Physical Education Department

To graduate, students need to complete two physical education credits:  One credit is completed in the freshman year with Wellness and the second credit is completed with one physical education course or a dance class.  The second physical education credit can also be earned through a Burr and Burton sponsored, pre-approved extracurricular commitment.  For example, a student who is a member of a competitive sports team for a season is eligible for a one-third credit exemption toward the physical education credit.  Such students must participate in three approved extracurricular credits to be exempt from a PE credit.

Departmental goals are as follows:
•    Students will enjoy a lifelong, active lifestyle.
•    Students will understand the value of fitness through physical activity.
•    Students will understand fairness, respect, and the rules of team and lifetime sports.
•    Students will learn to accept diversity.
•    Students will learn the information necessary to make responsible, healthy decisions.

WELLNESS  
1 credit   Level 3
Wellness is a combination of health and physical education. It is a required class needed for graduation, designed for freshmen. The health component focuses on mental and emotional health, nutrition and fitness, human sexuality, substance abuse, environmental issues and current events.  In the physical education component, students engage in cooperative games and team sports, work on the low ropes course, and learn how to use the fitness center.  Students are assessed on class preparation, active participation, and via tests and projects.  This course is required for all freshmen.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION FOR FRESHMEN, SOPHOMORES AND JUNIORS  
1 credit   Level 3
This course focuses on team sports, including softball, soccer, football, basketball, volleyball, team handball, floor hockey and ultimate Frisbee.  Students participate as members of teams and learn the rules, strategies and scoring of each game. Students also use the fitness center on a regular basis and are required to keep a log of their activities. Student assessment is based on being prepared for class, active participation, improvement of skills, and written tests.
PREREQUISITE:  Completion of Wellness

PHYSICAL EDUCATION FOR JUNIORS AND SENIORS  
1 credit   Level 3
This course focuses on lifetime activities, including the high ropes course, softball, tennis, archery, badminton, ping pong, pickle ball, volleyball, snowshoeing, cross country skiing, fly fishing and golf. Students participate in these lifetime activities and learn the rules, strategies and scoring of the games. Student assessment is based on being prepared for class, active participation, improvement of skills, and written tests.
PREREQUISITE:  Completion of Wellness

BOYS’ PERSONAL FITNESS  
1 credit   Level 3
This course is designed for students who want to improve their overall fitness level and acquire the knowledge to be able to plan a fitness program for a healthy lifestyle.  Topics covered during this course are nutrition, muscle structure and function, stretching and flexibility, core development, cardiovascular fitness, strength and endurance conditioning, plyometrics, power and Olympic-style lifts, along with the latest research from the fitness industry.  Student assessment is based on active participation, journals, self-evaluation, written tests, papers, goal setting and fitness testing.
PREREQUISITE: Successful completion of Wellness and instructor’s approval.                                  

GIRLS’ PERSONAL FITNESS  
1 credit   Level 3
This course is for female students who want to improve their overall fitness level. Students are introduced to the fitness center, learn the five components of fitness, and relate the five components to their individual needs. Students begin the class with a self-assessment of where they feel they currently stand in relation to the 5 components and create individual goals to improve their overall fitness.  Students create an individual workout program and write a weekly personal reflection, as well as learn how nutrition plays a role in their overall health and fitness. Student assessment is based on participation, personal fitness log, personal reflections and projects related to sport and fitness.
PREREQUISITE:  Completion of Wellness

OUTDOOR ADVENTURE (Fall semester only)
1 credit  Level 3     
Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors
This course is designed to give students an introduction to a variety of outdoor activities that exist in our local area and to promote lifetime activities for fitness and recreation. Students learn to properly use and care for equipment that may be unfamiliar, how to minimize risk, how to challenge themselves both mentally and physically, and how to gain the ability to rely on the support of fellow students. Working on the High Ropes course, students become familiar with trust, personal challenges, safety, ropes skills and knots. Other Lifetime Activities explored include: hiking, orienteering, mountain biking, road biking, canoeing, kayaking, fly fishing, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, rock climbing, backpacking, and wilderness first aid and survival.
PREREQUISITE: Completion of Wellness. Space is limited.

INTRODUCTION TO ANATOMY  
1 credit   Level 3
This course is an introduction to anatomy, physiology and sports medicine.  We start off with an orientation of the body, discussing body systems, metabolism, homeostasis and directional terms.  We then examine the skeletal and muscular systems. Sports medicine, common injuries in sports, treatment and rehabilitation exercises are the focus of the latter part of the course.  We consider careers associated with sports medicine and each student develops a fitness and nutritional program.  Students are assessed through participation, evaluating and taping injuries, weekly quizzes, tests and projects.
PREREQUISITE: Successful completion of Wellness and Biology.

ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY  
1 credit   Level 2
This course takes an in-depth look at human anatomy, physiology and sports medicine.  Students first focus on the body orientation, skeletal and muscular systems.  They next learn the bones and muscles of the body, bone markings, how a muscle contracts, muscle movements, muscle attachments, common injuries and their treatment.  Finally, students investigate sports medicine, injuries and the healing process, rehabilitation exercises, and careers associated with sports medicine. Students are assessed through weekly quizzes, tests, projects and taping/treating common injuries.
PREREQUISITE: Successful completion of Wellness, a grade of a B or better in CP Biology, or instructor’s permission.

THE DANCER’S PROCESS 
1 credit   Level 3
What does it take to be a dancer? This exploratory course is designed to provide students with the basic techniques needed to express themselves through the art of movement. Students explore a variety of dance styles as well as the use of body conditioning, the understanding of the body in motion and an introduction to technique and concepts of dance.  Students of any level, beginner through advanced, benefit from this class. This class may be repeated.
 This course fulfills either the Arts requirement or Physical Education requirement for graduation.

ADVANCED DANCE  
1 credit   Level 3
Students continue to perform with the Dancer’s Process ensemble and serve as dance captains in the class.   
PREREQUISITE: At least two semesters of The Dancer’s Process and a grade of B+ or higher. This course fulfills either the Arts requirement or Physical Education requirement for graduation.