Health and Physical Education

The Health and Physical education classes at Forest Ridge aim to provide our students with a wholistic understanding of the importance of personal health and wellness issues, basic knowledge of sports and recreational activities and a foundation that promotes and encourages an active lifestyle.

Health class is designed to provide information needed to make important decisions about health, wellness, and individual lifestyle choices. Middle school health topics include CPR, healthy relationships, sexual education, brain anatomy and development, and disease prevention. Upper school topics covered include social/emotional health, nutrition, substance abuse, body image, healthy relationships, sexual health and first-aid. Emphasis is on self-advocation and assuming responsibility for one’s own health.

The physical education classes are developmentally tiered and take into account varied skill levels with a focus on effort, improvement, participation and skill building. We encourage teamwork, self-discipline, perseverance, resilience, and sportsmanship.

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Middle School: 5^th-8^th Grade

Grade Five

Introduction to Fun, Cooperative, and Active Games

Year-long/ Required

Fifth-grade physical education is fun. Cooperation and learning to work with new classmates are most important. Many activities are offered to develop basic movement skills, hand-eye coordination, sportsmanship, teamwork, and the ability to assess and accept gifts and limitations. Emphasis is on class participation, cooperation, and individual effort. A positive learning environment is established by participating in cooperative activities. Non-competitive games reinforce good sportsmanship, teamwork, support of teammates, and respect for classmates.

Grade level: 5
Credit earned: 1 MS Physical Education

Grade Six

Advancing the Fun, Cooperative and Active Games

Year-long/ Required

The emphasis of sixth-grade physical education is to develop good fundamental motor skills, sound fitness skills, basic sports skills, knowledge of rules, and simple strategies for games. The level of intensity and skill is adjusted according to the abilities of the class. A positive, playful learning environment is established as students participate in cooperative activities and team sports. Some of the activities offered during the sixth-grade year may include various non-competitive games, soccer, basketball, floor hockey, badminton, track, pickleball, tennis, rock climbing, and volleyball.

Grade level: 6
Credit earned: 1 MS Physical Education

Grades Seven and Eight

Play and Developing Lifelong Fitness Habits

Year-long/ Required

This seventh- and eighth-grade course emphasizes the development of sound fitness practices and habits, traditional and lifelong sports skills, knowledge of rules, and simple strategies for games. A positive learning environment is established by reinforcing good sportsmanship. Basic principles of fitness and their relationship to one’s health and lifestyle are explored. Students learn individual skills and game rules for many different sports, which may include soccer, football, basketball, floor hockey, volleyball, badminton, pickleball, tennis, softball, and golf. We also use the Forest Ridge fitness center as we continue to promote lifelong fitness.

Grade level: 7, 8
Credit earned: 1 MS Physical Education

Upper School: 9^th-12^th Grade

Graduation Requirement: 2.0 Credits (4 Semesters)

Physical Education Course Offerings

Introduction to Fitness

One Semester / Either Games & Sports or Cardio & Strength Required

Games & Sports

Students will explore a wide variety of fitness activities, including individual and team sports, and cooperative games. The class focuses on developing an active and healthy lifestyle.

Cardio & Strength

Students will explore a wide variety of fitness classes for all levels, such as bootcamp, strength conditioning, circuit training, and aerobics. The class focuses on developing an active and healthy lifestyle.

Prerequisite: None

Grade level: 9,10

Credits Earned: 0.5 Physical Education

Health & Wellness

One Semester / Required

This course examines a range of health and wellness concepts that contribute to living a healthy and balanced life and students’ development of healthy decision-making skills. Topics include wellness, safety, nutrition, sexual health, social/emotional health, and substance use and abuse. Short, assigned readings and lively discussions are enhanced with engaging classroom activities and projects. As this course is a foundational building block of the Forest Ridge experience, most students fulfill this academic requirement in the 10^th grade.

Prerequisite: None

Grade level: 9,10

Credits Earned: 0.5 Physical Education

Fitness for Life

One Semester

This semester course utilizes the Fitness Center to focus on the four components of fitness: muscular strength, muscular endurance, flexibility, and aerobic capacity. Students will use the skills learned in this class to develop their own personal fitness program. The intent of this course is for students to experience the benefits of a regular and well-rounded fitness regimen as part of leading a balanced, healthy lifestyle.

Prerequisite: Introduction to Fitness

Grade level: 10, 11, 12

Credits Earned: 0.5 Physical Education

Yoga

One Semester

Traditional yoga practices are taught using asanas to increase strength and flexibility during this Semester class. An emphasis is put on correct alignment for safe practice. Restorative practice and meditation help students increase energy levels and decrease stress through relaxation and breathing exercises. Foundational concepts of yoga are covered along with reflecting on how yoga and meditation can fit into a student’s life.

Prerequisite: None

Grade level: Open to all students

Credits Earned: 0.5 Physical Education

Foundations for a Healthy Lifestyle

One Semester

This course provides the key tools to establishing a foundation for a healthy lifestyle. Students will perform a comprehensive self-assessment of their health habits and map goals to develop healthier habits. Students will work collaboratively as coaches for one another, with teacher guidance, using extensive journaling and culminating in a capstone reflection on their experiences. Recommended to any student interested in a career in coaching, fitness, nutrition, health, or who just wants to be healthier themselves. In a supportive and collaborative environment, students will discover new methods to move more, eat better and make healthier decisions. Topics may include: physiology related to health and exercise, fitness nutrition, behavior change, sleep, goalsetting, mindfulness, current developments of health/exercise research.

Prerequisite: Health and Wellness

Grade level: 10, 11, 12

Credits Earned: 0.5 Physical Education

Dance

Dance: Technique

One Semester

This class is offered in alternate years. It will be offered in the 2024-25 school year.

Students in this course will experience multiple forms of dance through their history, movement vocabulary, and works of choreography. Forms may include Modern/Contemporary, Ballet, Hip Hop, West African, and others. While exploring these forms, students will develop confidence, body awareness, and performance skills, and will have opportunities to choreograph their own works. The material in Dance: Technique is suitable for students with any level of previous dance experience or none, from first-time beginners to advanced dancers! This course satisfies the prior dance experience prerequisite to choreograph for DanceFest.

Prerequisite: None

Grade level: Open to all students

Credit Earned: 0.5 PE or Fine Arts

Dance: The Creative Process

One Semester

This class is offered in alternate years. It will be offered again in the 2023-24 school year.

Students in this course will experience multiple forms of dance through an exploration of the creative process. Over the semester, students will build foundational skills in choreography using movement vocabulary from Modern/Contemporary, Hip-Hop, Jazz, and other forms of dance. Students will develop confidence in movement improvisation and create short solo works, big group dances, and everything in between! No prior dance experience necessary; the material can be tailored to any level of dance background. This course satisfies the prior dance experience prerequisite to choreograph for DanceFest.

Prerequisite: None

Grade level: Open to all students

Credit Earned: 0.5 PE or Fine Arts

Independent Physical Educational Options

One Semester

These offerings all take place outside of the school day. Through successful completion of any of these options, students will earn one Semester of PE credit. The courses are graded on a credit/no credit basis. This course may be taken one time only per school year. Students may earn credit for up to two Semesters (1.0 credit) of upper school PE through Independent Physical Educational Options.

Approval to receive credit must be obtained in advance from the Physical Education Department Chair in conjunction with the sponsoring coach (on or off campus) or adult supervisor of the activity. Each student will turn in a Physical Education Activity Log by the end of the Semester to earn credit.

Forest Ridge Athletics

Credit is earned for committed participation for the entire season of any of our Forest Ridge Sports Teams - Volleyball, Cross Country, Soccer, Basketball, Tennis, or Golf.

Grade level: Open to all students

Credits Earned: 0.5 Physical Education

Limit: 0.5 credits earned through Independent PE per school year

Athletics Outside of Forest Ridge

Students may earn Physical Education credit through committed participation in a coach- or instructor-led athletic activity not offered in the school curriculum. This could include but is not limited to ballet, riding lessons, swim team or track team, etc. Student must complete 50 hours of participation to earn the credit.

Grade level: Open to all students

Credits Earned: 0.5 Physical Education

Limit: 0.5 credits earned through Independent PE per school year

*Course offerings are based on student interest and minimum enrollment requirements; therefore, some classes listed may not be offered every school year.