PE the Way It Should Be (Fun!)
Surprising research into negative of impacts of instituting PE every day for middle school students in the Texas Fitness Now program sparked numerous news stories and conversations among educators and parents. Though there are many differences between schools in the study and Westridge, a The Atlantic article on the topic, “Gym Class So Bad, Kids Are Skipping School to Avoid It,” gets to the heart of what makes PE a strength (and beloved program) at Westridge. Its program disguises exercise and fitness as fun and provides students with a rotation of activities that capture their interests while building important life skills.
Lower School students engage in PE five days a week and the main objective is to get the students moving. Westridge use a variety of games and activities to teach and reinforce individual skill development, teamwork, and physical fitness. Have you ever seen a 4th or 5th grader get excited about doing wind-sprints for cardio conditioning? Neither have we. Students engage more authentically when they are having fun. RoShamBo Showdown and Tic-Tac-Toe-GO! are exciting games that feature a huge cardio component. The students LOVE these workouts!
The Middle School program rotates through three distinct disciplines throughout the year: Dance, Fitness & Recreation, and Team Sports. Classes meet four days per week in their rotational class and one day each week practicing Yoga. The girls enjoy getting an effective core workout while playing a Westridge original―Sqwater Polo―a mash-up of water polo on deck scooters.
Upper School PE classes meet three days a week and offer a range of activities that high school students are inclined to embrace even outside of school. The diverse curriculum includes spin bikes, urban hikes, recreational games and activities, yoga, strength & flexibility training, and Just Dance, to name a few. A huge favorite among our students is “Spinema.” You guessed it―spin bikes and a movie!
Click here to watch a video on the Westridge PE program.
Westridge School, 324 Madeline Drive, Pasadena, (626) 799-1053 ext. 200 or visit www.westridge.org.
