Our Mission

Working together as a team, we will end the predictive value of race, class, gender, and special capacities for our children’s success through high quality teaching and learning for all. We seek to build relationships with families and communities to ensure that every student succeeds. We will know every student.

Our Mission

Physical Education Plan, 2020-21

All classes and school activities will comply with mitigation strategies based on guidance from local, state and national health authorities. These strategies include masks or face coverings; social or physical distancing; hand washing; disinfection; ventilation; and staying or going home when sick. The following guidance provides instructions for implementing these mitigation strategies during in-person Physical Education (PE).

Pillars of Infection Control During COVID-19 Pandemic

Masks and Hygiene

Face coverings must be worn by staff and students. Masks may be removed when students are exerting themselves strenuously outside and/or 10 feet of distance can be maintained in a large, well-ventilated area.
Consult with the school nurse on proper protocol for students with asthma or other underlying conditions that may prohibit them from wearing masks or participating in Physical Education.
Have students wash or sanitize hands when they enter and leave the space.
Do not allow students who appear unwell to participate; call the school nurse.

Distancing and Ventilation

Select a location for Physical Education instruction where students and staff can remain 10 feet apart. If available facilities do not have sufficient space, class sizes should be adjusted appropriately to allow for physical distancing of 10 feet between participants.
Classes should not be combined, and class size should not be increased for Physical Education instruction.
More space for instruction may be required for Physical Education class due to increased respiration of students when participating in moderate to vigorous physical activity.
Choose outdoor space(s) for Physical Education whenever possible.
If using the gym or multipurpose room, keep the doors and windows open, if possible, to maximize air circulation and air flow to accommodate increased respiration by students exerting themselves.
Coordinate with classroom teachers for transitioning students from the classroom to the Physical Education space. Allow enough time between classes so a class does not arrive before the previous one leaves.
Provide visual guides and signs on floors and in hallways to help facilitate physical distancing as students enter and exit the gymnasium. Plan to incorporate marked off areas to ensure 10 feet of physical distancing between participants.
Do not allow use of locker rooms.
- Ask students to wear comfortable clothing on PE days.

Cleaning and Disinfection

For equipment that will be touched or handled by students, assign each student their own piece of equipment for that class period. Properly clean and disinfect equipment between classes using approved disinfectant.
Inventory Physical Education equipment to identify athletic equipment that can be easily and effectively sanitized. Cloth or porous materials are more difficult to properly sanitize than vinyl or plastic materials and should not be used.
Allow adequate time (at least 10 minutes) between classes for PE staff to disinfect equipment.
Encourage students and staff to use individual water bottles. Water dispensers should be available for bottle refill only and cleaned frequently.
Teachers will be responsible for disinfecting high-touch surfaces, such as doorknobs, throughout the day.
Ensure that cleaners and disinfectants are stored properly and out of reach of students. Surfaces like walls and floors do not require additional sanitation and will only require standard cleaning.
Custodial staff will:
- Clean high contact surfaces, such as doorknobs, light switches, and handrails, every two (2) hours during the day.
- Clean and disinfect restrooms every three (3) hours.
- Ensure that water fountains are disconnected and marked as out of service.

Instruction

Teachers may consider using a microphone and speaker when delivering instruction to students. The use of face coverings and the need for students to spread out to accommodate physical distancing may make it more difficult for teacher instructions to be heard.
Focus more on individual pursuits or skills rather than team sports or activities, such as dance, exercise without equipment, mindfulness, yoga, outdoor activities, track and field, throwing underhand, and kicking. Use games and activities that require no physical contact and do not require students to be in close physical proximity to each other.
Use games and activities that require no physical contact and do not require students to be in close physical proximity to each other.
Include opportunities for student choice and incorporate student-suggested activities when appropriate.

Suggested Activity by Level

Easy to Implement:

Yoga, Tennis, Frisbee, Golf, Running, Badminton, Dance, wave circuit workouts, and hula hoop

Moderate to Implement:

Individual Soccer drills, resistance band workouts, individual scooter activities, gymnastics, no contact relays, and non-contact distanced team games

Difficult to Implement:

Basketball, Soccer, Volleyball, Weight Lifting, Flag Football, and Parachute

Adapted from In-School Instruction With Physical Distancing: Physical Education - Instructional Strategies (SHAPE America)