Health & Physical Education Department

Grade: 9 (required)

Students will participate in various physical activities, focusing on personal fitness and wellness. Additionally, integrity, trustworthiness, empathy, fairness, citizenship, and responsibility are enforced and emphasized throughout the physical education (PE) curriculum. The goal of the 9th-grade program is to instill the motto of “a sound mind in a sound body” into the overall life choices of students.

Grade: 9 (required)

This course is comprised of both Health and Physical Education (PE) units. The health component of this course includes concepts in the areas of mental health, drugs and alcohol abuse, and human sexuality; specifically abstinence, decision-making, refusal skills and sexually transmitted diseases. The PE portion of this course includes a variety of physical activities that incorporate established fitness and wellness concepts.

Grade: 10 (required)

This course engages students in physical activities selected from the following list: speedball, team handball, net ball, volleyball, and pickleball. Emphasis is placed on refining fundamental skills, introducing game strategies, deepening the understanding of the mechanics of movement, health and skill-related fitness. Students will participate in a professionally-guided course to learn about and identify possible mental health concerns in their own lives and in their peer groups.

Grade: 10 (required)

The health component for this course has two distinctive sections. The healthy relationships unit incorporates acknowledging healthy relationships, dating violence, and the warning signs associated with abusive relationships. The driver education component covers the operation of the modern vehicle in accordance with NJ laws, the organ donation process, and driving under the influence. All of these topics are designed with the intention of preparing students for the NJ MVC driver test. The course aims to develop mature attitudes and proper habits for safe driving.

The physical components of this course address the school's mission of physical and emotional wellness for all. Students will explore a variety of wellness activities along with a range of physical units. Collaboration and an appreciation for life-long fitness will be addressed in units on Project Adventure, football, and personal fitness.

Grade: 11

Students in grade 11 are required to take this course or Independent Health & PE to fulfill their Health component. The health portion of this course runs for 9 weeks, covering such topics as alcohol, tobacco, drug use and abuse, abstinence education and human sexuality. The second half of this course will enable students to explore fitness and wellness through collaborative exercises in at least two of the following activities: volleyball, softball, flag football, tennis, table tennis, or cooperative gameplay. Students will develop personal fitness goals, design programs, and research and identify effective consumer fitness products. Written and performance assessments will be used to determine mastery in this course.

Grade: 12

Students in grade 12 are required to take this course or Independent Health & PE to fulfill their Health component. Similar to Grade 11, the Grade 12 program includes 9 weeks of Health and 9 weeks of physical education. The Physical Education portion focuses on wellness and personal fitness is a part of the daily course content, exploring trending fitness concepts and equipment. Emphasis will be placed on collaboration and the traits of leadership in a team. Written formative assessments, skill tests, self-assessments, group collaboration and quality daily participation are used to assess student mastery in this course.

The Health-12 curriculum addresses the essential question, “How do I respond to conflict and/or change in a healthy way?”. The focus on conflict and conflict resolution is a common theme as units on loss and grief, addiction, and eating behaviors/body image disorders are addressed. Coping strategies are emphasized and practiced. Students will be assessed through formative assessments such as journal entries, individual and group projects, class participation, and a final exam.

Grade: 11

Students in Grade 11 may apply for this year-long course, which provides them with the opportunity to complete their Grade 11 Health and Physical Education graduation requirement. Students are eligible if they meet one of two pathways: two school-sponsored sport Varsity athletes OR one school-sponsored Varsity athlete who is also in a competitive and intense training program that is at least 150 minutes per week. This course incorporates the appropriate grade-level health and physical education curriculum as well as leadership principles, sports nutrition, mental training, and time management while utilizing flexible timelines and independent study. Anyone interested in this course must complete a required application and possible interview prior to admission due to limited course selections.

Grade: 12

Students in Grade 12 may apply for this year-long course, which provides them with the opportunity to complete their Grade 12 Health and Physical Education graduation requirement. This course incorporates the appropriate grade-level health and physical education curriculum as well as leadership principles, sports nutrition, mental training, and time management while utilizing flexible timelines and independent study. Students are eligible to apply if they meet one of three pathways: Returning IHPE student with teacher approval OR 2 school-sponsored sport Varsity athletes OR 1 school-sponsored Varsity athlete who is also in a competitive and intense training program that is at least 150 minutes per week. Anyone interested in this course must complete a required application and possible interview prior to admission due to limited course selections.

Grades: 11-12

Students will engage in various game-like, group problem-solving initiatives that will require minimal and challenging physical skills. Low and high rope elements will be used during this course. Fundamental safety, spotting, and belay techniques will be introduced and mastered. Students will study how groups form, individual personalities and leadership styles impact communication and problem-solving effectiveness. Indoor and outdoor elements may be used to complete student experiences in the sequencing of initiatives offered. Student journals and reaction papers, projects, and written tests may be used to assess mastery in this course.

Grades: 11-12

This course provides students with an environment that emphasizes overall wellness with a focus on personal fitness through weight resistance exercise. This course will provide students with the opportunity to examine and refine personal fitness goals, design personal fitness programs, and receive instruction on the use of weight training equipment/exercises. Students will also be provided resources for basic fitness nutritional concepts. Finally, this course will participate in a variety of sport activity units to foster a well-rounded environment for wellness and physical activity.

Grades: 11-12

This course provides students with the opportunity to explore global health issues with a focus on project-based service-learning. Students will examine the purpose, priorities and needs of national and global organizations such as Healthy People 2020, World Health Organization, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention through partner engagement and research on their own or in small groups. As a result of these external partnerships, students will develop proposals for action plans to support priorities they select. The other portion of this course focuses on a variety of international games, such as school-based rugby and modified cricket. Through the use of the Sport Education Model, the activity portion of the course will introduce students to the fundamental skills and strategies, as well as the cultural impact and background of these games. A peer teaching and service learning model is used to enable students to develop problem-solving and critical thinking skills targeted in this course. Online resources, text, student portfolio, practical and written tests, small group activities, and daily participation contribute to the measure of student mastery.

Grade: 11

This year-long course will provide students with the opportunity to complete the Grade 11 Health and Physical Education requirement using a service-learning model. Students will spend time in the classroom exploring a variety of topics in the areas of human sexuality, refusal skills, and community outreach. Project Adventure initiatives will be used to develop teamwork, leadership, and effective communication skills. In addition, students will learn from a research-based curriculum and present programs on these topics to peers and adults in the community. This course will assist students in becoming knowledgeable, effective peer educators, presenters, role models and health advocates. Participants in this course must complete an application and interview process to be eligible for an invitation to participate.

Grade: 12

This year-long course will provide students with the opportunity to complete the Grade 12 Health and Physical Education graduation requirement using a service-learning and peer mentoring approach. Students will spend time in the classroom mastering concepts related to human sexuality, drug and alcohol use, refusal and communication skills, and conflict resolution and coping strategies. Participants will work with middle school and grade nine students using a research-based curriculum to complete community outreach initiatives as knowledgeable, effective peer educators, presenters and health advocates. In addition, a variety of team-building initiatives will be infused to help develop and strengthen group dynamics within the group as well as leadership and facilitation skills. Anyone interested in this course must complete a required application and interview process prior to admission. Space is limited to twenty-five students per class, for a total of fifty grade 12 students per year.

The P.A.L.S course is designed with an inclusion model in mind. Both Special and General Education students will work together through a curriculum designed to cultivate and promote student leadership, peer mentoring, collaboration and the value of diversity in a sport and wellness context. The intent of this class is to encourage our students to live a healthy, active lifestyle and learn skills to help form strong, healthy relationships. Peer assisted learning will be used to cultivate partner and “team” relationships focused on individual wellness goals and social emotional skill building. Weight training, games, and sport activities will serve as vehicles to accomplish these goals. General Education students will apply, interview and be selected to participate in this course, while Special Education students, if appropriate, will have this course assigned via their Individualized Education Programs. Online assignments/discussion, student observations, readings, performance rubrics, and a student portfolio would be evidence of student mastery for General Education Students, while Special Education students will be graded through the context of their IEPs. The course is ultimately designed to foster an inclusive environment for all students in Physical Education.