Wellness Education Department

Physical Education (32700) and Health Education (32780)

In wellness education, students develop knowledge, skills, attitudes, and behaviors necessary to be healthy and physically active for a lifetime. Wellness education teachers have unique opportunities to work with students throughout their primary and secondary years. The consistent teacher and student engagement affords opportunities for the development of trusting, reliable relationships. Through wellness education, students are challenged to enhance their confidence and competence, critical thinking, writing, and problem-solving skills.

• Students, in grades K-8, receive physical education two days per week for the year.

• Students, in grades 7-8, receive skills-based health education two days per week for the year.

• Students, in grade 9, enrolled in Lifetime Wellness, receive instruction four days per week for one semester (2 classes in the classroom for health education

and 2 days in the gym, fitness center, or other activity space for lifetime activities/fitness education).

• Students, in grades 10-12, participate in a lifetime activities/fitness education course two days per week, for one semester, each year. The tenth through twelfth

grade lifetime activities/fitness education course can currently be substituted with a sports credit or, in some cases, an after-school physical activity credit.

Opportunity to Learn: Equity and access

All students are afforded a “wellness” approach to learning. In order to achieve wellness, all students deserve and need a diverse education taught by licensed wellness education teachers, a healthy, safe, diverse, and supportive learning environment, a district-wide coordinated curriculum, and adequate time allotment, space, equipment, and facilities. Wellness encompasses a culture of holistic well-being focused on educating, promoting and supporting all dimensions of health (physical, mental/intellectual, emotional, social, and ethical) in order to live a longer, healthier, and more productive life.

Meaningful Content: Aligned with national standards

Wellness education curricula align with the state and national standards, which identify what students, should know and be able to do. Specifically, students in physical education and fitness/lifetime activities shall demonstrate competency in a variety of motor skills and movement patterns. The students will apply knowledge of concepts, principles, strategies and tactics related to movement and performance. They will also demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to achieve and maintain a health-enhancing level of physical activity and fitness and exhibit responsible personal and social behavior that respects self and others. Furthermore, students are prepared to recognize the value of physical activity for health, enjoyment, challenge, self-expression and/or social interaction. Health education teachers utilize a skills-based approach, offering students continuous opportunities to practice skills such as analyzing influences on health behaviors, decision-making, goal setting, and communication to enhance health and avoid or reduce risk behaviors. Students learn content (substance awareness, violence prevention, human sexuality, mental health, nutrition and first-aid/CPR) through the practice and application of life skills. Ultimately, the knowledge, skills, values, and appreciation students have for wellness education can influence their decision to be healthy and physically active for a lifetime.

Appropriate Instruction: Best practices effectively taught

Wellness education instruction includes the use of various pedagogical methods to accommodate a variety of learning styles. Teachers deliver age and developmentally appropriate instruction to accommodate the needs of all students. Lessons are designed to challenge and facilitate student learning. The use of appropriate and innovative technology serves to enhance student learning through discovery, assessment, and reinforcement. Teachers engage in quality professional development designed to keep up with new discoveries in wellness education. Adapted physical education specialists are actively engaged in instruction and serve as valuable stakeholders in supporting appropriate and successful student inclusion.

Program Review

Licensed health education teachers are needed to teach 7-8 health education classes. Currently, several health classes are taught by other content area teachers who needed additional FTE to fulfill a 1.0 position.

FY20 Objectives

Elementary (Grades K-8) Physical Education

• Upgrade heart rate monitor technology at five of the K-8 schools.

7-8 Health Education

• Implementation of the Project HERE Grant.

Brookline High School (Grades 9-12) Wellness Education

• Launch a new fitness/lifetime activities course, entitled Lifeguard Training, for 10-12 grade students.

FY21 Objectives

Elementary (Grades K-8) Physical Education

• Upgrade heart rate monitor technology to all K-8 schools.

7-8 Health Education

• Implementation of health education scope and sequence.

• Full implementation of the Project HERE Grant.

Brookline High School (Grades 9-12) Wellness Education

• Develop a lifetime wellness education scope and sequence.

• Expand sections of the Lifeguard Training Course.

FY19 Accomplishments

District-wide

• Continued professional learning and development of teacher-leaders through teachers’ participation at state and national health and physical education

conventions. Four PSB wellness education teachers presented at the 2018 MA health and physical convention.

7-8 Health Education

• Developed a health education scope and sequence.

Brookline High School (Grades 9-12) Wellness Education

• Completed the renovation of the BHS Fitness Center.

FY20 Accomplishments

K-8 Physical Education

• All physical education teachers utilized Polar heart rate technology.

7-8 Health Education

• All teachers received training in the Michigan Model Curriculum.

• All teachers implemented the newly revised scope and sequence.

BHS Wellness Education

• Gretchen Lima received here lifeguard training instructor certification. The certification was necessary in order to offer the new lifeguard training course.

• As a result of the renovated fitness center, six sections of strength and conditioning were offered during the 2019-2020 school year.