Health and Physical Education are New York State mandated courses, required for graduation. Students must successfully complete eight semesters of Physical Education during their four years of high school (2 credits), and 0.5 credits in Health.
Health and Physical Education Department Head: Kelsey Allen (ext. 33378)
Grade 9: Introduction to Physical Education
Grade 10: Aventure Education, Lifetime Activities, Strength & Conditioning, Team Sports, or Unfied.
HEALTH
0670 1 Semester .5 Credit Grades 9-12
Health Education is a mandated New York State required course for all high school students. This course is designed to help students gain knowledge and skills necessary to remain safe and healthy throughout their lives. Students will experience skill building in communication, relationship management, decision making, planning and goal setting, stress management, advocacy, and self-management. A wide range of topics in nutrition, mental health, drug education and sexual health will be addressed.
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
Physical education is an instructional program contributing to the physical and mental health and social development of all students. The goal of Saratoga Springs Physical Education is to provide all students with the skills, knowledge, and confidence necessary to make active living a way of life. We will empower all students to connect with and sustain lifelong physical activity as a foundation for a healthy, productive, and fulfilling life.
Students entering grade 9 are automatically enrolled into the Introduction to Physical Education course. Students entering grade 10-12 will choose from 5 different physical education offerings during course advisement week, including Adventure Education, Lifetime Activities, Strength and Conditioning, Team Sports, and Unified PE. Students are encouraged to self-select courses that interest them and contribute to their individual development. The first choice is not guaranteed since placement is based on staffing and enrollment.
Physical Education course offering for students in grade 9:
INTRODUCTION TO PHYSICAL EDUCATION
0655 Full Year .5 Credit Grade 9
This co-ed course is designed to expose 9th graders to the wide variety of activities that will be offered in our electives so that they can make an informed decision during grades 10-12. The focus will be on developing fitness and foundational movement/sport skills necessary to participate in all 10-12 electives. In addition, students will get comfortable in the HS gym and locker room settings and be provided opportunities to practice leadership skills and relationship building.
Activity Offerings for students entering grades 10-12:
ADVENTURE EDUCATION
0656 Full Year .5 Credit Grades 10-12
This co-ed course is a sequence of cooperative games and initiatives that lead to the use of our indoor high ropes challenge course. This course also includes archery, snowshoeing, orienteering, geocaching, hiking, and an exploration of world games. The emphasis of the activities is on team building, communication, courage, trust building, and responsibility. Students should be prepared to be active, whether indoors or outdoors. While our challenge course is not a technical climbing course, students will become comfortable with basic climbing and belaying skills and terms. Some activities are off campus.
LIFETIME ACTIVITIES
0657 Full Year .5 Credit Grades 10-12
This co-ed course focuses on the importance of activities that can be done throughout our lives. Lifetime Activities concentrate on the development of skills that students will need to apply in recreational settings in future years. Activities may include tennis, golf, pickleball, badminton, volleyball, bowling, archery, dance, yoga, softball, disc golf, yard games, and other recreational activities. Students will develop proficiency in skills, rules, and etiquette and achieve the fitness level necessary to participate in team and individual pursuits for the rest of their lives. Some activities are off campus.
STRENGTH & CONDITIONING
0658 Full Year .5 Credit Grades 10-12
This co-ed course concentrates on individual fitness and health, covering strength, flexibility, and endurance. Other topics include proper lifting techniques, injury prevention, power, speed, agility, reaction time, coordination, and balance. Activities may include aerobic training, weight training and fitness analysis. Each student will be required to set goals and develop a program to help them achieve those goals.
TEAM SPORTS
0659 Full Year .5 Credit Grades 10-12
This co-ed course concentrates on physical fitness as an integral part of overall health and wellbeing. The topics covered include strength, endurance, flexibility, proper lifting techniques, injury prevention, power, speed, agility, reaction time, coordination, and balance. Activities may include aerobic training, weight training, and fitness analysis. Each student will be required to set personal fitness goals and learn how to develop a program to help them achieve those goals. Students may participate in team sports activities to apply to principals discussed in this class.
UNIFIED PHYSICAL EDUCATION
0667 Full Year .5 Credit Grades 10-12
Unified Physical Education provides a unique opportunity for students with and without disabilities to come together through ongoing developmentally appropriate educational and physical activities. This course is structured around state and national physical education standards and grade level outcomes, which include gaining the knowledge and skills necessary to maintain a health-enhancing level of fitness. Additionally, the class supports the development of leadership skills for all students, and the empowerment of all students to help create a more inclusive and accepting school environment for all students. Students who are current members of Best Buddies or Unified Sports are encouraged to take this course.
ADAPTIVE PHYSICAL EDUCATION
0666 Full Year .5 Credit Grades 9–12
Adaptive physical education is a specially designed program of developmental activities, games and sports suited to the interests, capabilities, and limitations of students with disabilities who may not safely or successfully engage in unrestricted participation in the activities of the regular physical education program. Students identified by an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) team as demonstrating significant difficulties in meeting appropriate curricular benchmarks based on a disability are provided with the necessary supplementary aid and support services in the least restrictive environment. Instruction, equipment, activity rules, and the environmental set up are modified as necessary to provide an appropriate, safe, and comfortable educational setting comparable to that provided for students without disabilities. Adaptive PE will increase competence, health-related fitness, self-responsibility, and enjoyment of physical activity for all students so they can establish physical activity as a natural part of their life and to enable them to become lifelong movers.