Francis Howell Physical Education and Health Class Offerings

Physical Education and Health Overview

Each student must complete one credit of Physical Education for graduation and .5 credit of Health. During the Freshman year, students typically take Personal Lifetime Fitness during one semester and one semester of Health. Once Personal Lifetime Fitness is completed, students have many Physical Education options to complete the other required .5 credit. Students can take any activity class multiple times for credit. For example, if a student wants to focus on improving nutrition and fitness levels through Fit for Life they have the option to take the class again to continue to improve their Health. Classroom electives will not count towards the required PE credit. Our Physical Education teachers are passionate about teaching and try to support our students in their pursuit of a healthy lifestyle.

Freshman Classes

Introduction to Fitness

(9th grade PE)

This course will provide the opportunity to develop and maintain fitness for a lifetime of wellness. Fitness concepts and components will be emphasized as the student participates in a wide variety of physical activities (fitness assessment and evaluation, individual sports, team sports, and other activities). This is a required class for graduation, and students may not enroll in elective P.E. classes without successful completion. Freshman can also take Introduction to Fitness is a student does not want to participate in competitive sports.

PLF Teachers are typically Coach Carmi, Mrs. Hernandez, and Coach Chojnakci

Health

(9th grade)

This is the only specific Health class students are required to take during their entire K-12 education. This class focuses largely on developing decision making skills that are essential to the well-being of our students. Health class prepares students for the social and mental demands of being a high school student. This class is a highly interactive class with challenging discussions about relationships, nutrition, drugs, and mental health including suicide prevention and stress management techniques. Students will also be trained in CPR /First Aid with manikins with instant feedback. Our Health teachers try to give the most current and accurate research so students have everything they need to make the most informed life choices.

Although the district offers an online version of Health, our department strongly encourage students and parents to not enroll in the online Health class. Our experience and commitment to our students ensures a much better educational experience through meaningful instruction, conversations, and valuable social connections. We feel the online class can be detrimental to the overall wellness of students because it lacks the relational component of education that is essential to learning. Online students miss many important learning opportunities compared to the students that completed Health in our classrooms. If you have further questions about online Health, please feel free to contact our Departament Chair, Darin Cissell at 636-851-5675.

Health Teachers are Coach Cissell, Mrs. Hernandez, and Coach Carmi

Physical Education Elective Classes

(Can be taken multiple times for credit)

Fit For Life

Fit for life is a non-competitive fitness class that will teach you how to create a healthy lifestyle habits that can be maintained for a lifetime. We cover a variety of topics including nutrition, fad diets, high intensity workouts, cycling, yoga, and Zumba dancing. There are many days spent riding bikes so it is important students know this skill or be willing to learn how to ride a bike. This class is best for students wanting to learn how to work out and stay in shape without having to have a gym membership. We will look at how fitness is portrayed in the media and discuss some of the fitness trends. At the end of this course, you will have the knowledge and experience to create your own individual workout plan, and be able to live a healthy and fit life.

A typical week looks like this:

Monday- Nature walking or walking inside the gym

Tuesday- Bike Riding on nature trails or workout day (variety of different styles of workouts)

Wednesday- Classroom day (nutrition, fad diets, and create our own workouts)

Thursday- Bike Riding on nature trails or dance day

Friday- Lifetime activities day (Frisbee golf, Kan-Jam, walking)

This course is typically taught by Coach Carmi and Mrs. Hernandez.

Lifetime Activities and Net Sports

In this class students will participate in a variety of lifetime activities that include tennis, volleyball, badminton, softball, pickleball, table tennis,and other recreational and outdoor activities. Students will review the skills and rules needed to play these activities. Students will also learn about the health benefits gained from participating in these activities. This class is designed to promote lifelong healthy fitness through activities that students can participate in the rest of their lives.

This class is typically taught by Coach Muench and Stroh

Sports Enhancement

This class is designed specifically for high school athletes. Any athlete that is considering playing in college or just wanting to be the best athlete they can be should take this class. This course is designed to increase athletic performance on the playing field by improving speed, acceleration and deceleration, quickness, multi-directional speed and agility, strength, explosive power, and flexibility along with mental and leadership skills. Athletes will have their vertical jump, pro-agility, and broad jump assessed at the beginning, middle and end of semester. Typically, vertical jump increases 2-3 inches and long jump increases 4-6 inches during the semester.

This course will also look at the college athletic recruiting process including assisting athletes to better understand NCAA and NAIA rules, recruiting do's and don’ts, and identifying the possible schools to consider pursuing based on the individual needs of the student-athlete. Former/current college and professional athletes and college coaches are used as speakers to help students understand what to expect as a college athlete. Nathan Orf from the Milwaukee Brewers/ Oakland A's and Brett Graves from the Miami Marlins (pictured above) are two of many former Howell athletes that come back and share their knowledge and experiences with students.

This class is typically taught by Coach Cissell

Team Sports

This course will include a variety of team sport activities that may include team sports such as flag football, softball, soccer, ultimate Frisbee, and basketball. Instruction is aimed at developing fitness and sports skills, as well as an understanding of the rules of traditional and non-traditional team sports games. Students will also examine coaching and team strategies. Students will participate in a variety of sports and games. This class may be repeated for further credit.

Class typically taught by Coach Stroh

Introduction to Weight training

This course will provide an introduction to weight training with an emphasis on student participation. The student will be presented with the proper technique for a variety of weight training movements with an emphasis on learning proper movement rather than strength development. Grades will be determined through participation, written tests, and the completion of a workout journal/notebook.

Class typically taught by Coach Chojnacki

Advanced Weight Training

This course has three main objectives: development of an understanding of weight training physiology, development of the skills necessary to maximize performance of strength training techniques, and to continue progress toward an individual's strength and fitness goals. Students will learn to design and implement their own individual workout plan and track their progress by maintaining a workout journal or tracker. Grades will be determined through participation in class, written tests, and completion of the workout journal or tracker. This class may be repeated for further credit.

Class typically taught by Coach Chojnacki

Physical Education and Health Classroom Electives

Driver's Education

This class is designed to provide a basic foundation of knowledge and skills for students to gain a Missouri State Driver’s Permit or License. Students will learn basic defensive driver concepts, the responsibilities of being a vehicle owner, operator, (including maintenance and insurance information) and safe versus unsafe driving conditions. Students will learn the effects of impaired driving and the risks being taken while driving impaired. Students will also learn basic first aid and CPR procedures in the event of an emergency.

Class is typically taught by Coach Muench

Outdoor Education- Hunting

This course will provide basic information on hunter ethics and tradition, hunting seasons, hunter safety course, proper gun handling, firearms and safety, and an awareness of Missouri Outdoors. Students will be participating in some outdoor activities. The class is in line with Missouri department of conservation Heritage class and students will receive their heritage license. There is also a field trip where students will shoot shot guns and rifles and familiarize themselves with hands on gun handling

Class is typically taught by Coach Stroh

Outdoor Education- Fishing and Trapping

This course will provide basic information on fishing ethics and tradition, fishing seasons , proper fishing pole handling, trapping and safety, and an awareness of Missouri Outdoors. The students will learn about lures, techniques, and startegies about fishing. The students will also learn about small animals in Missouri with an emphasis on trapping. Students will also participate in hands on fishing during class

Class is typically taught by Coach Stroh

Foundations of Wellness

Junior or Senior year only

Teen Health and Wellness class focuses on specific health issues and/or emerging trends in health and wellness, and is offered as an elective for juniors and seniors. It will explore current health concerns and trends as related to the teenage student. Students will gain awareness that health is not just the absence of disease but the positive state of physical, mental, and social well-being that promotes wellness. Topics will include; importance of human connection through healthy relationships, stress management, emotional health, adolescent mental health, situational awareness/self-defense, and other current issues that affect every day teen living. Students will be challenged to reflect and address personal obstacles blocking them from reaching their potential of a healthy lifestyle.

This class is typically taught be Coach Cissell.

Practices of Wellness

Junior or Senior Year Only

This course is designed to give additional attention to the topics covered in Foundations of Wellness, with an emphasis on the effects of stress management, decision making, effect of nutrition on both physical and mental wellness, and development of healthy habits. This course has an emphasis on personal reflection and application of the life skills acquired throughout the semester. This course is strongly recommended for students that have taken Foundations of Wellness and for students that desire to grow in self-awareness of their own health.

This class is typically taught by Coach Cissell

Physical Education and Health Staff

Coach Carmi

Mrs. Hernandez

Coach Cissell

Coach Stroh

Coach Muench

Coach Chonacki

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