The Physical Education Staff would like to welcome you to an exciting year of fitness and fun!  We are delighted to have the opportunity to work with you and your children this year.  As our nation confronts an obesity epidemic, we are dedicated to our mission of "Inspiring others to pursue a healthy and physically active lifestyle."  We want all of our students to develop a lifelong love and desire for fitness, health, and physical activity.

The physical education curriculum can be accessed at www.fcpsteach.org.  Click on Physical Education> Elementary> Essential Curriculum.  It is broken into 6 areas or standards:

Through instruction based on the essential curriculum, physical education outcomes include:

·         Demonstrate knowledge of movement concepts and principles

·         Demonstrate knowledge of how to achieve a healthy lifestyle

·         Demonstrate effort, teamwork, sportsmanship, and safe practices

·         Demonstrate proficiency in movement, skills, and physical fitness

1-2 Students' grades will be based on the following:

80%=    Formative and Summative Assessments

20%=    Participation, Effort, and/or Homework

3-5 Students' grades will be based on the following:

65%=    Formative and Summative Assessments

15%=    Fitness and Fitness Improvement

20%=    Participation, Effort, and/or Homework

In physical education, students' progress is measured in multiple ways.  Formative and Summative Assessments can include: tests, quizzes, exit questions, task sheets, skills assessments, journal entries, and other forms of classwork.  Participation and effort grades can be measured with a rubric scale, and is subjective to teacher observation.  However, effort can also be measured through an objective data.  This includes steps taken during class (as measured with a pedometer), heart rate (as measured through a pulse count, pulse bar, or even heart rate monitors), or achievement of goals.  Improvement can also factored into this grade.

The Frederick County Fitness Test Battery is the way we measure fitness for grades 3-5.  Keep in mind these tests are not a means of assessing athletic ability, and they are not tests your child can fail.  They should be viewed as an indicator of fitness levels at the time they are given and are only one form of many assessment opportunities that take place throughout the term.  Fitness testing helps to accurately track the areas of your child's strengths and the areas in which he or she could improve.  Your child's Progress Report will accompany the report card.  This year, you can also access your child's fitness scores and progress reports online!  Go to www.af-d.com/fcps/indexstudent.php for direct access, or go to the Elementary Physical Education Site on www.fcpsteach.org.  Just use your child's student ID as the password.

If you wish to have your child excused from physical activity for medical reasons, please send a written note with your child to physical education class so that their participation grade will not be affected.  If there are any health concerns regarding your child, please let us know in writing so we can be aware of potential problems.  If he or she is to be excused for more than a one week period, a doctor's note must be provided. When the child is excused, we will provide an alternate activity that is connected to the Physical Education Essential Curriculum.

In order to positively impact students' health and fitness, parents must be partners.  We welcome your support and feedback, and join us in the gym anytime!!  We are looking forward to a great year in Physical Education!

-Miss. Jacobsen and Mrs. Wilson