December PE Newsletter

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Your children have just finished a dance unit in Physical Education class.  Throughout the past four weeks, the entire school learned and practiced a variety of modern/social dances. You might have even seen a few of their dance moves at home! The upper grades worked tirelessly to create and choreograph their own dance routines, which they performed in front of their classmates. For the culminating activity of the unit some classes were randomly picked to travel to local nursing homes including: Gary Home, Heaton Woods, Woodridge and Westview Meadows where they performed their favorite dances for the seniors. We had a fantastic, creative dance unit with all the students, and we are looking forward to the upcoming unit.

Beginning in the month of December, we will start a Gymnastics unit (tumbling, stunts and balance) for grades Kindergarten through second grade. The upper grades (3-5) will begin a basketball unit.

The K-2 grades will be introduced to gymnastics fundamentals in tumbling such as: log roll, forward roll, egg roll, static and dynamic balance routines as well as stunts activities including jumping and landing on one foot or two feet.  While participating in these activities, your child  will understand the importance of safety, respect, and staying focused. Your son/daughter will also develop spatial and body awareness, self-confidence, agility, coordination, muscle strength/endurance, and flexibility.

Upper grades (3-5) will spend the first three weeks of the month learning the fundamentals of the game of Basketball. The lessons will focus on dribbling, passing and shooting skills. All of the activities are designed to include and challenge all students’ abilities, while learning to construct proper basketball skills, working together involving everyone in a safe shared space, and maintaining enjoyable health-promoting moderate to vigorous physical activity.

Thank you again for helping us to have successful Physical Education classes. Feel free to contact us if you have any questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

Emmanuel Riby-Williams and Marie "MJ" Jennings