Physical Education is an essential and integral part of the curriculum and is taught by a certificated teacher with the assistance of two instructional assistants. All students in grades one through six participate in a hundred minutes of physical education each week. The physical education program helps children to understand the principles behind movement so they can transfer their knowledge to new skills, to understand and to become physically fit, and to value activity to fulfill the ultimate goal of lifelong participation in physical activity. The curriculum is comprehensive, sequential, developmentally appropriate and is matched to the California Framework for Physical Education. In the primary grades there is a strong emphasis on movement education, learning about the body, the space in which it moves, and how to move it well in relationship to itself, others, and with equipment. This sets the foundation for successful participation in physical activities in the upper grades. Students use skills to move more efficiently and effectively and to take responsiblity for a healthy lifestyle.

Physical Fitness is a focus of the physical education program. Students learn the importance of attaining and maintaining a healthy level of fitness. They learn the components of health-related physical fitness and through the application of the principles of exercise begin to be more physically fit. The introduction of heart monitors help students to fully understand the relationship between exercise and a healthy cardiovascular system. The state mandated fitness test is given to all upper grade students in the fall. Students set fitness goals, develop a plan to reach those goals, participate in activities to increase fitness throughout the year and are retested in the spring. These fitness tests, with goals, are inserted in the students' portfolios.

A wide variety of activities provide opportunities for children to be successful in the program. They are specifically designed to foster cooperation rather than competition and stress personal growth. Students work with others, developing those social skills necessary to work in small and larger groups, to be a leader and a team player, and to work with other students of varying ability as they learn to accept individual differences and increase appreciation for others. To support the movement based program, a range of equipment is used in basic movement skills, sports, games, and rhythm and dance. Students participate in special events such as Jump Rope for Heart (sponsored by the American Heart Association), the Hoop Shoot Contest sponsored by the Elks Club, and a program entitled Creative Athletics. A pilot program in physical fitness which resulted in an educational video, "Kids on The Move," was filmed at Laguna Road using upper grade students. There will be an additional event this year, a jog-a-thon, which will not only promote fitness, but the proceeds will be given to the PTA.

Press the BACK button to go back to Laguna Road campus.