September is Fruits and Veggies—More Matters Month, Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, National Cholesterol Education Month, Whole Grains Month, National Celiac Disease Awareness Day (September 13), World Alzheimer’s Day (September 21), Family Health and Fitness Day (September 24), National Women’s Health and Fitness Day (September 28), and World Heart Day (September 30).
Just a quick note that returning Holy Spirit students should be wearing old PE uniforms to class even if new uniforms have been ordered and have not come in yet. New students should be wearing an athletic pair of shorts and a t-shirt that is appropriate for school until the new PE uniforms arrive. Also, there is not a great need for sweatpants and sweatshirts yet with the temperatures, so please have students either leave those materials at home or in lockers. We will address sweatpants and sweatshirts in the next few weeks when it starts getting cooler outside.
We have been working on a new stretching routine in our PE classes that involve dynamic stretching rather than static stretching. Dynamic stretching involves movement and form rather than static stretching (standing and stretching, which is the way most of us learned how to stretch growing up). Studies have shown that dynamic stretching helps to increase flexibility and to reduce injury over time, so we are getting more “bang for our buck” with dynamic stretching. In addition, some of our new stretches cross the body’s midline, which helps with learning in the traditional classroom.
We have started President’s testing in some classes and will start with all classes (third grade through eighth grade this week)—a series of Physical Education tests that gauge muscular strength, muscular endurance, speed and quickness, and flexibility among others. The tests include pull-ups, curl-ups, flex arm hang, shuttle run, pushups, sit and reach, mile run (half mile for second and third grade), and I have added an additional test and that is the pole climb on the playground. Returning students will be told their results of last year and the idea is they show improvement from their fourth quarter results as they perform the tests in the first quarter this year.
We have been working on daily procedures in PE classes and will continue to work on them in the next few weeks, especially with the younger grades. We will also try to enjoy the nice weather as much as we can, while we still have it available to us.
As always, it is expected that each student is to come to class each day with a good attitude, ready to learn, and ready to work.
Have a great long weekend!
If you need to contact me, my email address is:
Mr. Branigan
Don't forget child passenger safety week Sept 18-24!
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