Physical Education, Health & Driver Education

Middle School Health (M70130)
Grade 7-8

Students engage in the Life Skill Training program. Young people learn skills to make healthy choices and reduce the risk of using tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs. Life Skills not only provides information about drugs, but also helps students build refusal and decision-making skills that are useful in various situations. Students also learn about human growth and development, nutrition, disease prevention, and healthy relationships.

Middle School Physical Education (M72300)
Grades 7-8

Middle School Physical Education introduces students to a variety of lifelong physical fitness activities, which include dual and team sports. Some examples are tennis, basketball, soccer, volleyball, softball, pickle ball, and badminton. Students are introduced to the four health-related components of physical fitness, are assessed in each component using Fitnessgram, and then participate in various activities to accomplish the goal of 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity daily. Students apply problem-solving skills, show awareness for self and others in regards to safe behavior, and demonstrate appropriate social interactions through play.

Wellness Lifestyles (H70100)
½ credit
Grades 9-12
Health credit

Students learn about mental, physical, and social health while focusing on a variety of core health topics, such as the role of proper nutrition, physical fitness and disease prevention. Each student must pass the practical components of first aid and CPR.

Wellness Ed-Venture (H70200)
1 credit
Grades 9-12
½ credit Health and ½ credit PE

This new and exciting project-based course is the combination of the health and the physical education curriculum. The health component focuses on mental and emotional wellbeing. Activities develop students’ awareness of the causes and effects of stress, self-discovery, and achievement. The PE component is non-competitive and low-impact, designed by each individual student. Activities include developing a personalized plan, learning about healthy eating, and understanding the causes of poor health.

Physical Education (H72100)
½ to 1 credit
Grades 9-12
Physical Education credit

This course develops students’ skills in a variety of sports and activities with a focus on lifetime enjoyment. Students learn the techniques, rules, and strategies of the various activities. Polar heart rate monitors are used to teach students about how the heart responds to exercise and to collect the data for assessment. The sports and activities covered vary with the seasonal weather, space available, and enrollment. The following is a list of activities being offered throughout the year: soccer, volleyball, archery, frisbee games, physical fitness, aerobic activities, floor hockey, basketball, badminton, pickle ball, snowshoe activities, STX-lacrosse, golf, horseshoes, lawn games, flag football, tennis, softball, new and field games, low ropes course, indoor soccer, team handball, and weight training.

Fitness For Life (H72200)
1 credit
Grades 9-12
Physical Education credit

Fitness For Life focuses on the skills necessary to develop a personal lifelong fitness program. Students learn to assess, design and implement a fitness plan that addresses the four health-related components of physical fitness. Students participate in a variety of weight-training and cardiovascular activities as well as learning the science behind exercise and the physiological effects on the human body. Some activities may include running, hiking, biking, aerobics, step aerobics, Tae-Bo, rowing, snowshoeing, and weight training. Students wear heart rate monitors, collect HRM data, download the data, and analyze their workout.

Fitness For Life II (H72210)
½ credit
Grades 9-12
Physical Education credit
Prerequisite(s): Fitness For Life I

Students enhance their personal fitness program designed in Fitness For Life I. By focusing on weight-training and cardiovascular training, students use training principles to maximize health benefits. Additional units of study include weight management, stress management, and healthy lifestyles. This course is noncompetitive in nature. Students use heart rate monitors to assist with monitoring heart effort and intensity.

Adventure Programs (H72300)
½ credit
Grades 9-12, Quarters I & IV
Physical Education credit

Students participate in hiking, mountain biking, orienteering, fly-fishing, spin fishing, and ropes course activities. Students challenge themselves physically and mentally in an atmosphere that is safe, supportive, and fun. They build confidence, self-esteem, cooperation, and communication skills. Activities include noncompetitive games, group problem-solving, trust-building, teamwork, and decision-making. In addition they learn knot tying, belaying techniques, and attempt low and high ropes challenges. Field trips may be incorporated to expand student learning.

Weight Training (H72400)
½ credit
Grades 9-12
Physical Education credit

Students learn proper lifting and spotting techniques, strength training principles, weight lifting safety, muscle anatomy, and relevant terminology to carry out a successful weight-training program. Students also learn how to design and document their own strength training programs, and participate daily in activities to accomplish their goal. Students wear heart rate monitors; they collect the data and assess their physical efforts.

Cardio Kickboxing (H72500)
½ credit
Grades 9-12
Physical Education credit

Students learn martial arts and self-defense moves and perform these moves to music. Students learn about the four health-related components of physical fitness. Students wear heart rate monitors and participate in various cardio kickboxing routines, all in a non-competitive atmosphere. Once the students have become familiar with the martial arts moves, students work together to design a routine for the class.

Driver and Traffic Safety Education (H68100)
½ credit
Prerequisite(s): Driver’s permit
Elective credit

Students learn the safe, efficient, and rewarding use of the automobile. The course consists of 30 hours of class-work and a minimum of six hours of practice behind the wheel. Students learn the physical and mental characteristics of the driving task, the “Zone Control Precision Driving,” information about the effects of alcohol and drugs, laws made by nature and by society, aspects of preventive maintenance, and other responsibilities of driving. At least two of the six hours of driving time requires that a student demonstrate proficiency in complex traffic environments, usually completed in Brattleboro. This may necessitate driving after school. It is highly recommended that students have 20 hours of behind the wheel experience before taking this class.