2026-2027 VRHS Program of Studies - Health & Physical Education

The Health and Physical Education Department promotes the importance of physical activity and healthy lifestyle choices for lifelong wellness. The program is designed to help all students develop the knowledge, skills, and habits needed to stay active and healthy throughout their lives.

Students learn physical and social skills that support teamwork, personal fitness, and responsible decision-making. The program provides opportunities for students to build and maintain fitness levels that support healthy growth and development.

A major goal of the department is to prepare students to participate confidently in lifelong fitness and to make healthy choices as active members of a global community.

HPE Career Clusters

Athletic Coach

Athletic Trainer

Camp Director

Chiropractor

Occupational Therapist

Physical Fitness Instructor

Personal Trainer

Recreation Leader

Practical or Registered Nurse

Physical Therapist/Sports Medicine

X-ray Technician

Public Health Educator

School Health Educator

Physical Education Teacher

Sports Management

Sports Reporter

Occupational Safety Instructor

Occupational Therapist

Public Health Engineer

Registered Dietician

Para Sports and Fitness

Activities Dir. – School/Senior Center

Health and PE Content Area Standards

Physical Literacy:

Standard 1: Develops a variety of motor skills.

Standard 2: Applies knowledge related to movement and fitness concepts.

Standard 3: Develops social skills through movement.

Standard 4: Develops personal skills, identifies personal benefits of movement, and chooses to engage in physical activity.

Health Literacy:

Standard 1: Use functional health information to support health and well-being of self and others.

Standard 2: Analyze influences that affect health and well-being of self and others.

Standard 3: Access valid and reliable resources to support health and well-being of self and others.

Standard 4: Use interpersonal communication skills to support health and well-being of self and others.

Standard 5: Use a decision-making process to support health and well-being of self and others.

Standard 6: Use a goal-setting process to support health and well-being of self and others.

Standard 7: Demonstrate practices and behaviors to support health and well-being of self and others.

Standard 8: Advocate to promote health and well-being of self and others.

Course Descriptions

Physical Education

Half-year course Level 0 0.5 credits Grades 9, 10, 11, and 12 No Prerequisite

In Physical Education, students participate in a wide variety of fitness and game-based activities. Strength and resistance training are emphasized at least once a week. While in the weight room, students will keep a workout log to track progress, analyze their results, and set personal fitness goals. Students work independently or with partners to adjust their workouts and focus on personal improvement.

Classes include a mix of outdoor and indoor activities to keep students active and engaged. Outdoor activities may include disc golf, flag or tag football, golf, group games, soccer, softball, tennis, track events, ultimate frisbee, walking, and recreation and leisure activities.

Indoor activities may include badminton, basketball, broomball, high-intensity interval training (HIIT), indoor soccer, indoor ultimate frisbee, partner or line dancing, pickleball, team handball, volleyball, weight training, Pound Fitness, Shockwave, Zumba, and 7-minute cardio workouts.

The goal is to help students build fitness, confidence, and healthy habits while exploring activities they can enjoy throughout their lives.

PE Fit

Half-year course Level 0 0.5 credits Grades 10, 11, and 12

Open to all sophomores, juniors, and seniors. This course runs during the first semester only. It may fulfill the second year (0.5 credit) of required Physical Education for students in their sophomore, junior, or senior year. If a student takes PE Fit more than once, additional enrollments will count as Physical Education elective credit.

In this PE Fit class, students focus on structured fitness sessions during the activity portion of class. The course emphasizes personal fitness, strength, cardio, flexibility, and overall wellness.

Fitness activities may include, but are not limited to: Barre Fitness, Belly Dance/Bhangra Dance, Boot Camp, Cardio Kickboxing, Dumbbell Workouts, High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT), Hip-Hop Aerobics, "Insanity", Jazzercise, Kettlebell Training, Meditation, Partner and Line Dance, Personal Training Programs, Pilates, Pound Fitness, Resistance Band Training, Shockwave, Spin, Strong by Zumba, Tabata Bootcamp, Tae-Bo, Tai Chi, Turbo Jam, Weight Room Training, Yoga, possible Aqua Zumba, Zumba Fitness, Zumba Sentao, Zumba Step, and Zumba Toning.

This course is designed to help students explore a wide variety of fitness options and develop healthy habits they can continue beyond high school.

Unified Buddy PE

Half-year course Level CP or 0 0.5 credits Grades 10, 11, and 12

This adapted physical education course focuses on physical skill development, inclusion, and leadership. Through a combination of the Unified Sports model and the Best Buddies program, students will participate in activities that bring together students of diverse abilities and skill levels.

Students gain hands-on experience working in inclusive physical education settings while building teamwork, communication, and leadership skills. The course promotes a supportive community where all students can participate, grow, and succeed.

Please note: Students may not be enrolled in Unified Buddy PE and General PE during the same semester.

Personal Training

Half-year course Level CP or 0 0.5 credits Grades 11, 12

This Personal Training course focuses on lifelong fitness and helps students learn how to create and follow personalized workout plans. Students will develop knowledge of exercise principles, injury prevention, fitness nutrition, and how to apply these skills to real-life fitness settings both during high school and beyond.

By the end of the course, students will feel confident, knowledgeable, and safe using a gym independently with a personalized fitness plan designed to meet their goals.

Please note: Personal Training and General Physical Education may not be taken during the same semester.

Health 1

Half-year course Level CP 0.5 credits Grade 9

The goal of this required ninth-grade health course is to help students understand what it means to live a healthy lifestyle. Students will explore health-related topics and learn how these issues affect their daily lives, both now and in the future.

A strong focus is placed on decision-making skills and understanding the consequences of choices. Students will work individually and in groups to research topics, create informational materials, and develop presentations.

Topics in the course may include strategies for living a healthy and active lifestyle, making choices that support physical and mental health, avoiding risky behaviors, and understanding physical, emotional, and social changes that occur throughout life. Students will also learn about healthy relationships and ways to take care of themselves and others.

This course is designed to help students build the knowledge and skills needed to make informed, healthy choices throughout their lives.

Health 2

Half-year course Level CP 0.5 credits Grade 10

The goal of this required tenth-grade health course is to help students understand, advocate for, and practice the characteristics of a healthy lifestyle. A strong emphasis is placed on research, with students learning how to access, analyze, and draw conclusions about current health issues.

Students will study topics such as stress and stress management, alcohol and drug-related issues, infectious and lifestyle diseases, and the physical, mental, emotional, and sexual changes that occur throughout life. The course also focuses on building healthy nutrition habits.

Students will participate in CPR and First Aid training, helping them develop real-world skills that promote safety and wellness. This course is designed to empower students with the knowledge and skills to make informed, healthy choices now and in the future.

IB Sports Exercise and Health Science SL

Half-year course IB 1.0 credit Grades 11 and 12

In this course, students will study how the body moves and performs during physical activity. Topics include exercise physiology, nutrition, movement analysis, sports skills, and human anatomy.

Students will also explore one extended topic in greater depth, such as measuring and evaluating performance, improving physical performance, sports psychology, physical activity and health, or sports nutrition.

As part of the course requirements, students will complete a lab-based project of their choice. This hands-on project allows students to apply what they have learned and demonstrate their understanding of human performance and fitness.