stress reduction, and badminton.
-Students are asked to engage enthusiastically in the above listed activities.
-Demonstrate competency.
-Apply proper techniques.
-Exhibit a physically active lifestyle.
-Achieve and maintain a physically active level of physical fitness.
-Students are required to have a change of clothes for class.  If they do not have proper clothing, they will not b e allowed to participate, which will have a negative impact on the students grade. Students may not make up a class when they are unprepared.  Athletic sneakers, t-shirt and athletic shorts or sweatpants are required.
-One Resource Management project is assigned each marking period and is worth 15% of the final grade.  All assignments can be found on e-chalk.