PE SYLLABUS

Physical Education Syllabus

The Physical Education Staff at Oak Middle School is looking forward to working with your child this year. We hope that each student cooperates, so that the best possible Physical Education Program can be provided; one which promotes a sense of team unity, safety, good health, and of course, lots of fun!

Each student will be offered Physical Education during two of the 6 cycles. Students will have Physical Education everyday during those cycles. There will be four units offered throughout the year; team sports, individual sports, Project Adventure and fitness/dance.

Physical Education at the Middle School is for everyone. We encourage all students to participate to the best of their ability. Sportsmanship and fair play is also expected. Students will learn the valuable lesson of working as a team to accomplish a goal.

We look forward to a fun filled year of Physical Education with all the students at the Oak Middle School!!! Each student is expected to wear proper clothing during gym class. Our requirements are as followed:

Physical Fitness

Realizing the importance of our physical fitness goal, a fitness assessment will be administered to each student twice during the school year. The evaluation is designed to assess minimum standards for cardiovascular endurance, muscular strength and endurance, and flexibility and lower back strength, set by the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, and the Cooper Institute for Aerobic Research. The five components of this assessment are the Pacer Test, Curl Ups, Push-Ups, Sit & Reach, and Trunk Lift. The Physical Education Department expects all students to adequately prepare for this assessment, as data will be collected and analyzed.

Physical Education staff will also facilitate the recording of heights, weights and postural screening to assist the nurses and comply with health record requirements. In grades 1, 4, 7 and 10, height and weight screening data is used for state mandated BMI calculation and aggregate reporting. Individual student data is not reported. In order for students to be excused from any screening a parent must make that request in writing to the school nurse.

Screenings in physical education class are conducted the second week of your son/daughter's 1st physical education cycle of the school year.

Clothing

• A change from regular school clothing to PE attire is required for each class. This is for personal hygiene purposes.
• Proper athletic sneakers are a must!!! No sandals, boots, shoes, platform sneakers, slip on sneakers or sneakers without laces will be allowed. Skateboarding sneakers that are tied loosely will not be accepted!!!
• Proper clothing must be worn during class. Examples of appropriate clothing include sneakers and socks, t-shirts, sweatshirts, athletic shorts, sweatpants, or wind-pants. We use outside fields during nice weather so please make sure you have appropriate PE attire for cool days
• We ask that there be no bulky zippers, buttons or large pockets on any articles of clothing for safety reasons.
• Any articles of clothing containing offensive language or inappropriate subject matter will not be accepted. The school-wide dress code policy pertains to the Physical Education classroom as well.
• PE clothing should be cleaned regularly. 
• We strongly recommend all students label their clothes. This helps to reduce lost or missing articles of clothing.
• Students will have 5 minutes before and after class to change. Showers are not required.

Students are allowed only three (3) zeros for not changing into appropriate pe attire. After the third zero, students will receive writing assignments that will need to be signed by a parent.

Locks

• All students will be assigned a locker with a lock in the locker room.
• It is the responsibility of the student to keep all belonging locked up in their locker at all times and to keep their combinations confidential.
• Pad locks are to remain in the locker rooms at all times.
• Students who have lost their locks will be fined $5.00 for the cost of the lock.
• If a student has any valuables, such as jewelry or money, they can give it to the PE teachers to lock up in their office for safekeeping.

Grades

• All Middle School students will receive a standards based report card at the end of the quarter.
• Grades will be based on three standards and the one Habit of Mind.
  1. Demonstrates basic movement forms and some at the mastery level (skill).
  2. Meets Physical Fitness Benchmarks (FITNESSGRAM).
  3. Works independently and with others during physical activity.
  4. Changes for class, cooperates and follow directions (Habit of Mind).
• The following reasons will not hurt a student’s grade; legal absence from school, excused illness, injury or school sponsored activities. 
• All students will participate in the FITNESSGRAM fitness test. Students will be tested on aerobic capacity, muscle strength/endurance and flexibility. The 7th grade year is a practice year and the 8th grade year is a reporting year. All 8th graders will receive a FITNESSGRAM report card that will illustrate where each student is at in terms of physical fitness.

Medical Excuses

• The nurse, parent/guardian or physician must notify the physical education instructor if a student is to be excused from PE class. We request a written note on the day of the excused illness.
• If a note is not provided, the student will not receive credit for that class. 
• If a student needs to be excused from Physical Education, and a note from a doctor was sent in, a note from the same doctor must be sent in to allow your child to re-join Physical Education.
• All students are encouraged to bring epi pens and inhalers to class.

Safety

• No food or drink will be allowed in locker room or gym.
• No gum or candy.
• Students are not allowed to use any equipment in the gym if unsupervised.
• Students must receive permission before leaving the gym, playing field or locker room areas.
• Please report ALL injuries to the instructors.
• Horseplay is absolutely, positively not allowed and will not be tolerated.
• We ask that all students wash their hands at the end of class!!!

If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We look forward to working with your child!