Physical Education Classes Reflect Fitness Campaign

Students should expect to sweat in Huntington School District physical education classes this year. Teachers will continue to include a significant amount of fitness and movement activities in their lessons and will be stressing vigorous participation by everyone.

The district’s fitness campaign and overall wellness drive has been embraced by the physical education program. Teachers have been ramping up the fitness component in daily classes for several years and students have responded positively by increasingly challenging themselves to hit new personal bests

Idle time is being kept to a minimum in physical education classes. There is less sitting out and waiting for a turn and quicker instructions from teachers.

Teachers will once again be routinely incorporating stretches, exercises, jump roping and either sprinting or middle distance running activities into their lessons this year. Many teachers have been focusing on target heart rates and all will be stressing the many positive benefits of a regular program of exercise.

The history of compulsory physical education in the United States is traced to the post World War I period after the military found draftees in such poor physical condition that basic training had to be extended far beyond the number of weeks originally anticipated. Keeping young people in peak condition was viewed as a matter of national security.

More is known today about the benefits of exercise and proper nutrition, along with foods that are beneficial or detrimental to good health. Huntington UFSD’s food service program is onboard with the wellness drive. Cafeterias are committed to serving fresh, nutritious and good tasting breakfast, lunch and snack items.

Any opportunity to incorporate hints about good nutrition and healthy eating are seized upon. Teachers ask students about their snacks and lunch choices and help the youngsters understand the role food plays in helping a person feel good physically, if not mentally, too.

Students in grades K-6 attend three 40 minute physical education classes per week. Those in grades 7-12 follow an every-other-day physical education schedule.

Five new semester long physical education courses are debuting at the high school, including Team Sports, Individual/Lifetime Sports, Personal Fitness, Dance, Yoga & Mindfulness and Unified Physical Education

The new courses are the result of student surveys, physical education teacher input, research and analysis of course offerings across the country and discussions among building and district officials for more than one year. The new classes will provide students with choice in physical education. Adapted Physical Education will also continue to be offered.

The harsh winter weather poses a real challenge for Huntington School District elementary grade level principals and teachers who want to provide physical activity opportunities to students during their daily 20 minute recess period.

The youngsters don’t have any less energy in the winter just because it’s cold outside. Being cooped up indoors, both at school and at home creates even more of a need for movement opportunities. Let’s face it: Kids have lots of energy.

Principals are anxious to give students a chance to go outdoors whenever weather conditions permit. When a respective principal takes to the airwaves over the public address system to announce there will be outdoor recess on a winter day, the youngsters typically cheer. When the verdict is for indoor recess a collective moan can be heard emanating from classrooms.

Students are regularly reminded to bring winter jackets to school, along with hats and gloves. When athletic fields are muddy, children can still play on blacktop areas as well as on many pieces of playground equipment.

Teachers will continue to add fitness and aerobic activities during the 2024/25 school year and will place even more emphasis on them in the winter.

While winter is often harsh on Long Island, school officials are aware that it’s still a time when students have to be active. Elementary principals will be making “every possible effort” to get their students outdoors, even during the winter. School Board members have been equally interested in making sure the youngsters are provided with midday recreational opportunities as frequently as possible.

Huntington UFSD has been on a wellness crusade in recent years, including breakfast and lunch menu redesigns, a policy that discourages consumption of junk food in classrooms, efforts to promote healthy food choices, increased physical fitness activities in physical education classes and renovations to gym and outdoor activity areas.