Snowshoeing adventures!

 

 

Physical Education February Newsletter!

This year has been off to a great start in Physical Education Class. The younger grades (K-1) just completed a unit on striking, volleying and dribbling. While the upper grades focused on juggling skills using a wide-variety of materials.  Students in grades k-1 were able to apply the striking, volleying and dribbling skills that they practiced in PE class to the sports of hockey, baseball, tennis, volleyball and basketball. Our goal was that students will be able to manipulate an object with control and strike an object with a mature striking pattern. While grades 2-4  focused primarily on juggling one, two or three pieces of equipment. They also created a routine to perform in front of their peers.  We were looking for creativity, and wanted students to be able to work cooperatively in developing, practicing and performing their routines.

February is heart-health month, and on record, February in Vermont is the snowiest month.  The snow opens up numerous possibilities for physical education that are only available in the winter.  Some popular activities that students will explore during PE class this coming month include; snowshoeing, indoor snowboarding and outdoor cooperative activities.

Winter outdoor fun ties in with our instruction on heart rate, cardiorespiratory endurance as well as locomotor movements.  Snowshoeing is an intense cardiorespiratory activity that reinforces proper walking form.  It requires individuals to pick up their feet rather than shuffling and to have a high knee drive when running.  Students will need to be able to work cooperatively with others. We also look for students to exhibit responsible personal and social behavior that respects self and others.

Union Elementary School will be having our school-wide and award winning “Jump Rope for Heart” activities in the gym during the month of March. More information about this event will be sent out soon.

If we can be of help, please feel to call us at school 225-8264. Or e-mail us at either emmanuelr@mpsvt.org or mj@mpsvt.org. Feel free to check our blog: uesfitnessforlife.blogspot.com

Thank you very much for your support at home!

Sincerely,

Emmanuel Riby-Williams and M. Jennings

Think Fit, Get Fit, Stay Fit!

Dear Parents and Guardians,                                                           

"Physical Education is not only one of the most important keys to a healthy body; it is the basis of dynamic and creative intellectual activity." John F. Kennedy.

Before Thanksgiving break, we completed creative dance unit for all grades. Please ask your child to show you some of the creative dance moves they learned.  This week we did a short unit on Fitness.  This was to introduce your child to the four health-related physical fitness components including cardio-respiratory endurance or strong heart/lungs, muscle strength or strong muscles, flexibility or stretching and body composition. The objective was to have students understand the four components and be able to identify and/or do exercises that will improve each fitness component throughout their lifetime.

Starting in December, grades k-1 will start a Gymnastic unit and grades 2-4 will begin a basketball unit. Gymnastics activities are an important component of children's experiences in physical education.  Balance, stunts and introductory tumbling activities are closely related. Stunts are primarily designed to increase abilities such as balance, coordination, flexibility, agility and strength. Tumbling, at beginning level, involves various types of body rolls and inverted balances that encourage the development of these same attributes.  In addition to these elements of physical fitness, children learn important personal lessons including self-confidence, initiative, social skills (sharing, taking turns, courtesy, and respect for others).  

Basketball is a great activity for elementary students, and it is taught and played in all types of settings.  Basketball involves a variety of skills that may be practiced individually, in pairs, or with groups.  In this unit, we have planned activities for students to practice and develop fundamental skills required for successful game play.  Activities in this unit follow a high-activity, skill progression which can be adapted for a variety of skill levels.  Aligned with the Physical Education Content and Performance National Standards, activities are designed to include and challenge all students physical skills, while maintaining enjoyable, health-promoting, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity during class.

If we can be of help, please feel free to call us at school 225-8264. Or e-mail us at either emmanuelr@mpsvt.org or mariej@mpsvt.org. Also feel free to check our blog: uesfitnessforlife.blogspot.com

Thank you for your support at home!

“Healthy kids make better students. Better students make healthy communities.”

October Newsletter

Dear Parents and Guardians,

What a great start of the year with your children!  Of course the highlights is the mile run.  The Kindergartens were the “shining stars” in this.  Imagine over 30 children running laps around the building on cold October day. The focus of the mile run was to introduce the children to the four health-related fitness components and to know which exercise the can do to improve each of them including: Cardiorespiratory, Muscle Strength, Flexibility and Body Composition

We have just completed a unit on Cooperative Learning with a focus on team building, learning and understanding PE class expectations, and getting to know your children better.

Beginning in October, the lower grades (k-1) will start parachute activities. A developmentally appropriate activity with elementary aged children.  Each day of the unit will review and practice parachute terminology (umbrella, mountain, mushroom, etc.).  Besides the parachute activities, your children will also learn, practice and understand locomotor movements including walking, running, skipping, hopping, galloping, leaping, jumping and sliding.  This is a foundation of human movement, and it will improve your children’s coordination.

Grades 2-4 will spend the month of October jogging up to Harrison field for a soccer unit.  Despite being a relatively new sport in the United States, soccer is incredibly popular among elementary aged children in physical education classes.  Between the two of us, we have the experience, content knowledge and the confidence to provide quality and developmentally appropriate lessons.  Each day of the Soccer unit will focus on one of the fundamental skills inherent to the game of soccer. These skills include dribbling, ball control, passing, and shooting.  

Please don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions and/or concerns. You can e-mail us at either emmanuelr@mpsvt.org or mariej@mpsvt.org, or feel free to call us at school 225-8264. Also, you can learn about what we expect your children to know, do and understand in accordance to national standards by visiting our blog at: uesfitnessforlife.blogspot.com

Sincerely,
Emmanuel Riby-Williams and M. Jennings

Physical Education September Newsletter

Dear Parents and Guardians,                                                            September 1, 2016

Welcome to Union Elementary School Physical Education!  Your children will be moving and learning in PE class this year.  Classes will be 45 minutes long, twice a week. On the back of this letter you will find our yearly plan.  Feel free to stop in the gym or on Harrison field anytime to see your child in action.  We always have a chair ready to make you feel welcome or you may choose to participate with your child!

Your child should come prepared and ready for movement on gym days by wearing: sneakers, pants or shorts with elastic band, and a short sleeve shirt.  On cool days, we will wear our sweaters or sweatshirts outside. It’s important for your child to come prepared so they will be comfortable and safe for all our activities.  

The bedrock of our program is focused on lifetime activities and fitness. The lower grades (k-1) will be working on movement and explorartion activities. While the upper grades (2-4) will be working on skill-related movement activites. We will also start to learn and enjoy how important it is for our hearts to beat fast through our award-winning Jump Rope for Heart program.

Union Elementary School will be having an Open House this fall, and would love for you to join us in the gym and learn all about our curriculum. More information about this night will be sent out soon.

If we can be of help, please feel free to call us at school 225-8264. Or e-mail us at either emmanuaelr@mpsvt.org or  mariej@mpsvt.org.

Feel free to check out our blog: uesfitnessforlife.blogspot.com  

Thank you very much for your support at home!

Sincerely,

Emmanuel Riby-Williams and M.Jennings

Thank you to all our families for attending this year's Family Fitness Night!

Yoga with visiting instructor

Nutrition Bingo Fun 

Enjoying all the healthy snacks

Nutrition Bingo Challenge

Time to dance- Zumba Style!