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COURSE DESCRIPTIONS — HEALTH & PHYSICAL EDUCATION

Health Education and Physical Education are integral parts of the total educational process at Marple Newtown High School. Through selected experiences and activities Physical Education contributes to the growth and development of all students in the physical, intellectual, social and emotional dimension of each individual. Health Education provides instruction in the concept of wellness and offers students opportunities to develop lifelong health enhancing behaviors by promoting health literacy, critical thinking, and responsible decision-making throughout the curriculum. The Health and Physical education program better prepares students to become contributing and productive members of our rapidly changing, democratic society.

The Skill Instruction Program includes the teaching of fundamental skills used in team sports and individual sports activities. Students are drilled and tested in the fundamental skills, rules and basic strategies of these athletic activities. The course may be divided into three offerings: boys’ activities, girls’ activities and co-educational activities.

The President’s Challenge Program, sponsored by the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, supports a battery of five fitness tests that is administered during the fall and spring units. Awards are presented to those students who attain the national standards for the Presidential Fitness Award.

Each freshman student must participate in a required nine-week aquatics course (0452).

The Selective Program includes participation in team activities, individual sports activities and various leisure-time, recreational lifetime, carry over activities. The primary emphasis for the students is participation in the activities of their choice. Each marking period students may be given the opportunity to elect to participate in either a boys’ activity, a girls’ activity or a co-educational activity.

The opportunity to elect course offerings with emphasis on participation in leisure-time, recreational lifetime and carry-over activities which should provide enjoyment and alternatives by which to maintain physical fitness after graduation.

The grade nine (9) Health Education course provides content areas of concentration in Community Health, environmental Health, Nutritional Health, Prevention of Disease, and Substance Abuse. Community resources provide updated information and awareness on the topics of HIV/AIDS and sexual assault/harassment.

Content is presented using a variety of strategies to provide students with information and skills and many opportunities for practical application of knowledge on a personal level.

The grade eleven (11) Health education course provides content areas of concentration in Growth and Development, Family Life and Substance Abuse, Growth and Development units and provides a conceptual approach to anatomy and physiology which develops a better understanding of the human body as an integrated whole. The human development offerings give insight to human reproduction and the growth and development that occurs through the eight stages of life.

The Family Life unit concentrates on establishing an understanding of relationships and realizing the responsibilities that are related to marriage and family living. Community resources provide updated information and awareness on the topics of HIV/AIDS, sexual assault/harassment/violence, and sexual abstinence.

The aquatics course requirement for graduation combines an assessed proficiency in aquatic skills with a demonstration of safety awareness and behaviors near and in the water. The aquatics program is coeducational and ability-grouped. Smaller classes allow for individualized instruction which promotes development of swimming and other aquatic skills in a safe environment. The course is taught by a certified instructor and is based on the American Red Cross course. Students are scheduled for aquatics during one marking period of the ninth grade physical education curriculum.

This course offers American Red Cross certification in the areas of First Aid, Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation for the Professional Rescuer, and Lifeguarding. Students receive theory and practical application of principles regarding safety and the prevention of accidents, as well as standard first aid skills, including CPR, used to minimize the consequences of injury or sudden illness until professional medical help arrives. The program also focuses on the knowledge and application of skills required by individuals to develop effective lifeguard systems at swimming pools. Students who successfully complete the course will receive certification for lifeguarding and First Aid (valid 3 years), and CPR for the Professional Rescuer (valid 1 year).

Course limited to grades 10, 11, 12

Course cost: Red Cross administrative fee = Approx. $50.00

The course will consist of weight training and flexibility training. The use of free weights and hammer machines will be included for training.

The weight training will be divided into two segments: Core lifts and auxiliary lifts. Core lifts are exercises that work more than one muscle group (squat, clean, bench press and dead life). Auxiliary lifts involve only one muscle group. Flexibility exercises will be done everyday.

The class will meet three times per week for a full year. This class will take the place of regular Physical Education class.