.25 credit                 Grade 9                               Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4

Graduation Requirement Area: Health and Physical Education

In this course, students will gain the knowledge and skills necessary to allow them to make informed and healthy decisions, set personal goals, and bring social awareness to important health-related issues that they may be faced with. Students will learn about sexual harassment, healthy relationships, LGBTQ awareness, STI’s and contraceptives, substance abuse, stress, and mental health.  

.25 credit                 Grade 9                               Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4

Graduation Requirement Area: Health and Physical Education

In this course, students will learn and practice self-care skills to support their overall well-being. They will analyze factors influencing their physical activity, nutrition, and body image while exploring strategies to maintain a healthy and balanced lifestyle. By the end of the course, students will be equipped with the knowledge and tools to create personalized fitness plans.

.25 credit                 Grade 9                               Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4

Graduation Requirement Area: Health and Physical Education

This course focuses on building foundational swimming skills, developing water safety competencies, and engaging in recreational water games. Students will enhance their confidence and abilities in the water while learning essential techniques for safe and enjoyable aquatic activities.

.25 credit                 Grade 9                               Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4

Graduation Requirement Area: Health and Physical Education

In this course, students will participate in, and lead, a variety of recreational games and activities designed to refine movement skills, foster social interactions, and encourage lifelong physical activity. Through engaging in activities such as disc golf, backyard games, and volleyball, enjoyment, inclusivity, and the value of staying active throughout life are emphasized.

.25 credit                 Grade 10                             Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4

Graduation Requirement Area: Health and Physical Education

In this course, students evaluate their own health in each of the 8 dimensions of wellness, reflect on their current life habits in each area, and practice newly introduced strategies to set personalized goals they believe are important in order to build a healthy life. Specific topics include caring for the body, organization, stress resilience, effective communication, rest and play, and values clarification. 

.25 credit                 Grade 10                             Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4

Graduation Requirement Area: Health and Physical Education

Students will engage in group physical experiences and challenges in order to work towards peak group effectiveness as they recognize, value, and manage group dynamics. Students will discover how to create and be part of a highly functional group no matter who is involved or what the task may be. Use of the low and high elements ropes course is a component of the course.

.25 credit                 Grade 10                             Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4

Graduation Requirement Area: Health and Physical Education

Students will work to develop confidence as they develop movement competence through participation in a variety of lifetime activities such as longboarding, traverse climbing, fitness, and yoga. 

.25 credit                 Grade 10                             Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4

Graduation Requirement Area: Health and Physical Education

Students will participate in a variety of racquet sports learning skills, strategies, and concepts essential for game success. Racquet sports are an ideal activity for both brain and physical exercise. Racquet sports may include tennis, badminton, table tennis and pickleball. 

.25 credit                 Grade 11                             Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4

Graduation Requirement Area: Health and Physical Education

This skills-based health course empowers students to make informed decisions and build resilience in the face of current health challenges. Topics include substance use prevention, mental health disorders and when to seek help, sexual violence prevention, healthy relationships, contraception, and STI prevention. Through interactive lessons and discussions, students will gain the tools to navigate health trends and promote their well-being and the well-being of others.

.25 credit                 Grade 11                             Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4

Graduation Requirement Area: Health and Physical Education

This course explores the connection between self-efficacy and the process of learning new skills. Students will develop a growth mindset by applying self-efficacy concepts to novel physical activities, gaining insights into how persistence and confidence impact skill development. By understanding the stages of learning something new, students will build resilience and a deeper appreciation for personal growth.

.25 credit                 Grades 11, 12                      Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4

Graduation Requirement Area: additional credits only

This course may be taken as additional credit beyond the 1.5 PE credit requirement. It is designed for students who want to develop a level of fitness that will improve performance in athletics and other physical endeavors. By the end of this class, students will have increased their strength and endurance and be able to apply knowledge of advanced workout techniques to their independent workout sessions.

.5 credit                    Grades 11, 12                       S1, S2    
Graduation Requirement Area: Health and Physical Education or Open STEAM (Kinesiology can be taken junior year in lieu of Junior Health and Mindset & Performance for .25 credit in Health and .25 credit in Physical Education toward the graduation requirement. Alternatively, Kinesiology can be taken junior or senior year toward fulfilling the Open STEAM requirement. If a student wishes to count Kinesiology toward fulfilling the Open STEAM requirement, they must take Junior Health and Mindset & Performance to satisfy the Health and Physical Education requirement.)

Kinesiology is the study of human movement and the body’s response to exercise. During this semester-long course, students will develop a practical understanding of human movement based on the structures and systems involved. During students’ examination of the systems, factors, and principles of human movement, health, and development, they will learn how to analyze movement and the effects of exercise in a variety of physical lab and classroom settings. 

.5 credit                   Grades 10, 11, 12                 S1, S2   
Prerequisite: Student must:

• Be able to consecutively swim, using freestyle or breaststroke, 150 meters (6 lengths of the pool), tread water for two minutes, and swim 50 meters (two lengths of the pool)

• Be able to swim 20 meters and do a surface dive to retrieve a 10 lb. diving brick at a depth of approximately 7-10 feet, before returning to the pool deck using a rescue kick and climb out at the side of the pool

• Have participated in and passed Freshman Aquatic Activities

• Be at least 15 years of age at the conclusion of the course

Graduation Requirement Area: Physical Education or Open STEAM (If a sophomore wishes to take Lifeguard Training for Physical Education credit, they will be scheduled for Wellness and an available sophomore Physical Education course in the opposite semester. If a sophomore wishes to take Lifeguard Training to satisfy the Open STEAM requirement, they will be scheduled for a full year of Sophomore Health and Physical Education. Juniors taking Lifeguard Training are required to take Junior Health in addition to Lifeguard Training. If a junior wishes to count Lifeguard Training toward fulfilling the Open STEAM requirement, they must take Mindset & Performance in addition to satisfy the Physical Education requirement; if Lifeguard Training is taken for Physical Education credit and not Open STEAM, Mindset & Performance is not required.)

Note: Enrollment in this course is limited, and a lottery will be used to select students. If selected, students must commit to taking the course and may only drop or change if there is a conflict with a different course and with administrative approval.

Lifeguard Training offers students an opportunity to learn the duties, responsibilities, and requirements of becoming a lifeguard and how to carry these out in a responsible, professional manner. Students will develop a clear understanding of heart and lung function, spinal cord injuries, and bleeding injuries. They will learn to collect evidence at a scene in order to determine the appropriate type of rescue. Students will learn a number of skills required to be a lifeguard including: advanced skills in swimming, proper use of lifesaving equipment, preventing disease transmission, using appropriate surveillance techniques, how to manage a spinal injury victim, and how to perform first aid and/or CPR on a victim, amongst others. Characteristics and responsibilities of a professional lifeguard, such as appropriate interactions with the public, accommodating patrons with disabilities, and addressing uncooperative patrons, are also addressed. Students are eligible to earn certifications in the following: pool and waterfront lifeguard, automated external defibrillator (AED), CPR for the professional rescuer, and first aid. Students are responsible for any certification fees upon successful completion of the course.

.5 credit                   Grades 11, 12                      S1, S2    

.25 credit                 Grades 11, 12                      Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4   

Prerequisite for .5 credit semester course: Must be a junior or senior in good standing who has:

●         Intermediate swimming skills (passed Freshman Aquatic Activities)

●         Met the “Healthy Fitness Zone” on all CT Physical Fitness Assessments

●         Earned a cumulative “B” average in SHS Health and Physical Education courses

●         Health or Physical Education teacher recommendation

Graduation Requirement Area: additional credits only

Prerequisite for .25 credit quarter course: Must be a junior or senior in good standing who has:

●         Earned a B+ or higher in the Sophomore Leadership in Action (formerly Cooperative Games) course

●         A high level of interest in group dynamics and leadership

●         Health or Physical Education teacher recommendation

Graduation Requirement Area: Physical Education (in lieu of Junior Mindset & Performance) or additional credits

Physical Education Leaders focuses on the development of leadership qualities and skills. The primary goal of this course is to provide opportunities for learning those leadership skills that are necessary to assist with departmental classes. As PE Leaders, students will assist in all facets of instruction and classroom procedures (i.e., setup and breakdown of equipment, recording/displaying results, transitioning activities), and design and post a bulletin board for the locker room, hallway, and/or activity areas. As appropriate, leaders will engage in skill analysis, fitness assessment, use of technology, recognition of common errors and error correction, teaching techniques and officiating skills, and assist in goal setting and working toward accomplishing these goals.

.5 credit                   Grades 11, 12                      S1, S2

Graduation Requirement Areas: Physical Education or Open STEAM (Juniors taking Science of Movement in Yoga and Dance are required to also take Junior Health. If a student wishes to count Science of Movement in Yoga and Dance toward fulfilling the Open STEAM requirement, they must take Mindset & Performance in addition to satisfy the Physical Education requirement; if Science of Movement in Yoga and Dance is taken for Physical Education credit and not Open STEAM, Mindset & Performance is not required.)

This course is designed for students to meet the need for self-expression, fitness, and enjoyment through dance and learn various yoga techniques to benefit their physical and mental wellness. Students will have the opportunity to express themselves by learning, choreographing, and performing several dance forms. These include, but are not limited to: line, ballroom, social, hip-hop, and Zumba. Students will be able to demonstrate various yoga poses and understand the health benefits associated with each pose. Students will practice various breathing, meditation, and relaxation techniques to help reduce stress and improve overall well-being. Students will create their own sequences of movement and learn the anatomy and physiology related to the musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, and nervous systems, as well as the biomechanical principles of movement as they relate to yoga and dance.

.25 credit                 Grades 11, 12                      Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4

Graduation Requirement Area: additional credits only

This course may be taken as additional credit beyond the 1.5 credit PE requirement. It is designed for students who enjoy team-based activities. Students will further develop their understanding of formations and strategies as they relate to specific sports.

.5 credit                     Grades 10, 11, 12                 S1, S2

Prerequisite: Must be a student in good standing who has: 

●        Earned a cumulative “B” average in Health and Physical Education courses

●        Health or Physical Education teacher recommendation

●        Course Instructor Recommendation

Graduation Requirement Area: Physical Education (Sophomores taking Unified Physical Education must take Wellness and an available Physical Education course in the opposite semester. Juniors taking Unified Physical Education are required to take Junior Health in addition to Unified Physical Education; Mindset & Performance may be taken as an elective, but is not required.)

Note: Course enrollment is limited and based on student needs.

This course combines students with and without special needs to participate in a developmentally appropriate physical education class. Students will work together to increase competence and confidence in a variety of lifetime activities that will develop sport specific skills, fitness, and wellness. Students will learn about various disabilities and how to make appropriate accommodations for successful participation. The desired outcome will be to develop the necessary skills to be physically active for a lifetime, increase self-esteem, and develop new friendships. Students in this class will participate in a variety of competitions organized by the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference throughout the school year. 

.25 credit                 Grades 10, 11, 12                 Summer

Graduation Requirement Areas: Physical Education                                                           

Note: This course is offered during the summer through Westport Continuing Education for credit recovery or advancement. Staples students seeking to enroll must obtain prior written approval from their school counselor and the Health and Physical Education department coordinator. The school counselor and department coordinator indicate their approval via signature on the Westport Summer School Registration Form.

Physical Education is offered during the summer through Westport Continuing Education. Physical Education can be taken during the summer between 9th and 10th grades or later. Students can replace Sophomore and/or Junior Physical Education courses only; Summer Physical Education cannot replace Health or Wellness classes. Prior approval is required from the student’s school counselor and Health and Physical Education department coordinator.