Welcome to Mrs. Wallace's
                  PE Class 2021-22      rwallace@stbl.org

March Happenings
One of my favorite things to teach is the Ball Throwing Unit. The students are all actively engaged and it's here that I truly earn my name as the "Sweatmaster". This week the "Volcano" erupted in my preschool and kindergarten classes causing much fun and bedlam. We are working hard at learning the overhand throwing cues of "POINT-STEP-THROW
February News!
We are gearing up for the much anticipated, " Winter Olympic Games" at Bernies. This week, our preschool classes participated in the events dressing up in their TEAM USA best!  The games introduced were Alpine Ski, Speed Skating, Ski Jump and Curling. In grades 5-8, students picked their own teammates and countries. Let the games begin!
Week of January 24
Our Preschool 4yr olds and kindergarten classes celebrated the end of their catching unit with 4 stations to fine-tune the art of catching. Using bouncy balls to throw and catch on a basket, balls with scarf tails, velcro balls with mitts and the ever-popular Stomp boards they had lots of experience with a host of different equipment. Fun and learning go so well together in PE:)
Week of January 17
This week's favorite game was "GRADUATION", a basketball shooting game that allows students to work at their own levels, at a basket that is at a comfortable height, and a ball size that allows optimum performance. 
Happy New Year 2022! It's marvelous to be back in person:) This week grades 4-8 played one of my favorite activities called "Handball". It is an excellent lead up game to basketball as it utilizes the components of passing, catching, pivoting and learning how to move without the ball. The younger grades
( prek-3) were "fine-tuning"  their catching skills in the games of Animal Concentration, Perfect Pass and Hoop Catch. 
December is the " Most Wonderful Time of the Year!"  
HOHOHO!  What fun it is to be in PE!  The highlight of this past week was seeing the 7th and 8th grades play Toe Rope Scooter Tag- a wild and fun game with ropes, scooters and a tagging element!  The younger students delved into the Christmas spirit by delivering presents, decorating trees, and running relays as Rudolf and Santa. WIshing everyone the blessings of health, joy and peace this Christmas season! 
Month of November     
Oh my! I've been so busy I forgot to write about it. November came and went already. The highlight of November was our salute to our Veterans with our "Boot Camp 2021" which involved the skills of strength, agility, balance, cardio and flexibility. We also celebrated Thanksgiving with the popular games of " Stuff the Turkey", "Build a Turkey", and " Turkeys in the Haystack".                 
Week of October 26
Halloween happenings invaded the territory!  Halloween Obstacle Courses were present for the preschool and kindergarten classes while the First and Second Grades played "Ghostbusters" and "Wrap the Mummy"!
Grades 3-7 played a favorite, called Haunted House Exploration, with a ONE WAY BAT TUNNEL. Watching them assemble a skeleton from the graveyard and traveling to a Seek and Find Area, to get their "treasures" was the best!
Happy Halloween!
Weeks of Oct 12 & 19
Greetings! The excitement continues in the gym! "Wreck-it Ralph", a fun game of up and down cones, kept the young movers busy this week. Additionally, "Find the Jewels" has become a new favorite game, where magicians try to fool the "FInders" by hiding a jewel in one of their hands! Finders guess which hand holds the jewel, and if right, become the new magician! If not, another lap around the course! Our young learners continue to practice their skills of running, leaping, jumping, hopping, galloping and skipping.

Soccer has invaded the walls of SBS! Lots of kicking, trapping and scoring will be happening this week! 3 V 3 mini-games, shooting, serpentine and circle dribbling highlighted the stations. Animal Brigade, Clean Your Backyard and Protect the Pin games will be introduced this week:)


Weeks of Sept 28 & Oct 5th
Grades 4-8 have been working on striking skill stations initially using their hands and then advancing to paddles. Stations included were 4- square, tableball, strikerball, and spikeball ( or modified as slamball). This week, paddleball/ tennis and floorball were introduced. There's lots of fun in this mildly competitive atmosphere, where students are taught to remember,
"It's only a game". 
As we remember Fire Prevention Week, grades Preschool 4YR - 3rd will be reviewing the rules of Fire Safety and learning the sounds of a smoke detector.  Stop, drop and roll, crawl low and go, know two ways out, and get to your meeting place are a sampling of the topics covered. 

WHY IS PHYSICAL EDUCATION SO IMPORTANT?

• Improved physical fitness
• Skill and motor skills development
• Provides regular, healthful physical activity
• Teaches self-discipline
• Facilitates the development of student responsibility for health and fitness
• Influence moral development, leadership, cooperate with others
• Stress reduction – an outlet for releasing tension and anxiety
• Strengthened peer relationships
• Physical education can improve self-confidence and self-esteem
• Respect - PE helps you respect your body, classmates, and teammates
• Experience in setting goals
• Improved academics - The big bonus 
• Source: https://phitamerica.org/benefits/benefits-of-pe-in-school

• Saint Bernadette gray tee-shirt ( short or long sleeves)
• navy blue gym shorts
• white or navy socks, sneakers
•  navy blue sweatpants and sweatshirt.
• Gym uniforms can be ordered via  paper order form sent in through school which is located on the Forms page or online directly from Sport Specialties:

Physical Education Policies and Guidelines 2021-22

Come prepared in your gym uniform.

No jewelry is should be worn for safety considerations. 

Sneaker laces should be tied not tucked. Students should not wear compression gear. RESPECT YOURSELF, OTHERS AND THE EQUIPMENT.

Consistent violations of the uniform policy or two uncooperative behaviors(or any combination of both) would warrant any or all of the following: write up on your blue card, teacher-student conference, email to the parent.  

Students may be excused from a uniform violation if a note is written and signed by a parent as long as the privilege is not abused. If your child has seen a doctor, a note from the physician is necessary explaining the illness or injury, time out of class and when he/she can resume activity. If your child cannot participate for any reason, a note from you is necessary to excuse them from class. Please email me with any questions or concerns.  I will be happy to discuss them with you.   

GRADING POLICIES • Students (Gr. 4-8) will receive at 2- 3 grades each trimester. If a written assignment is given, it is usually due back the following P.E. class.  Tests are infrequent, but may be given. 

 GRADE EQUIVALENTS: Archdiocesan Criteria for P.E.                   4=  Exceeding: Student demonstrates complete understanding and  high achievement of the P.E. standards. 

3=  Developing Appropriately: Student demonstrates a satisfactory understanding and adequate achievement of the P.E. standards 

2=  Needs Improvement: Student demonstrates some understanding  and minimal achievement of the P.E. standards. 

1=  Unsatisfactory:  Student demonstrates little or no understanding and limited achievement of the P.E. standards.    

I will do my best to keep my students safe, happy and inspired to be physically active for life! 

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me directly at : rwallace@stbl.org

For children who have medical conditions (asthma, bee sting allergies, Diabetes etc.) or any physical limitations (fractures, breaks, strains, etc.) that need to be considered for Physical Education please copy and fill out the Physical Education Medical Alert form located on the School Forms page and return it to Mrs. Wallace immediately. Since PE class may also take place at Dermond Field it is important to know if there are medications that should accompany a student (Inhalers, Epi-Pens, etc.). There is no need to return a form unless a need is listed. Please note that this form is different from the emergency forms kept on record with the school.