Physical Education & Health

The 9th-grade physical education program will provide structured classes designed to enhance students’ interest in lifelong physical activity, built on the connection between fitness and academic success. We will strive to help students become and remain active throughout their lives. 

1. Students will meet national and state standards and benchmarks for physical education.

2. Students will set individual goals, assess current levels of fitness and progress, manage time and responsibilities and overcome barriers to regular physical activity.

3. Students will build confidence in their ability to lead active lifestyles and take control of their own health. Develop a plan to meet the minimum requirement for cardiovascular health: 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise seven days a week as recommended by the surgeon general.

4. Students will understand that regular exercise or activity helps prevent: heart disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, and a host of other diseases. Regular exercise and physical activity will be stressed as the key components in maintaining a healthy body.

* If a student opts out of 9th Grade Physical Education or takes an online course to fulfill the graduation requirement, they will not be eligible for elective physical education classes.

008A - 9TH GRADE PHYSICAL EDUCATION – TEAM SPORTS: 2 Terms / 2 Credits, Grade 9 [Watch Course Video]

Team Sports is designed for the student that is competitive and enjoys being on a team. Basketball, volleyball, flag football, soccer, softball, floor hockey, and other activities will be the backbone of this course.

008B - 9TH GRADE PHYSICAL EDUCATION – ADVENTURE EDUCATION: 2 Terms / 2 Credits, Grade 9 [Watch Course Video]

Adventure Education includes but is not limited to rock climbing, challenge course, team building, cross country skiing, archery, and slacklining. This course is for students who are inspired by team building and the challenges that occur within the context of adventure activities.

008C - 9TH GRADE PHYSICAL EDUCATION – INDIVIDUAL & DUAL SPORTS: 2 Terms / 2 Credits, Grade 9 [Watch Course Video]

Individual and Dual Sports is designed with the racquet in mind. Students will participate in badminton, ping pong, tennis, pickleball, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, archery, backyard games, and ultimate frisbee.

045 - HEALTH EDUCATION: 1 Term / 1 Credit, Grade 10   Watch Course Video 

This course is designed for students to gain an understanding that the decisions they make can affect the quality and quantity of their lives both now and in the future. Students will develop knowledge and healthy attitudes to make responsible, informed decisions that enhance individual, family, and community health. Units include Mental Health and Wellness, Chemical Health and Addiction Education, Nutrition, CPR, and Relationships and Reproductive Health and Wellness. Accessing valid and reliable resources, interpersonal communication skills, and advocacy and health promotion are all essential learning targets of the course.

013 – TROJAN POWER, STRENGTH TRAINING: 1 Term / 1 Credit, Grades 9-12 [Watch Course Video]

013A – Term 1 Gr 10-12

013B – Term 2 Gr 10-12

013C – Term 3 Gr 9-12

013D – Term 4 Gr 9-12

Prerequisite: 9th-grade Physical Education

Have you thought about building confidence in yourself, setting personal fitness goals, and seeing results? Perhaps you have thought of working out or lifting weights but have been unsure of yourself to try it on your own. Maybe you are an aspiring athlete that wants to learn the foundations of sports performance or maybe you just don’t have enough time in your schedule to apply the benefits of sports science into your training. Regardless of where you are in terms of training, let Trojan Power help you. In addition to training, we will help you with meal planning, sleep habits, mindfulness, and stress management. Students can now register by term, which allows you to choose when you prefer to take the course (based on seat availability). Students will be grouped and progress through training programs according to their needs and development. This class may be repeated 6 times over the course of your time at WHS.

Student Testimonial:

• "I 100% recommend enrolling in Strength Training! You don’t need to be an athlete to make the most of this course. Weightlifting helped me improve not only my physical health but my mental health, too. It was a great break during the school day where students could focus on something other than academics. As someone who has only played competitive team sports, this course was a great introduction to training alone and focusing on strength. It helped me gain a better understanding of proper strength and conditioning in order to be in the best possible shape for competitive sports and a healthy lifestyle."

017 - TEAM SPORTS: 1 Term / 1 Credit, Grades 10-12 [Watch Course Video]

Learning the value of being a good teammate is a critical skill that will enhance your possibilities for a long, rewarding life. Everyone involved in any successful organization is continually seeking people that can function in a team setting. There is no better way to learn, and practice these skills than by joining a class that works on them every day while engaging in fun-filled activities and sports! Come to P.E., join in the fun, and prepare for a lifetime of enjoyable, healthy activity, while learning skills that will crossover into every aspect of your life. Activities may include flag football, soccer, volleyball, broomball, basketball, softball, team handball, and floor hockey. Students need to be able to drive off campus or arrange for transportation.

019 - YOGA AND GROUP FITNESS: 1 Term / 1 Credit, Grades 10-12 [Watch Course Video]

Are you interested in reducing your daily stress, improving your self-image, setting healthy habits and building your personal confidence level to new heights? Yoga and Group Fitness is a physical education class to help unite your breath with your body using a variety of poses accessible to all levels of students.  Classes will include building strength in the core, balance in the body, as well as increasing flexibility and range of motion. Calm your mind, feel alive and revived while spending time working on your breath and meditation practice as well.    Intertwined with yoga, will be exhilarating group fitness activities such as fitness dance, partner workouts, bodyweight conditioning, and weight training to name a few. Sign up, have some fun, and improve your life! 

Testimonials:

• "Yoga and Group Fitness benefited me so much, and I felt a change in my mood following the class each day. I would come into the class stressed and unmotivated, and would leave feeling rejuvenated and excited for the rest of my day." 

• "This class helped a lot with my mental health and made me feel more relaxed, especially when I had tests in other classes or I was stressed for big presentations. Every class was followed with a designated meditation time where we were able to restore our bodies and calm down after a tiring day at school."

020 - COMPETITIVE VOLLEYBALL/BASKETBALL: 1 Term / 1 Credit, Grades 10-12 [Watch Course Video]

This course is designed for the student who is interested in a competitive experience, as well as having a desire to improve individual skills and fundamentals. The essentials of volleyball and basketball rules and strategies will be highlighted. Students will be placed on teams and competitive situations based on skill and knowledge of the game. Students must be ready to compete at a high level. A variety of exercise and conditioning activities will round out the class.

Student Testimonials:

• "Competitive Volleyball/Basketball is one of my favorite classes because I am a very competitive person, and this class really emphasizes competitiveness. I am also really into sports, and I play basketball, so that is a big pull for it, but the volleyball unit is actually my favorite even though I play basketball. It is really fun to compete in volleyball because it gets intense, and it really brings out my competitive side, which is fun for me." 

• "Competitive Volleyball/Basketball is one of my favorite classes I've taken here at the high school. The competitions are fun and give a basic understanding of both sports. It's cool that you don't need to excel at either sport to have fun! I highly recommend this class!"

021 - LIFELONG ACTIVITIES: *1 Term / 1 Credit, Grades 11-12 [Watch Course Video]

This unique community-based PE Elective class requires that students are able to drive or arrange for transportation as most class activities take place off-campus. There is a course fee of $65.00 to help cover the costs of our activities. The activities selected for this course are designed to foster a life-long interest in being physically active. The design of the course will cultivate an appreciation for a healthy, social community outlet through sports and recreational activities. Units offered during Terms 1-4 will vary depending on the weather/season. Activities in the class may include the following: disc golf, Ninja Warrior, rec/yard games, golf, self-defense/martial arts, bowling, racket sports, rock climbing, cross-country skiing, downhill skiing & snowboarding, outdoor activities, team sports, broomball, and ice skating.

*Lifelong Activities can be taken one time only. Moving forward, we will not be able to support students taking this course multiple times due to the expenses and to make sure as many students as possible have the opportunity to enroll in this extremely popular course. 

022 - DANCE: 1 Term / 1 Credit, Grades 10-12 [Watch Course Video]

COURSE CURRENTLY NOT OFFERED

Getting ready for homecoming? Prom? Have a wedding coming up? Enjoy dancing? Whether you have never stepped foot on the dance floor or you’re a dancing master, this class is for you. This course offers students the opportunity to participate in a variety of different dances including line dances, social dances, hip-hop, Zumba, cultural dances, and more. All ability levels are welcome and encouraged to come and dance with us! Students need to be able to drive off campus or arrange for transportation.

Student Testimonial:

• "Dance is an amazing course to take because it allows you to go off campus and experience other types of dance that aren’t as commonly known. It allows for a wider expansion of cultural knowledge while having fun with your classmates!"

023 - OUTDOOR PURSUITS: FALL/SPRING 1 Term / 1 Credit, Grades 11-12 [Watch Course Video]

Looking for a fun way to get outdoors? Learn the skills and techniques for experiencing the outdoor wilderness of Minnesota and beyond. The units of the fall/spring section class include paddle boarding, canoeing, sailing, fire building, rock climbing, camp cooking, and camping. The fall/spring class will include an all-day Taylors Falls rock climbing field trip. Students will need to be able to drive off campus or arrange for transportation. This course has a fee of $50.

025 - OUTDOOR PURSUITS: WINTER 1 Term / 1 Credit, Grades 11-12 [Watch Course Video]

COURSE CURRENTLY NOT OFFERED

Looking for a fun way to get outdoors? Learn the skills and techniques for experiencing the outdoor wilderness of Minnesota and beyond. The units of the winter section of this class include rock climbing, cross country skiing, downhill skiing, archery, quinzee building, and ice fishing. The winter term will include a downhill ski/snowboard trip. Students will need to be able to drive off campus or arrange for transportation. This course has a fee of $50.

024 - RED CROSS LIFEGUARDING/CPR: 1 Term / 1 Credit, Grades 10-12 [Watch Course Video]

Prerequisites: Must be at least 15 yrs. old by the last day of the course; swim 300 yards continuously; retrieve a 10 lb. object from a depth of 10 feet within a specified time limit.

Students will have the opportunity to gain certification as an American Red Cross lifeguard. Each student will know, understand, and demonstrate personal characteristics associated with being a lifeguard. Participants will demonstrate and apply the primary responsibilities of a professional lifeguard and become familiar with the surveillance techniques a lifeguard is required to have and how the techniques can help prevent injury. All students enrolled must pay the $50 administrative fee required by the American Red Cross. This PE elective class requires that students are able to drive off campus or arrange for transportation as class will meet several days off-campus at West Middle School pool.

Instructional Methods:  Students will practice all skills determined by the American Red Cross program. 

Assessments:  Demonstrate competency in each critical skill taught in the course without guidance:  lifeguarding, CPR, AED, and first aid.  Correctly answer at least 80% of the questions on all written exams and water skills.

Testimonials:

• “Lifeguarding was hands down my favorite class last year. I was hesitant to take it at first, because I don’t swim competitively and I didn’t know anyone else in the class, but I’m so glad I did. It was so fun going to the pool and swimming, and our class got super close. The biggest perk was leaving the class with a summer job that paid me $17 an hour to sit in the sun." 

• "Throughout the course, I learned essential leadership skills and teamwork strategies alongside my classmates, which helped in enriching my opportunities in the workforce. The class environment was full of energy and encouragement and was always a class I looked forward to."

026 - INTRODUCTION TO COACHING AND OFFICIATING: 1 Term / 1 Credit, Grades 10-12  [Watch Course Video]

          HYBRID COURSE

This course will prepare students with the necessary skills and knowledge to coach and officiate youth sports in our area. Through this course, students will explore various coaching models and leadership styles, sports psychology, first aid/CPR, and become certified to officiate in their sport of choice. This course is a hybrid course that will allow students to participate in the classroom as well as out in the community to gain the necessary experience.

043GE - UNIFIED PHYSICAL EDUCATION EXPERIENCE: 1 Term/1 Credit, Grades 10-12  [Watch Course Video] 

This combined General Education and Adapted Physical Education class will allow students to improve performance of  self and others in recreational and fitness activities. Students will have the opportunity to participate in and make modifications for themselves and/or others in units of indoor recreational activities (archery, badminton, table tennis, indoor tennis), outdoor recreational activities (cross country skiing, bocce, golf), movement activities (dance, yoga, drumming), fitness activities (muscular strength/endurance, aerobic capacity, flexibility), and paralympic sports (basketball, goal ball). Students will leave this class with a greater knowledge of how to analyze barriers and modify physical activity habits appropriately.

044 - STRESS MANAGEMENT: 1 Term / 1 Credit, Grades 9-12

Stress Management is a course designed to expose students to a holistic approach to stress management. This class involves coping skills and relaxation techniques intended to prevent or alleviate stress. The class will contain a large amount of experiential learning and daily participation for success.

Student Testimonials:

• "Procrastination is something I have struggled with for a long time, and applying what we discussed in this class has been immensely helpful. This class has been a game changer for me." 

• "A big thing I learned was to anticipate stress and to proactively work to help reduce the symptoms. I would always tell myself that it’s abnormal for me to feel so stressed or to have insomnia because of my overthinking, but to anticipate it, meditate, create a healthy sleep schedule/diet, and do deep breathing has really helped me." 

• "This class taught me how to manage my time a lot better, especially using the Pomodoro technique. I have also been more aware of when I have felt stress, and I have been better at using different strategies to deal with it."