THE YEAR IN = PHYSICAL EDUCATION

The Year in Physical Education

By=20 Marcia Barron

The=20 2009-10 year was very active in K-5 physical

education.

In=20 the fall, our student teacher, Ms. Katelyn Greene helped teach golf to = start the=20 year. She went on to teach nutrition and soccer activities. The theme = for the=20 giant obstacle course this year was Castles. On the course the students created their = unique coat=20 of arms at one station and climbed, swung and moved in many different=20 ways.

Winter meant stunts and tumbling for kindergarten, while the = others did=20 a little skiing and snowshoeing =20 before we lost the snow. = In=20 February, we had a dynamic jump rope demonstration from the students at=20 Vernon Elementary School. = March=20 brought the first annual Barn Dance and Social, where third and fourth = graders=20 met with Proctor and West Rutland students. Many thanks to the Rutland = Town PTO=20 for their=20 generous financial support of this project. We had a special team of = fiddlers,=20 Jacqueline and Dudley Laufman from New Hampshire, who also played for an = evening=20 family dance.

After that extravaganza, the students began the jump rope unit = which=20 culminates in the Jumpathon for American Heart Association. This year = students=20 raised $6,729 along with the fifth graders who participated in a = Hoopathon,=20 dribbling and shooting baskets for heart health. The generosity of the = Rutland=20 community amazes me every year and I thank you on behalf of the=20 Association.

Spring brings the annual fitness test with three tests of flexibility, three tests of = muscular=20 strength and endurance, and one test of cardiovascular = endurance.=20 Students received their Healthy Fitness Zone scores with their report = cards. The=20 culminating activity in a very busy and fruitful year in physical = education was=20 the annual Field Day. This year=92s theme was =93If you had fun, you = won!=94