Physical Education
"Mens Sana in Corpore Sano"
"A Sound Mind in a Sound Body" -Decimus Junius Juvenal, 130 A.D.
Physical Education is an essential part of the total educational process. The Overlake program offers a wide variety of traditional and non-traditional activities, which allow for the physical, social, emotional, and intellectual growth of each student. The department strives to instill a positive attitude toward an active and healthy lifestyle that will enrich the quality of life. In his book Brain Rules, John Medina writes, “The benefits of exercise seem nearly endless because its impact is system wide, affecting most physiological systems. When combined with the intellectual benefits exercise appears to offer, we have in our hands as close to a magic bullet for improving human health as exists in modern medicine.”
Physical education at Overlake is a very positive experience. Students are expected to dress for action and participate to the best of their ability every day. Classes are designed to serve all students regardless of age, gender, athletic ability, or physical capacity with high expectations for all students to reach their personal potential. The department is committed to delivering a planned and purposeful high activity-based, success-oriented program to our students. Sequential skill building, game strategies, aerobic fitness, wellness, strength building, team building, cooperative challenges, and sportsmanship are the basis for a program that encourages healthy choices now and in the future. All activities are conducted in a safe and nurturing environment, in keeping with the mission of the school. Students work daily on personal fitness, skill development, teamwork and sportsmanship.
Overlake is committed to educating the whole child and health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. Part of this education involves information presented and discussed in eighth grade and tenth grade Life Skills that includes social-emotional intelligence, basic competencies for interdependence, cultural competency, sexual and relationship wellness and mental health.
Curriculum Requirements
For the graduating classes of 2020 - 2023
The Physical Education requirements are two full credits (four semester classes). Required courses are Lifeskills in grade 10 and either Comprehensive PE or Conditioning during a student’s four years of Upper School. The remaining 2 semesters may be selected from the electives.
For the graduating class of 2024 and beyond
The Physical Education requirements are two full credits (four semester classes). Required courses are 9 PE in grade 9 and Lifeskills in grade 10. The remaining 2 semesters may be selected from the electives.
Physical Education 5
The curriculum in grade five is intentionally designed to include a wide variety of fitness-related activities and sports. The goal of each activity is to provide maximal participation to enhance both fitness and the basic movement skills of throwing, catching, striking, kicking, balance, agility, and eye-hand coordination. Games are modified to ensure success and keep the skills and expectations age-appropriate. Individual progress is measured using rubrics, self-evaluation, peer evaluation, teacher evaluation, fitness tests, and the medals program. The Fitnessgram test is administered twice each year and is used to measure the effectiveness of their work in accomplishing a healthy level of fitness. Special activities for the fifth grade include lawn games, badminton, circus arts, bowling, bouldering, cricket, pillow polo, rope skipping, tumbling, volleyball, lacrosse, table tennis, and wiffleball. Swimming is offered as available on a year-by-year basis.
Physical Education 6
Through the use of small and large group games and cooperative activities, sixth-grade students develop more skills specific to games and sports. Fitness remains a top priority of each day's activities and low-level competition is introduced with a strong emphasis placed on sportsmanship. Sixth-grade students are evaluated on a pass/fail basis. Each student's progress is monitored and demonstrated using rubrics, self-evaluations, peer evaluations, and fitness activities. Special units for the sixth grade are archery, floor hockey, pickleball, fistball, and tennis. Each class completes two fitness evaluations throughout the year. The Fitnessgram evaluation is used to measure the effectiveness of their work in accomplishing a healthy level of fitness.
Physical Education 7
In seventh-grade, a more technical approach is used toward game skills. Game strategies are introduced and alternative warm-ups and games are a part of each day. These non-traditional activities keep the program active and fun while ensuring fitness and skill development. Additionally, at this level students are assigned grades that reflect their class participation, effort, contributions to the group, sportsmanship, and attitude. Skills are evaluated using goal setting, rubrics, self-evaluation, peer evaluation, video review, and fitness activities, in order to demonstrate individual progress. Many units are re-visited in the seventh-grade and include archery, soccer, basketball, volleyball, football, hockey, and more advanced skills/tactics are taught and practiced. Special units include multi-cultural games taught by the students, and leadership challenges to develop communication skills. There is an introduction to the fitness center, where students learn more about muscular endurance training. In addition, each class section works collaboratively and cooperatively to choose four additional units they would like to explore during their seventh-grade year. Each class completes The Fitnessgram evaluation twice per year and the results are used to measure the effectiveness of their work in accomplishing a healthy level of fitness.
Athletics for PE Credit
Eligibility: Only Juniors and Seniors may apply for Athletics for PE credit.
Requirements: To earn PE credit, students must participate in two Overlake sports seasons within the same school calendar year.
Spring Sports Exception: If one of your two sports seasons is a spring sport, you are allowed to use your Sophomore year to meet the requirement, as long as you played two sports that school year, including a spring sport.
*Seniors cannot count a spring sport from their Senior year toward this credit.
*Credit for sports participation during the Sophomore year is only allowed for students who participate in a spring sport.
Maximum Applications: Students may apply for Athletics for PE credit up to two times. To earn the full 1 PE credit, students will need to complete two sports seasons in two separate school years (Junior and/or Senior years, or Sophomore year if a spring sport is included).
To apply, fill out this form once you have completed your second sports season each year.
Contact
Mindy McGrath
Physical Education Department Chair
mmcgrath@overlake.org
425-602-7135