Students must successfully complete three semester courses in Physical Education (PE). Students may repeat a PE course for an elective credit, but a repeated course may not be used to fulfill the PE graduation requirement. Students may not be enrolled in more than one PE course per semester. All students in physical education classes are required to participate actively in physical fitness, conditioning, and aerobic activities. Students will be assessed regularly on the rules and skills of the sports being taught, as well as on their level of fitness.

Technology is an integral part of the PE curriculum and the department adopts relevant applications as they become available. Due to the special nature of the subject area, the scope reaches beyond the laptop driven research and interaction framework to include specific software such as the Fitness Gram program. Results are linked to age specific scores from North America to provide teachers, students ,and parents with a comparison to others.

Video recordings of skills acquisition are routinely utilized to ensure that students are grasping specific movement patterns inherent in the learning of skills. Heart rate monitors are utilized so that students and teachers can track real time fitness levels in many courses. The use of pedometers allows students to ascertain the volume of movement they are involved in daily and stopwatches help to quantify progress.

Field Hockey, Softball, and Golf

ID: 48015 Grade: 9-12 Length: Semester
Credit: Physical Education

This course includes basic instruction in three areas. In field hockey, students will learn to properly handle the hockey stick and develop the skills of passing, receiving, dribbling, shooting, tackling, and goal keeping. In the softball unit, students will learn the primary skills of softball throwing, catching, running, and batting. They will develop skills required to play offensive and defensive positions. Upon completion of the softball and field hockey units, students will be able to employ appropriate strategies in game situations and will demonstrate skill in playing and officiating. At the conclusion of the course, students should be able to play softball and field hockey with enjoyment and confidence. Golf makes up the final unit of the course, which is designed for both beginners and experienced students. Students will develop many golf skills including hitting off a tee, driving with an iron, chipping, and putting. Course etiquette, score card understanding, safety aspects, penalties, and club selection will be covered. Instruction will be augmented with sessions at a local driving range. Upon completion of the unit, students will have the skills and proficiency to play a regular round of golf.

Fitness for the Body and Mind

ID: 48024 Grade: 9-12 Length: Semester
Credit: Physical Education

This course is designed to teach students the process of using exercise to not only challenge the body but also to stimulate the brain by using various exercise forms such as Yoga, Pilates, Drums Alive, Qi Kung, Tai Chi, and other martial art disciplines. Students will challenge their balance, strength, flexibility, coordination, and concentration through these various disciplines as well as through fusion exercises such as Iron Yoga, Yo Chi, Yoga with stability balls, Pilates with BOSU and TRX. The objective of this course is to seek an alternative route to stimulate cognitive development through providing physical and mental challenges, which in return, result in a stronger focus, self discipline, and ultimately in increased self confidence.

Group Fitness

ID: 48001 Grade: 9-12 Length: Semester
Credit: Physical Education

This is a group exercise program with an emphasis on strength and fitness conditioning offered to students looking to get stronger, fitter, and more importantly, to be able to move more efficiently through a variety of fitness related exercises and workouts. The course is designed to encourage intense and vigorous participation with a focus on the basic foundations of movement using a wide variety of fitness tools to enhance movement efficiency. The following equipment will be used: BOSU, Kamagon balls, SMART boards, Slastix bands, slingshots, suspension trainers, stability balls, medicine balls, slam balls, kettlebells, barbells, dumbbells, sandbells, sandbags, battle ropes, ladders, and hurdles. Students will learn to train like an athlete and will learn exercises to increase strength, endurance, coordination, flexibility, and balance through these various forms of group fitness exercises using a distinct progressional method. Students will use heart monitors to better understand how to maximize their workouts for optimal health. Nutrition, kinesiology, and fitness concepts will also be covered to enhance their knowledge of fitness education.

Group Fitness II

ID: 48029 Grade: 9-12 Length: Semester
Credit: Physical Education
Prerequisite: Group Fitness

This course will provide students with the opportunity to get a deeper understanding behind the concepts of Movement Efficiency Training. In addition to applying these concepts for their own personal use, they will be able to safely design training programs for students and adults during class time or through the House of Pain after-school fitness club. Students will have the opportunity to set up their own training practices, market the program to students or adults, and teach, coach, or train small groups. Valuable information on motivational and cueing techniques, the principles of class design, creating a positive fitness experience, progressions and regressions for multi-level classes, exercise and movement selection, sequencing, choreography, program modifications, music and legal guidelines will also be covered in the course.

Indoor Team Sports

ID: 48009 Grade: 9-12 Length: Semester
Credit: Physical Education

This course is designed to develop and improve ball skills, teamwork, muscular strength, and endurance. Students will learn the basic skills, techniques and strategies of volleyball, basketball, team handball, and indoor soccer. They will practice these skills in individual and group drill situations. When students have mastered these basic skills, regulation games will be played. Students will be tested on all pertinent theoretical aspects of each activity.

International Sports

ID: 48008 Grade: 9-12 Length: Semester
Credit: Physical Education

This PE course will include the following three core disciplines/activities: Netball, (Indoor) Cricket, and Archery. Additionally students play two of the following other activities: ultimate frisbee, sepak takraw, tchouk ball and lacrosse. Each of the sports will focus on fundamental movement patterns (i.e. passing and receiving, shooting, batting, running, fielding) designed to make the student competent with regard to the basic skill sets in order to demonstrate and participate in organised play and interclass competition. At the conclusion of the course, students should be able to play all sports with enjoyment and confidence. A comprehensive skill and written assessment will be administered at the conclusion of each unit, as well as a practical based final exam project at the end of the course.

Climbing and Adventure Training

ID: 48028 Grade: 9-12 Length: Semester
Credit: Physical Education

This course is designed to introduce students to elements of adventure sports and adventure training. Adventure training challenges students in teams and as individuals through games and engineering configurations. The semester starts with trust building activities needed for both the climbing wall and the challenge course. Students will learn different types of knots and safety information needed to participate. Bouldering, belay work, various climbing routes, rappelling, and constant communication are skills that will be recurring through out the semester as we start on the indoor climbing wall and slowly and safely work our way to the high elements on our outdoor ropes course. An added aspect will be a fitness component that will support and enhance the students’ endurance, flexibility, and strength in order to become more efficient on the wall.

Personal Defense and Combatives

ID: 48027 Grade: 9-12 Length: Semester
Credit: Physical Education

This course is designed to expose students to a variety of Mixed Martial Arts type techniques and strategies that combine stand up and ground work related to personal defense and athletic training. It involves martial arts techniques from disciplines such as boxing, jiu jitsu, judo, krav maga, tae kwon do and wrestling. Students will learn the basic elements of striking, kicking, takedowns, and ground defense work as well as mental strategies in a safe and controlled environment. Additionally students will learn self-defense principles and strategies on how to be safe and aware of potential dangers in their surroundings. The course will include both practical and theoretical work.

Racquet Sports

ID: 48016 Grade: 9-12 Length: Semester
Credit: Physical Education

This course is designed to expose the students to five distinct racket activities: badminton, table tennis, pickleball (modified indoor paddle tennis), soft indoor tennis, and court tennis. The course will focus on stroke development, game analysis, and play refinement. Students will work on improving hand-eye coordination and reaction time response. Singles and doubles play strategies will also be presented. Practicing court etiquette, officiating, scoring, and participating in round robin or bracket tournaments will conclude the class activities. A comprehensive skill and written assessment will be administered at the conclusion of each unit.

Soccer, Flag Football, and Rugby

ID: 48014 Grade: 9-12 Length: Semester
Credit: Physical Education

Through this course students will become knowledgeable about the rules and regulations of soccer, flag football, and rugby and will be able to officiate games. In soccer, students will learn to perform skills at a satisfactory ability level, integrate soccer skills into a regular game situation, apply rules and strategies, and also teach skills to the other students. In the flag football unit, students will learn locomotor skills such as running (forward, backwards), shuffling sideways, handing the ball off to another player, throwing, and catching with good biomechanics. Basic offensive and defensive plays and strategies will be explored and implemented in order for the student to fully understand and enjoy the experience of participation in flag football. Students will demonstrate knowledge of, correctly follow, and apply the rules of flag football. In the final unit of this course, coeducational rugby will be taught and played. Touch rugby will be introduced during the initial period of the course. After mastering the basic skills and techniques of the game, students will be able to apply them in scrums, rucks, mauls, lineouts, and kickoffs in drills and game situations.

Track and Field: Running Events

ID: 48014 Grade: 9-12 Length: Semester
Credit: Physical Education

This course will concentrate on the sprints, relays, and middle distance running events. The 100, 200, 400, 800 and 1,500 meter distances will be covered as well as the 4 x 100 and 4 x 400 relays. Students will complete the various training methodology for each discipline along with the relevant theory associated for the successful completion of the events.

Weight Training and Conditioning I

ID: 48018 Grade: 9-12 Length: Semester
Credit: Physical Education

This course is designed to meet the needs of students who demonstrate an interest in developing personal fitness skills and gaining knowledge of anatomy and physiology. The course introduces students to many aspects of physical fitness, weight training, and conditioning and their role in promoting strength, muscular endurance, cardiovascular endurance, agility and flexibility. Students will apply weight training and fitness concepts through the development of their own personal fitness program. Students will learn the proper use of the universal weight machine and free weights. Students will also become knowledgeable about various nutritional and weight control programs and will be able to analyze the effectiveness of each of the programs studied.

Weight Training and Conditioning II

ID: 48019 Grade: 9-12 Length: Semester
Credit: Physical Education
Prerequisite: Weight Traning and Conditioning I

This course is designed to continue knowledge and skill in the components of physical fitness: strength, muscular endurance, cardiovascular endurance, agility, and flexibility. The resistance–training program includes free weights, circuit training, flexibility instruction, and aerobic activities. Theoretical instruction, comes from a variety of sources including physiology texts, salient journals, and teaching periodicals. The students’ knowledge of this theoretical base, along with practical application, forms the core concepts of this offering. Students will be graded on both practice and theory.

Lifeguarding

ID: 48023 Grade: 10-12 Length: Semester
Credit: Physical Education
Prerequisite: Must be at least 15 years old and be able pass the swimming test. If uncertain about your swimming skills, check with a PE teacher before requesting this course.

The purpose of the Lifeguarding course is to teach lifeguards the skills and knowledge needed to prevent, recognize, and respond to aquatic emergencies and to provide care for injuries and sudden illnesses. The American Red Cross Lifeguard Training Program curriculum is used as the basis for this course. Students may opt-in to receive the following certificates: Lifeguarding, First Aid, CPR, and AED Administration for the Professional Rescuer. Please note that in order to meet the rigorous standards for these certificates, students may be required to attend some outside-of-school hours sessions if they wish to receive all of the certifications.

AT Kinesiology

ID: 48000 Grade: 11-12 Length: Semester
Credit: Physical Education
Prerequisite: Completion of Biology, plus a Semester I grade of B+ in Chemistry or B in Accelerated Chemistry; or recommendation of PE Department Chair.

This course is designed to provide students with selected foundational knowledge in kinesiology. Modules focus on basic anatomy and introduce key aspects of exercise physiology, biomechanics, and motor behavior. Students will have the opportunity to apply course content through project-based learning. Projects may look to explore and investigate areas such as human performance, personal wellness, public health, and quality of life across the lifespan. This course aims to prepare students to pursue further studies in physical education and medical fields. This course was collaboratively developed and endorsed by a professor at the University of South Carolina. The AT designation indicates a course is at university level, putting it at or above the level of a traditional AP course. The course requires rigorous study and emphasizes in-depth research. Like an AP course, this course has a grade point weighting of 0.5.