All students are required to successfully complete at least 1 semester/credit of Physical Education each year. Each PE class meets daily for one semester. During one class each semester a nurse practitioner from Linn County Public Health will present information that will include: pregnancy prevention, sexually transmitted infections, and building healthy relationships.
Class Options:
Health & Fitness
This course is a mix of classroom work and fitness activities. Students will spend their classroom time in a project-based learning environment researching and reporting on topics in nutrition, living an active lifestyle, mental health, and the effects of drugs on the body. Each class period, the fitness component will consist of approximately 20 minutes of activities including walking, strength training with free weights, machines, and body weight movement. This course can only be taken one time. Students are NOT required to dress out for this class.
Performance PE
Students will follow an individualized functional strength training program. The class will also incorporate workouts that focus on core strength, upper and lower body mobility, muscle flexibility, foot agility, and linear and lateral speed development. This class is designed for athletes. but is also for non-athletes who are serious about fitness. Students are tested on the hang clean, front squat, bench press, vertical jump, standing broad jump, pro agility drill, and 10-yard dash five times throughout the course of the term. Improvement on these tests factor into the final grade. Students are required to dress out for this class.
Personal Fitness
Students will be involved in a variety of fitness activities including core development, functional agility and movement patterns, plyometrics, muscular strength development, cardiovascular endurance work, and joint mobility/flexibility training. Yoga and Pilates concepts will also be utilized. This course is similar to Performance PE, but at a lower intensity and skill level. Students are required to dress out for this class.
Team Fitness
Students in this course will begin each class with a low-level cardio activity followed by flexibility development and some light movement activities. The remainder of the class will be spent in an open gym atmosphere where students must stay active by walking, playing basketball, bumping the volleyball in groups, etc. Students are required to dress out for this class.
Swimming
This class will include water safety, basic stroke development, lifetime water activities, and more. All levels of swimmers are accepted. Students are required to dress out for this class.
What is the required dress for PE classes?
For classes that require students to dress out, students must wear workout clothes which include sneakers (tennis shoes, running shoes, basketball shoes), shorts/sweatpants/yoga pants (no jean shorts), and t-shirt/sweatshirt/appropriate tank top. It is suggested that the clothes worn in PE class are different from those worn during the day.
What happens if I forget my PE clothes?
Each class period the student’s grade will consist of points received for the day. For classes that require students to dress out, this is part of your grade. If you forget your PE clothes, you are still required to show up for class and participate.
If you choose to participate, you will receive some of your daily points. If you choose to not participate, you will sit on the sidelines and receive a 0 for the day.
Where can I keep my personal items? Do you have lockers?
All PE students will be given the opportunity to use a locker in the locker room during class. You will need a padlock for the locker to keep your personal items secure.
You can check out a padlock from the teacher or bring your own.
All belonging should be locked during class time. We are NOT responsible for lost or stolen items that are not locked up during class.
What if I don’t have room in my schedule for PE?
Talk to your counselor about enrolling in an online PE course through CRVA.
Since PE is only one semester, what do I do the other semester?
Kennedy offers many one semester courses. You can choose to take one or more electives, or you may choose to take another PE course.
Can I take Physical Education all year?
Yes. Athletes are encouraged to take Performance PE both semesters every year, but you do not have to be an athlete to take more than one PE class a year. Speak to your counselor about this option.
If I participate in a sport or am involved in marching band or show choir, do I have to take a PE class?
Although students who are involved in these extra-curricular activities put in many hours of physical activity, they cannot earn PE credit for it. We do not have PE waivers. A student must be registered in a PE class and meet the requirements of the course to earn the PE credit. Four PE credits are needed for graduation.
What happens if I fail a PE class?
If you do not pass a fall semester PE class, you will be required to take another PE class in the spring semester or take two PE classes the following year. If you do not pass a spring semester PE class, you will need to enroll in two PE classes the following year.
In this scenario, both successfully completed semesters would count towards your four credits needed to meet graduation requirements.
How do I make up classes if I am sick or gone from school?
Each teacher has their own make-up requirements. They will go over these procedures on the first day of class.
What happens if I cannot participate because of an injury or extended illness?
If you are not able to participate in class for an extended period of time, a doctor’s note will be required. Arrangements will be made to allow you to make up the points you missed. Each teacher will have their own system. This will be explained on the first day of class.