I am Sandy
Schneider, your student's instructor for the year. This is my
29th year at Lakeside. I have taught in both the
Upper School & Middle School divisions, and in addition to
teaching 2 sections of 8th grade physical education, I
oversee Middle School Athletics and coach the Upper School Girls
Basketball Team.
Our goal in Middle
School Physical Education is to develop in students a positive
attitude towards vigorous activity that brings about long term
health and fitness. It is our hope, that students adopt a
healthy and physically active lifestyle.
How do we go
about this ambitious task?
We see
8th grade as a transitional bridge between the Middle
School & Upper School and the curriculum reflects this. We
meet 5 periods a week; 3 periods are devoted to sports
and games including soccer, basketball, softball, pickleball,
badminton, volleyball, ultimate frisbee, while 2 periods are
fitness oriented.
Fitness activities
including running, age-appropriate weight training, plyometrics,
and a myriad of ways for students to move. We learn how our
bodies work and how best to train them. See the
documents link for the years’
calendar.
To chart our
progress, we fitness test three times a year. Students have
progressed from the Presidential Fitness Test to the Lakeside
School Fitness Test. This is a 10 item test battery and
includes the following: pull ups, bar dips, sit ups, flexed
arm hang, 2 arm hang, shuttle run, agility run, 800 yard run; 1600
yard run. It is comprehensive and challenging for
all.
Students have the
opportunity to earn fitness shirts if they specific level of
achievement. See the Fitness Test document
for these specific standards.
Eighth grade is
part of a 5 – 10 progression that culminates in sophomore
year when students design & implement their own fitness
program.
This is a graded
class. However, grades are based on attendance, dress, effort,
and attitude, not achievement.
Since this is a
participation based class, if students are absent, they have one
week to make up the class. There are a variety of means for
students to do this, but they will be coming to you and asking for
your signature to verify their work.
If students are
absent or unable to participate due to injury/illness, please
provide a note. If this goes beyond 3 days, students will
require a medical released to re-enter class.
It is our aim for
students to discover that you can have fun while getting
fit!
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