Physical Education
Christine Raffo
District Director of Physical Education, Athletics & Health Services
christine_raffo@manhassetschools.org
Manhasset Public Schools
200 Memorial Place
Manhasset, NY 11030
(516)267-7551 Fax: (516)267-7592
Mission
Physical Education is a required for graduation and is an integral subject in each student’s educational experience in the Manhasset School District.
The Physical Education program in the Manhasset School District will provide opportunities for all students to achieve skills and knowledge of various physical activities that will be offered throughout the school year.
Through participation in games and sports, students can develop eye-hand coordination, develop overall skill and also learn to follow and communicate with each other while participating.
There is always an emphasis in sportsmanlike play and the development amongst our students to recognize the varying abilities in their classmates
Physical Education provides experiences which emphasize the understanding and respect for rules of play, and offer opportunities for students to cooperate, develop trust and respect, and assume responsibility and work together to accomplish a task.
Physical Education will provide a foundation of knowledge, skill, and experiences that will permit students to select activities that can be practiced and enjoyed over a lifetime (volleyball, tennis, badminton etc.)
K-6
At the K-3 level students gain a practical and working understanding of how the body does move and can move. Students gain a knowledge and understanding of the relationship between body parts and objects. Grades 4-6 students begin more in depth knowledge of fitness and more structured game activities. Lead-up game activities are introduced. Sportsmanship and Cooperation are emphasized though all grade levels.
Kindergarten through 2nd grade: Our students are guided through movement experiences in program activities incorporating rhythm and dance, simple games, movement exploration that will enhance eye hand coordination and spatial awareness. Various games to teach to these activities include but are not limited to juggling with scarves, progressing to small playground balls, imaginative activities such as moving through space like different animals. Games like line soccer, scooter relays, tag like games and various fitness activities take place in grades K-2.
Grades 1-2: focus on many of the same activities that are presented in K-2 but levels of detail and levels of challenge are elevated, Dribbling activities, a unit on bones of the body, a nutrition unit, fitness related activities and lead-up activities such as newcomb (volleyball lead-up) are being presented.
Grades 3-6: activities are offered to these three grade levels varying on age and grade levels. Activities will be modified based on abilities of students in these grades. Cooperative games and activities that encourage teamwork, cooperation, strategy and communication are offered. Outdoor education activities are presented. Games like soccer, European handball, hockey and basketball are presented. These activities are taught in more depth as levels of comprehension increase as students move through their grade levels. A fitness unit in which students go through muscular strength and endurance stations which lead them into our Fitness gram assessment.
Throughout the school year there are a number of special activities such as “Quidditch” (a game from the Harry Potter book series), Dr. Seuss’s birthday unit in the month of March with our lower grade levels, a Circus Arts unit and whenever there is a Summer or Winter Olympic year we carry over these activities into Field Day activities.
7-12
At the 7-12 grade level, students improve on experiences gained at lower grade levels (K-6). These activities presented are built upon and expanded upon. Individual and team sports are emphasized. Developing higher levels of competency in skills and knowledge; nurturing positive attitudes toward movement, and fostering physical fitness are points of emphasis.
Grades 7-8: Activities offered in 7th and 8th grade team sport activities and other activities such as flag football, soccer, volleyball, basketball, softball and ultimate Frisbee. Fitness is a component in every class. The mile run/walk and sit-up/push are used as assessment tools as students are tested in the fall and again in the spring to see improvement. There is a Wellness Unit which is coupled with CASA.
Team sports are taught in depth with a concentration on team strategy, rules of fair play and sportsmanship. Students will demonstrate proficiency and competence in basic skills (dribbling, passing, and kicking). They will apply these skills in games played. Students will demonstrate familiarity with specific criteria and terminology in sport activities presented. Students will understand the rules of the sports. Students will demonstrate correct conditioning skills for basic conditioning. Cardiovascular endurance, muscle flexibility, strength and endurance are emphasized and will recognize the importance of conditioning in the development of personal well-being.
Grades 9-12: Sport activities are improved upon. Skills attained in the 7th and 8th grade are improved upon. Fundamentals of sport activities are reviewed. Activities include: soccer, tennis, flag football, volleyball, pickle ball, ultimate frisbee, and softball. Fitness is incorporated in each lesson and there is also a fitness unit.
Lifetime activities such as tennis, volleyball, badminton, and pickle-ball are covered in depth. Rules of play are reviewed. Strategy and actual game play are emphasized. Students will demonstrate a refined proficiency in individual and team games and sports. Students will participate in games and sports for pleasure and fitness. When feasible Outdoor Project-Adventure activities will take place. A CPR Unit will take place with in grades 9-12 where students will learn basic concepts of CPR. Included in this instruction will be the use of an automatic external defibrillator.
Adapted Physical Education is offered to our Life Skills Students. Adapted Physical Education is an individualized program of instruction created for students with disabilities that enables success in Physical Education. Adaptive Physical Education is Physical Education which may be adapted or modified to address the individual needs of our 7-12 students