The Gerstell Academy Physical Education Program prepares students in Grades 1-12 for fundamental development and competence in the areas of leadership, team sports, lifetime sports, physical fitness, and self-confidence through age appropriate challenges.
Each component of the Physical Education Program is coordinated with the entire curriculum in order to reinforce the basic skill sets, knowledge, and fitness needs required to develop a healthy, self-confident, motivated, and fit child.
All students in grades 1-12 will compete twice yearly in the Presidential Physical Fitness Challenge. The pre-test is given in the Fall to allow each student to realize their potential and understand what they must work on before the testing is done in May. Gerstell students have always excelled in the Presidential Challenge and many of their scores are among the country's top 85-90% by age.
Primary students work to master basic loco-motor skills, improve hand-eye coordination, knowledge and understanding of boundaries, body control, and small group games. Grades 1-5 focus on physical fitness, sport specific training, game rules and regulations, and compete in many different sports throughout the year.
Middle School students focus on the specific rules, regulations, history, and skills of specific sports. Also included in the Middle School curriculum is a course on health, nutrition, fitness, and weight training.
Upper School physical education is an extension of the middle school curriculum. Upper School students will have the opportunity to choose PE electives in which they will learn about and practice different individual and team sports. Physical fitness, heath, weight training, and nutrition will also be a large part of the Upper School Physical Education curriculum.
All Physical Education classes will stress the values that are necessary for fair play; the right to participate in a safe and healthy environment; the right to be treated with dignity by all; and the right to have fun through physical education.
Leadership guides our curriculum, routines and expectations for student participation in all physical education classes. The mission of the Gerstell Academy Physical Education Program is to provide a fitness experience that reflects our Principles and Motto "Leadership, Honor, Courage." Gerstell Academy emphasizes life-long fitness to instill wellness and physical conditioning to be an inherent part of a healthy lifestyle. Teamwork is stressed in learning critical aspects of leadership, setting and achieving goals, striving for improvement, developing effort and skill, and an appreciation of winning and losing as a team. The program provides an environment for students to have the opportunity to reach their full fitness and athletic potential. Our students are required to exhibit superior sportsmanship and behavior consistent with the Gerstell Academy Motto, Principles, and Attributes.
