Health &
Physical Education

As a skills and concept-based academic curriculum, the Twin Valley Physical Education courses are designed to address, enhance and promote movement forms, fitness-including exercise and training principles, team-building opportunities that incorporate personal and social skills, and also the application of game strategies as they pertain to individual, team, lifetime and outdoor activities. Wellness (709), Health (721), Physical Education 10 (710), and Physical Education 11 (711) are required courses. 

This program of study enables students to analyze the relationships between diet, physical activity and disease as they are challenged to develop the skills that will allow them to assess personal habits, set nutrition and activity goals, and then implement a plan that will enable them to live a healthy lifestyle. The 9th Grade Wellness Course will utilize both the classroom and the Physical Education Center. While in the Physical Education Center, students will apply classroom-learned concepts by engaging in activities that promote safety and proper technique. This course is a prerequisite to Health (721) and all physical education elective courses.

Prerequisite: Wellness

Building on the foundation established in the 9th grade Wellness course, this program of study supports students in making the critical health choices they will face during adolescence, and enables them to establish healthy behaviors. The program of instruction focuses on the six areas of teen health behavior identified by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control as having the greatest impact on current and future morbidity and mortality, including tobacco use, alcohol and other drug use, intentional and unintentional injuries, diet and physical activity, and sexual behaviors that result in HIV infection, STD or unwanted pregnancy. In this course, aimed at helping individuals establish healthy lifestyle patterns through wise decision-making and premeditated choices, students are taught using a variety of learning strategies that actively engage the learner. Based upon the national and state Health education standards, content knowledge and skill development are balanced in an interactive, hands-on learning environment.

Prerequisite: Wellness

As a concept and skills-based curriculum the 10th grade physical education course is designed to address, enhance and promote a variety of movement forms so that students will meet the Pennsylvania State Standards for Physical Education. Students will also participate in a variety of team and individual activities that place an emphasis on fitness development, skill acquisition, application of strategic concepts, and teamwork.

Prerequisite: Wellness and Physical Education 10

The 11th grade physical education curriculum is structured so that students will meet the Pennsylvania State Standards for Physical Education. Adventure education activities will be utilized to enable students to develop the personal and social skills needed to be successful in today’s society.  Lifetime physical activities will be introduced to help students transition from a physically active lifestyle within the organized education system to a physically active lifestyle as an adult.

Health and Physical Education Electives

Prerequisite: Wellness

This is an elective class that students may take in addition to their regularly scheduled physical education class.  Rigorous learning objectives for this course are designed to enable students to understand and apply fitness training concepts to sport specific or healthy lifestyle goals.  All students will learn how to assess and improve the measurable components of fitness.  After testing individual fitness levels, this course will provide opportunities for students to participate in a daily individualized fitness plan designed by the student to achieve personally designed fitness goals.  Exercise Science topics will be presented each week to provide students with a deeper understanding of why physiological changes are brought on by exercise, and how to manipulate those adaptations.  Topics include how skeletal muscle works, muscle fiber types, energy systems, exercise nutrition, and performing enhancing supplements.  This class may only be taken one time.

Prerequisite: Exercise Science I

This is an elective class that students may take in addition to their regularly scheduled physical education class.  To qualify, students must have earned a C or better in Exercise Science I.  Students have the same opportunity to design and implement an individualized fitness plan as in Exercise Science I.  In addition, students will apply the knowledge and skills gained in Exercise Science I to mentor level I students and present topic presentations.  This class may only be taken one time.

Prerequisite: Wellness

This is an elective class that students may take in addition to their regularly scheduled physical education class. 45 Day Fit is designed to provide the student with the knowledge, practice, and experiences to achieve and/or maintain high levels of muscular strength, muscular endurance and cardio-respiratory health.  Learning objectives within this course incorporate fitness testing, goal-setting, weekly reflections and exercise journaling while integrating technology and current fitness trends.  A strong emphasis is placed upon high-intensive total body workouts led by the teacher and/or multiple guest fitness instructors.  Physical activities may include, but are not limited to: Aerobics, Cardio Kickboxing, Circuit Training, CrossFit WODs, Dance, DDR/Wii Fit, Hills, Martial Arts/Self-Defense, Military Boot Camps, Power Yoga, Resistance Training, TABATA, Zumba and a variety of indoor/outdoor team fitness challenges. This class may only be taken one time.

Prerequisite: Physical Education 10

This is an elective class that students may take in addition to their regularly scheduled physical education class. In this advanced physical education course, students will be able to participate in traditional and non-traditional physical activities in a competitive, fun environment. Course activities will emphasize higher level game strategies and tactics as well as advanced skill development. Personal fitness gains will be achieved through participation in the physical activities. Throughout the course, game management and refereeing fundamentals will also be explored. This course may only be taken one time.

Prerequisite: On a PIAA-Approved TVHS Sports Team Roster and Wellness

This is a general elective semester-length class that is offered only for athletes.  Sports Performance will focus on improving a student athlete’s performance within the sport(s) that they play at Twin Valley.  Student-athletes will be performing sport-specific strength and conditioning workouts.  The primary goal of this course is to support our student-athlete population with a course that can facilitate enhanced performance in the realm of athletics.  Since the course is designed for the off-season, students should select as follows:

Note: Multi-sport athletes should choose one sport as their "primary sport" for the purposes of course selection.  

Driver Safety Education: Grade 10 – 0.5 credit (722)

This course provides students with the knowledge needed to be a safe motor vehicle operator.  Driving is a huge responsibility, and this course helps to prepare students with critical thinking skills and driver-related decision-making opportunities which focus on enhancing the attitude of defensive driving. This course teaches and follows the concepts of the Pennsylvania Enhanced Driver Education Guide and meets the PA State requirement of 30 classroom instructional hours.  This course also covers purchasing/insuring an automobile and vehicle maintenance.  Individuals will need to consult with their insurance carrier to see what they need to qualify for lower insurance rates.

Prerequisite: Wellness

This course will prepare students with the knowledge and skills necessary to make appropriate decisions when faced with a full range of real-life emergencies. RTE is a marking period-long comprehensive First Aid/CPR/AED course featuring lectures, video segments, simulated emergency situations, guided discussions and hands-on skill practice. The primary purpose of RTE is to help students recognize and respond appropriately to cardiac, breathing and first aid emergencies. At the conclusion of the course, with certification requirements met, students will be eligible for the American Red Cross Certification in Responding to Emergencies: Comprehensive First Aid/CPR/AED.
(Certification fees may apply)