2012 PE Newsletter Vol.1

 Physical Education Newsletter

Vol.  1                                                                                      July-September    2012

Welcome To The 2012-2013 School Year!!!!

Another school year is upon us and it’s very exciting! This year, Mr. Enoki will be teaching grades K-2, and Mr. Bevacqua will have grades 3-5. We are ready to go with a full schedule of lessons, activities, sports, and much more!

We will begin our PE schedule with a week of Orientation and Recess Rules. This will be conducted in your child’s homeroom starting on Monday, July 30.

Our first, regular PE lessons of the year will begin on Monday, August 6^th.

Please feel free to refer to this “Newsletter” whenever you want some PE information. It will not only give you current news on what your child is doing, but it also gives general information on the Physical Education Curriculum and how we try our best to implement National Standards in teaching and assessment.

Again, welcome back and I hope you and your child have a wonderful school year!!!

Our Newsletter Format:  

What we call, “Page One” will detail current news and activities and is updated every quarter.  

What we call, “Page Two” gives general information regarding the Hale Kula PE Program, our philosophy, mission, curriculum overview of Grades K to Grade 5, etc. This information is not only for parents but also for classroom teachers, staff, those outside our Hale Kula Ohana, and anyone interested in the teaching of Physical education. We hope it’s helpful!

“Page    One”:  First Quarter

The PE Bulletin Board:

 I’d like to start with a reminder to check the PE Bulletin Board, located on A Building, to get your weekly PE information! We keep the latest news on that bulletin board, including current PE lessons for the week, class results and performance statistics, student ratings, and coming events!

First Quarter PE Curriculum for Upper Grades (3-5):

Grades 3-5 will have a busy first quarter! We start with a “Recess Orientation” for all students, which will review activities, rules and procedures while at recess. We hope every child enjoys his/her recess time in a safe and healthy manner.

Our first unit of study will be our “Golf Unit.” This will include not only putting (which we introduced last year) but also swing technique, iron play, etc. We will employ our “Hale Kula Driving Range” for these lessons.

After Golf, we switch to our “Volleyball Unit.” The students will learn all the basic skills and play in full court games.

Also in the first quarter, is cross country running. The first quarter of the year is “Cross Country Season” at hale Kula. All students will be running our course and developing their cardiovascular endurance!

Supplementing these activities will be “Physical Fitness Practice and Assessment.” We start the year with the 600 yard run, Shuttle Run, and sit-ups.

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First Quarter PE for Lower Grades:

The lower grades will begin with a complete “Locomotor Skill Assessment.” All eight locomotor skills are introduced/reviewed and the students are assessed.

Also, we teach “Spatial Awareness Skills” which includes personal space, common space, moving with personal space, moving through common space. There are a variety of fun activities that will engage the students as they learn these skills.

Also, “Social Skills” are always reinforced with cooperative learning activities.

Supplementing these activities will be “Physical Fitness Practice and Assessment.” Even at the Kindergarten level, all the students get an introduction to our physical fitness tests and begin their path to mastering them!

PE Attire:

PLEASE don’t forget appropriate PE attire is tennis/running shoes, shorts, and a t-shirt. Preferably, simple play clothes are best because they may get wet and/or dirty during a PE class. There are two main reasons for the dress requirement:

1. Your child will perform better and more comfortably
2. SAFETY! We do not want children falling because of running with sandals or rubber slippers; your child may get hurt or hurt others.

So, PLEASE, starting on Monday, August 6^th, find out your child has PE class, and be sure he/she is dressed appropriately on that day!

Extracurricular Activities:

In the first quarter, we have “Cross Country Season.” All Hale Kula students run cross country and we have intramural opportunities for those who would like to pursue it. The cross country running opportunities that the students will have in both PE class and intramurals will help determine this year’s Cross Country Team.

Hale Kula Cross Country Invitational:

The Eighth Annual Hale Kula Cross Country Invitational will be held on Wednesday, September 26^th, 2012, at Watts Field, on Base. Invited schools are Solomon, Wheeler, Wahiawa, Iliahi, Ka’ala, and Helemano. Representing Hale Kula will students from grades 3, 4 and 5. The races will cover a one-mile cross country course. Team selections will be later in the first quarter.

Important Dates:

Monday, July 30^th ……… PE classes officially begin! Check your child’s schedule!

Wednesday, September 26^th …. Hale Kula Cross Country Invitational; 9:00 am

“Page Two”

What is Physical Education?

Physical Education is an academic subject area. It is instructional and is offered within the framework of the overall school curriculum. Servicing involves organized, sequential lessons based on National and State Physical Education Standards and Benchmarks. Activities are designed to be developmentally appropriate for all students, from pre-K to Grade 5.

The main objectives of a Physical Education Program are achieved by altering psychomotor behaviors through learning about the body, self, movement skills, physical fitness, rules and strategies, and social interactions. Implementing an integrated cognitive/affective/psychomotor program for the nurturing of a physically educated child; a child who will have a positive perspective on physical activity and participate for a lifetime does this. By so doing, this will improve one’s physical, mental, spiritual, and social state of being.

What does Hale Kula believe regarding Physical Education?

Hale Kula believes that:

1. All students can learn!
2. All students, regardless of ability level, can benefit from Physical Education.
3. All students have the right to a quality Physical Education Program that enhances self-esteem, improves self-concept, and develops social competencies.
4. All students need regular instruction in Physical Education, Health, and fitness.

The Physical Education Program’s Mission Statement:

1. To promote physical growth, development, and maintenance through activities that develops movement skills, strength, coordination, and aerobic endurance.
2. To contribute to the development of social competencies in relationships with others.
3. To enjoy, appreciate, value, and participate in physical activities and recreation for a lifetime.
4. To develop useful and socially beneficial skills in physical activities and sports.
5. To increase the level of cardiovascular fitness and an understanding of the benefits of such capacities.
6. To associate Physical Education and physical activities with a positive perception, high self-esteem, high self-confidence, and a healthy self-concept.

What is the latest research tell us about exercise and the brain? Does running really help my child learn better in the classroom?

I can answer this question with an unequivocal, “YES!” We’re learning more and more about this issue, but current research is showing that there is a direct link between aerobic exercise and the functioning of the brain, especially the learning centers in the brain.

Neuroscience has told us:

1. Humans are genetically engineered to be “movers”; there is a biological imperative to physical activity in order to keep the whole organism functioning at its potential; the mind, body, and spirit are NOT separate; we are a whole.
2. 2. When the body works, the brain is prepared for peak performance; this is not just because of improved circulation and blood flow; it also is essential in the formation of neurochemicals which bind neurons together in the brain; these neurochemicals help the brain with its growth of new brain cells and with the binding of those cells.
3. As the brain creates new cells and continues to bind neurons, our cognitive capacities are increased!!! Academic skills, memory, mood, and attention level will improve!
4. The type of aerobic exercise needed for this type of  improvement to happen is exercise, which raises the heart rate, and it needs to be done on a regular basis!

References: To get more information, check the website of Dr. John Ratey, who is at the forefront of this science and its effect on learning in school.

A KINDERGARTEN TO GRADE 5 P.E. CURRICULUM OVERVIEW

I.               An Introduction to PE Concepts

1. Safety
2. Body Awareness and self-control
3. Space: personal, common, directionality, levels
4. Time: duration, tempo/pace, rhythm
5. Force: intensity, speed
6. Social Awareness: cooperative play, team work, group dynamics
7. Ambidexterity: hands and feet
8. Aerobic conditioning: relationship to health and whole body enhancement

II.             Locomotor and Non-Locomotor Skills

1. Locomotor : walk, run, gallop, side slide, jump, hop, leap, skip
2. Non-locomotor: bend, twist, turn, etc.
3. Combination Skills:  dodging, chasing, tagging, guarding, basic sports skills

III.           Application of Locomotor Skills and Concepts

1. Locomotor Games
2. Relays activities
3. Jump Rope
4. Gymnastics: tumbling skills, balancing
5. Rhythmic activities
6. Sports Fundamentals

IV.           Object Handling/Striking Skills

1. Throwing: underhand, overhead, overhand, sidearm, backhand
2. Receiving:  various levels, speeds, objects
3. Pushing and Lifting
4. Pulling
5. Striking: with bat, with racquet, with hockey stick, etc.
6. Striking: with foot; ambidexterity

V.             Application of Object Handling Skills and Concepts

1. Sports/Athletics: softball, basketball, volleyball, golf, darts, football, Frisbee, soccer, racquet sports
2. Games/modified games

VI.           Physical Fitness Testing and Assessment

1. Running:  300 yards, 600 yards, cross country (0.75 miles), and 1 mile run
2. Sprints:     50 yard dash; 100 yard dash; 200 yard dash
3. Shuttle run:  30’ course; 60’ course
4. Standing Long Jump
5. Sit-ups
6. Push-ups/flex arm hang/pull up

VII.         Social Skills Integration

1. Listening Skills
2. Following Directions
3. Cooperating with partner, small group, large group, team
4. Cooperation with a variety of partners and groups (gender, ability levels, etc.)
5. Sportsmanship Behaviors
6. Empathy/Values

For questions, concerns, and/or information about the Hale Kula Physical Education Program, feel free to contact Jerry Bevacqua or Ted Enoki, PE Resource Teachers, at 622-6380, ext. 292.

Thank you!