Physical Education

Stay Active

The unique nature of Physical Education affords an individual the chance to not only develop skills that will allow them to become physically fit and remain active, but to take ownership for their own health and wellness. Individuals learn to value activity and movement, develop appropriate personal and social behavior, and develop an understanding that physical activity provides opportunities for enjoyment, social interaction and create a hedge against chronic disease.

Lower School

The Physical Education program at Friends Academy builds a lifelong appreciation of the connection between fitness and a wholesome lifestyle. Students enjoy a broad and diverse physical education curriculum that includes skill development, games and traditional sports as well as non-western activities such as African dance and yoga.

Kindergarten - Grade 2 curriculum includes:

Body management skills – stationary & moving balance, agility
Locomotor skills – run, hop, skip, jump, gallop
Health-fitness concepts – cardio-respiratory endurance, strength, flexibility
Object movement – kicking, dribbling, throw, catch, striking, roll
Activities – Throw/catch, hoops, kicking skills, racquet skills, games/parachute, football, floor hockey, basketball, tumbling team, dodge/throw, handball, baseball/striking, frisbee, soccer, scoopball, dance, jump rope for heart, field day.

Grades 3 & 4 curriculum includes:

Fitnessgram assessment
Volleyball
Field hockey
Dance
Flag football
Team handball
Soccer
Lacrosse
Tennis
Ultimate frisbee
Speedball
Track & field
Floor hockey
Softball
Basketball
Badminton
Self-defense
Field day

Middle School

Grades 5 & 6

In fifth and sixth grade, Friends Academy provides a physical education program that meets daily for one hour. Students are taught a variety of movement concepts, motor skills, athletic team skills, and strategies. Physical education teachers provide experiences that enhance both cognitive and affective development.

Topics Covered – Grades 5 & 6

Co-Ed

Floor Hockey
Team Handball
Badminton
Cross Country
Orienteering

Boys & Girls

Volleyball
Flag Football
Tennis
Track/Field
Soccer
Physical Fitness
Lacrosse
Yoga
Basketball
Cooperative Games

Boys

Speed Ball
Football

Girls

Softball
Dance
Field Hockey

PE-middle-school-boys-basketball

Grades 7 & 8

In the seventh and eighth grades, the intent is for each student to participate in interscholastic competition during the fall and spring seasons. An attempt is made to have all athletes who dress for a game, play at least half a game. Occasionally, due to the large number of participants, all athletes will not dress for each contest. In some sports, the rules permit an extra period so that more athletes can compete. We take advantage of this whenever possible.

Sports Offered:

Boys and Girls

Soccer
Basketball
Volleyball
Track/Field
Cross Country
Ice Hockey
Lacrosse

Boys

Baseball
Football

Girls

Softball
Field Hockey

Winter season

During the winter season, not all of the students who choose to play interscholastic basketball or volleyball are able to do so since the interest is very high, far exceeding available space. The selection is made according to ability, potential, attitude, and effort. Those students not selected, take part in a physical education program that entails a rotating curriculum for each winter season:

Cardio fitness
Weight training
Yoga
Sport education
Adventure activities

Upper School

Grade 9 – Personal Fitness curriculum includes:

The purpose of the 9th Grade Personal Fitness Course is to present to students the significance of physical activity as it impacts sports-fitness and health-fitness related components. This course will help students understand the benefits of physical activity and exercise, the difference between sports fitness and health fitness, its impact on the development of disease and obesity and how to assess one’s fitness and set personal goals. It consists of three strands: Weight training, Cardio-fitness and Yoga.

Grade 10 – Sport Education curriculum includes:

The Sport Education curriculum provides students with experiences that allow students to not only learn more completely how to play sports but also how to coordinate and manage their sport experiences. Students learn individual responsibility and effective group membership skills and become a more literate sportsperson, with an appreciation of rules, rituals, and traditions of sports and activities.