Physical Education at SFDS

In this section: Goals and objectives Kindergarten 1st Grade 2nd Grade 3rd Grade 4th Grade 5th Grade 6th Grade 7th Grade 8th Grade

Program Overview

The SFDS P.E. program supports the school's philosophy by offering each child in grades K-8 a psychomotor, cognitive, and affective learning experience. The faculty expects and demonstrates the highest standards of responsible behavior through sportsmanship. The student is viewed as a unique individual during skill development in that each student will have the opportunity to reach his/her potential. Self-esteem is developed through positive reinforcement during movement experiences throughout the K-8 curriculum. The faculty promotes physical well-being as an integral part of one's lifestyle.

The focus of the K-8 P.E. curriculum includes the following four elements: fitness, skill development, sportsmanship, anatomy, and human wellness. The instructional approach is twofold: in grades K-4 the students learn through exploration and guided discovery, while in grades 5-8 they learn through skill drills that focus on technique. In grades 5-8, students play a variety of team-oriented sports such as soccer, badminton, basketball, football, team handball, floor hockey, volleyball, ultimate frisbee, pickleball, rythym and dance, and softball. Fitness is accomplished by discovering the correlation between exercise and the healthy human body. Skill development is acquired through a continuum of various levels of drills. Sportsmanship begins and continues with respect, cooperation, encouraging and complimenting as well as appreciation for others. Human wellness is explored by daily participation in physical activity, both within and outside of the school community. Skill competency is learned through knowledge and participation in an activity or game. Repetition, duration, confidence, and exploration are important ingredients in achieving skill competency.

Kindergarten and first grade P.E. classes meet two times a week for 30 minutes. Second, third, and fourth grades meet three times a week for 45 minutes. Fifth and sixth grades meet three times a week for 45 minutes. Seventh and eighth grades meet three times a week for 45 minutes.

The students participate in the various sports and activities in one of three areas:

• The SFDS gymnasium, which has six retractable basketball hoops, regulation volleyball standards, two pull-up bars, and two climbing ropes.
• A grass playing field that is the size of a college regulation outfield diamond, surrounded by a 400 meter cinder track, on USF property located adjacent to the school.
• The SFDS rooftop, which is divided into three different areas: a large open playing surface; a space that includes two basketball hoops, two four squares, and one tetherball court; and a small play space with one basketball hoop.