Physical Education and Health

Physical Education Philosophy

Physical Education class at The Sage School is focused on developing the overall individual, while teaching students how to become healthy, meaningful contributors to their communities. Throughout the school year, students will learn a variety of games that focus on psychomotor, affective, and cognitive development. These three areas can help to establish foundations for traits such as leadership, sportsmanship, cooperation, and teamwork – all attributes that are important in life. The curriculum was carefully chosen to give students an opportunity to experience success in an assortment of activities. These activities include traditional sports, team building, and lifelong activities. It is the focus of the Physical Education Program here at The Sage School to instill in students a desire to live an active, healthy lifestyle.

Physical Education Class Structure

In the Prime Division, students participate in physical education classes for 45 minutes twice a week. The overall goals of the program include learning various locomotor skills, understanding personal space and movement, understanding personal limitations, developing bases for rules and games, and learning how objects move through space.

In the Junior Division, physical education classes meet twice a week for 45 minutes. The overall goals of the Junior program include understanding physical fitness, being a good teammate, basic game positions, improved knowledge of game strategies and tactics, and developing individual physical skills. Students learn to play soccer, basketball, handball, bowling, karate, and floor hockey.

In the Middle School, physical education classes meet twice a week for 45 minutes. The students build upon the activities taught in the Prime and Junior Divisions, while working on the overarching goals of the program: 1) learning how to properly prepare for strenuous activity, 2) understanding offensive and defensive game strategies, 3) developing individual game skills, 4) developing teamwork and cooperative skills, and 5) developing a group approach to problem solving. At the Middle School level, the students learn to play team-building and individual games, which often include frisbee golf, ultimate frisbee, karate, juggling, badminton, volleyball, and acrosport.

Health Education Philosophy

The philosophy of the Health and Wellness Program is to teach students how to make healthy decisions related to their physical and social well-being. Classes are discussion-based and include activities and age-appropriate materials to reinforce the subjects covered. The program is designed to encourage discussion between students and parents related to the often difficult topics that are addressed in class.

Health Education Class Structure

For the Prime Division, kindergarten and first grade health classes meet for a 30-minute session, and second grade health classes meet for a 45-minute session, once every three weeks for the duration of the school year. Classes are discussion-based with age-appropriate materials and activities used to help promote good hygiene, personal safety, basic nutrition, exercise, and conflict resolution. The goal is to help students understand wellness, develop a basic guide for decision making, and learn what emotions are and how to deal with them; and to give students fact-based information that encourages discussion of topics at home.

At the Junior level, health classes meet for 40 minutes every three weeks for the duration of the school year. They are discussion-based with age-appropriate materials and activities used to help promote thought and participation. The goal is to give students fact-based information on the benefits of good health, understanding personal relationships, making good decisions, and the effects of poor decision-making; and to encourage further discussion of topics at home. In the Junior Division, the curriculum is focused on issues pertinent to this age group, including, but not limited to, sleep habits, exercise, nutrition, stress and bullying.

In the Middle School Division, health classes meet 45 minutes per week for eight-to-ten weeks per year. They are discussion-based with age-appropriate materials and activities used to help promote thought and participation. In the Middle School, students approach more difficult, age-appropriate subject areas including introduction to sexual education; drug use, abuse, and addiction; peer pressure; stress; personal decision-making and its impact on others; and the emotional ramifications of choices. The goal is to give students fact-based information and encourage discussion of topics at home.