Elementary School P.E – Puxi

Shanghai really turned on magnificent weather for the week of Soccer day. Each day, the weather just got better and better. The turn-out was incredible. I don’t recall seeing so many teams attend this event, and I’m sure it’s giving our organizational team a bit of a headache, albeit, one they don’t mind so much.

Matthew beats defenders to go on to score yet another goal

The sportsmanship displayed by all teams was fantastic. It’s great see after each game the kids ‘high-five’ each other, accompanied with the odd ‘well-played’ or ‘good job’.

Sung Min shows his flexibility

Josh proves that he’s no slouch at goalkeeping

If you weren’t playing, then you were being entertained

I certainly look forward to the next Soccer day in trimester three. Will you be there too?

In physical education, the focus is on movement and its contribution to the development of individuals and communities. By learning in, through, and about movement, students gain an understanding that movement is integral to human expression and that it can contribute to people’s pleasure and enhance their lives. They learn to understand, appreciate, and move their bodies, relate positively to others, and demonstrate constructive attitudes and values. This learning takes place as they engage in play, games, sport, exercise, recreation, adventure, and expressive movement in diverse physical and social environments.

Physical education encourages students to engage in movement experiences that promote and support the development of physical and social skills. It fosters critical thinking and action and enables students to understand the role and significance of physical activity for individuals and society.

Not even the threat of rain was enough to keep these hardy kids from taking to the track on Day 1 of Mileage Club, and before the first school-bell of the day.

On hand to officiate the event, Mrs. Daniels (PTSA rep’), and interested parents.

It’s such a great thing when parents show interest in this program, and give up some of their time to help out.

Michael makes it look easy

P.E teachers had been bombarded with questions from interested students about when the club would start, so we are pleased to announce that it’s finally here!

Sarah glides along the track

If you have a child who is interested in joining the Mileage club, to please ask their teacher about it.

Lace up your running shoes and set that alarm clock! Beginning tomorrow morning from 7:45-8:00, students can come out and run the track Monday-Friday. We are looking for parent volunteers so we can extend the Mileage Club to lunch recesses. Please contact the PE Staff if you are interested in volunteering your time to our popular program! See you on the track!!

To start the year, ‘Cooperation’ has been the common theme for the first two rotations, including ‘Gym Rules’.

Students of all levels have been participating in a variety of cooperative games, such as:

• Tunnel Ball
• Under & Over
• Shark Island
• Octopus
• Rubbish-tin Rounders
• Steal the Ball
• Capture the Chicken
• Hula Hoop Tag
• Tunnel Tag/Toilet Tag
• Mosquito Tag
• Star Wars

As this unit comes to a close, Fitness testing has only just begun.

What is the Fitness test, I hear you ask?

Three times during the school year, once per trimester, students in grades 1-5 will participate in fitness testing. Our fitness tests are based on the President’s Challenge Physical Activity and Fitness Awards Program in the United States. We give the following 5 tests: curl-ups, shuttle run, endurance run/walk, flexed arm hang, and sit and reach. In addition to the Presidential Fitness Tests, we give the beep test, also known as the pacer test. In addition to the mile run/walk, this test measures students’ aerobic capacity.

Fitness testing occurs once, each trimester.

Pre-K and Kindergarten participate in the:

Shuttle run

¼ Mile endurance run/walk (1 lap around the track)

Grades 1 & 2:

Shuttle run

½ Mile endurance run/walk (i.e. 2 laps around the track)

Flexed arm hang

Sit and reach

Curl-ups or Sit-ups

Grades 3-5:

Shuttle run

Mile endurance run/walk (i.e. 4 laps around the track)

Flexed arm hang

Sit and reach

Curl ups or Sit-ups

Beep test

Bar hang

Shuttle run

Sit ups

Sit & reach

1/4 mile (Prek-2 – 1 lap of track), Mile (3-5 – 4 laps of track)

To learn more about the Fitness testing, visit this site: http://www.presidentschallenge.org/home_kids.aspx

It’s been great see so many of our students come to school wearing correct sports shoes. The first rotation is now over, and excuses will no longer be tolerated. Class schedules have been handed to all students so they need to take responsibility for their preparations.

If you’re new and not sure, the policy is, no sports shoes, no participation. As a consequence, those students will be made to walk the track several times and not participate. If it happens three times in a trimester, parents will be notified right away, and may affect their ‘effort’ grade, come report time.

Remember, children do not have to wear sport shoes all day. They can wear footwear of choice to school, but change into sport shoes for P.E.

Please help us by reminding your child/ren to bring correct footwear, and to also bring a water bottle to P.E.

Greetings,

This is where you can find information about our classes and program throughout the year. There will be links for you to find out about the Presidential Physical Fitness test.  You can learn about  what the different tests are and the qualifying marks by age.

Students will be learning about lifetime fitness, dance and basic gymnastics and tumbling during the third quarter.

In our Lifetime Fitness Unit, students will begin to learn about the health benefits of exercise, ways to monitor their own effort during activity, and identify activities that they might enjoy as they grow into adulthood. Such “lifetime activities” are activities that offer different levels of intensity, are either competitive or noncompetitive, and can be done alone, with a friend, or in small groups to help improve the health of the participant. While younger students will be identifying signs of rigorous activity (sweating, breathing hard, increased heart rate) and using pedometers, older students will be keeping fitness logs, learning about the F.I.T.T (frequency, intensity, time, and type) Principle, the Fitness Pyramid, and using Heart Rate Monitors. Our primary goal as physical educators is to instill a love of physical activity which will continue to develop throughout our students’ educational career and into adulthood. We recognize that such a goal can only be achieved through a partnership between home and school. We encourage parents to engage in regular physical activities with their children to help establish healthy routines.

-R.B.

Today was a great opportunity for new students to get a taste of what is offered here in the P.E department. Shyness had quickly vanished once they caught a glimpse of the equipment, and before too long, they were at it.

A bit of b-ball

Bosu bouncers

Bouncy balls

Roller racers

and even a bit of soccer action.

Welcome new students, and may you enjoy your time at Shanghai American School!