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Happy
winter! When the weather turned cold and the P.E. classes headed indoors,
the 3rd, 4th and 5th grade classes
started their units on Deck Tennis and Volleyball. Included in these units
were the skills of throwing and catching, both a deck tennis ring and
volleyball, and striking skills. Striking skills included the skills of
striking a ball using an underhand motion/serve and striking a ball using
your forearms or forearm pass. Both skills were eventually used in a
Modified Volleyball game. Striking skills are difficult skills to master,
because the student must learn to strike or hit an object with the proper
force and send it in a chosen direction. Not all that easy! That is why we
start striking skills in the primary grades using soft balls and balloons.
Did you know that striking skills also include striking an object with a
paddle, racket, and/or hockey stick? It is my goal, when our students
finish 5th grade, they are proficient in a variety of striking
skills. Prior to the start of Winter Vacation, all grades were
reintroduced to the Traverse Climbing Wall. Traverse Climbing is simply
climbing sideways. But, traversing or climbing sideways is not all that
simple! In fact, traverse climbing is more difficult than vertical
climbing. But, the new arrangement of hand and foot �holds,� allowed for
many students to climb the entire length of the wall without stopping!
When the
students returned from vacation, the intermediate grades, including 3rd,
started a two-week unit on indoor roller skating. During this unit the
students learn to get up safely on skates, stand, skate forward, stop,
skate backwards, �shoot the duck,� and skate with a partner. The second
week of instruction the gym was decorated with small Christmas lights, the
gym lights are turned off, and the students skated to new and �oldies�
music. What a great time! So the primary level classes won�t feel left
out, they participated in some �4-wheel� activities on scooters.
The last
week in January, the intermediate students will begin their first 2 week
unit on climbing the new Vertical Climbing Wall. I am very excited to get
this program started! At the present time, there are 16 parents who are
�Climbing Wall Adult Volunteers� and will be assisting the students during
this unit. A vertical climbing wall unit must have �trained adult�
supervisors in order to keep the climbing environment safe and enjoyable.
It is my hope to organize some �Saturday Morning Climbing� times for the
students. If you are interested in assisting with the �Scott School
WallNuts Climbing Club,� please contact Sue Halford, our Climbing Wall
Adult Volunteer �Coordinator.� Adults who assist the students must
be trained prior to working with our students. I will report on the
results of the climbing unit in the next news letter.
Up and Coming
in P.E.
The month of
February is American Heart Month. During this month the students will
participate in activities that focus on �heart health.� The first week of
March we will hold our 4th annual �Jump Rope for Heart� event
in P.E. class. This event is sponsored by the American Heart Association
and The American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and
Dance. Last year, Scott
School raised over $7500.00 for the Heart Association! More information
about the Jump Rope for Heart will appear in the next newsletter.
Mr. Garrison
Scott
School Science Fair 2005
Scott School will host
its 4th Annual All School Science Fair on Thursday evening,
Feb. 17th, 2005. The fair is open to all Scott School students,
Kindergarten to 5th grade. All students are welcomed and
encouraged to participate. Last year we had over 165 science projects on
display and over 220 students participating!!! The deadline for sign-up is
Friday, Jan 27th. Join the Fun�Join the Fair! The Scott School
Science Fair 2005! Questions or concerns, contact Mr. Garrison.
Congratulations Mr. Garrison and Miss Tarson
Last school
year, Miss Tarson, Music Teacher, and Mr. Garrison, Physical Education
Teacher, completed the requirements for their National Board Certification
of Professional Teaching Standards in their areas of specialization. The
rigorous requirements included extensive writing and videotaping in areas
such as student assessment, teaching skills, knowledge and understanding
of their students and community, and teacher accomplishments. This past
November, both Miss Tarson and Mr. Garrison passed the requirements for
National Board Certification, thus allowing them to earn their Master
Teacher Certification in Music and Physical Education respectively. Miss
Tarson was one of only two teachers in the state of Illinois who earned
their certification. Mr. Garrison will be recognized for his
accomplishment this spring at the 2005 National Convention for The
American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance by
the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) in
Chicago. |
