Dance Elective

Grade 8 Electives

We encourage students to take a risk and try an activity that they perhaps have little experience in, knowing that they are not assessed on their skill acquisition but on their 'Interactions with Others' and their 'Personal & Social Behavior'.

Flag-Football - Team Briefing

Flag-Football - Practicing the Plays

Volleyball - Beach-ball Style - Session 1

Dance - Count the Beat

Volleyball - Session 1

Dance - Session 1

Kayaking - Class Afloat

Kayaking

Kayaking - Kayak Polo - Day 1

Kayaking - Kayak Polo - Day 1

HKIS MS Physical Education & Health Class Update

Dear 7th Grade Parents,

During quarter 3 our 7th Grade students have been engaged in a series of fitness lessons focusing mainly on cardio-respiratory endurance and their running form. Students were able to learn what efficient running form is and what it looks like. They then watched a video of themselves running and were able to find areas of strength and areas in need of improvement. We then set out to work on those areas in which they needed to improve. Ask your son or daughter to show you their running video. We also explored a selection of fitness games that proved to be great activities for engaging students in interval training without them realizing that they were getting a work out. The same cannot be said for our introduction of circuit training, which was just plain good old fashioned hard work!

Other activities have included encouraging our students to step out of their comfort zones and challenge themselves in the high element activities of our Project Adventure unit. Students challenged themselves on a number of high ropes challenges as can be seen in previous blog posts below. We also revisited our motor skills and team support strategies during our Soccer unit.

All students’ performance and work habit assessments have been updated and are available on the PowerSchool system. Please have your child guide you through the system and use this as an opportunity to hear about their areas of growth and the areas they need to pay more attention to.

All students have the opportunity to ‘redo’ an assessment (time permitting) in any component of a standard where their overall level of proficiency is below ‘Meets Expectation’. In order to take this opportunity:

• Students must reflect on the comment/strategies offered on PowerSchool.
• Students must take the time to work on improving their performance.
• Students must arrange a time (outside of class and within two weeks of receiving their assessed level of proficiency) to demonstrate their conceptual understanding and improved performance.

Following the Spring break students will be encouraged to select an elective activity from Self-Defense, Ultimate-Frisbee, Dance or Triathlon. Assessment in these electives is focused on interpersonal skills (Standard 5) rather than performance skills, as students are encouraged to take a risk and try an activity that they may have little previous experience of, assured that their performance in a new/unfamiliar skill will not reflect negatively on their grade.

As summer approaches and temperatures begin to rise our program continues with more indoor activities. Students will participate in the Water Adventure component and experience the final  Health Unit  –  Puberty & Relationships.  I will send out an email to parents two weeks before the commencement of this series of lessons, detailing the content and providing a reminder of the opportunity for you as a family to engage in dialogue about healthy relationship issues.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me via email.

Kind regards,

Joe Nolasco

Middle School Physical Education Department

HKIS MS Grade 8 Physical Education & Health Class Update

Dear 8th Grade Parents,

During quarter 3 our 8th Grade students have been engaged in a series of fitness lessons focussing mainly on cardio-respiratory endurance. Many students demonstrated a marked improvement in their 1 mile run times which bodes well for the final fitness challenge of the year in quarter 4, and prepares them for their High School focus on fitness. Some students are now aware that they need to put in some additional effort to improve their cardio-respiratory endurance in order to see an improvement.

In addition to our focus on fitness, students have been engaged in Project Adventure, where they have challenged themselves to explore the outer edge of their ‘stretch-zones’ and seek out their hidden potential. Touch-Rugby was part of our semester two Sports Unit. All students have experienced a significant improvement in performance in Standard 1: sending & receiving on the move and in Standard 2: the ability to use & create space for scoring opportunities.

Following the spring parent-teacher conferences students will have the opportunity to select an elective activity from Kayaking, Dance, Volleyball or Flag-Football. Assessment in these electives is focused on interpersonal skills (standard 5) rather than performance skills.  Students are encouraged to take a risk and try an activity that they may have little prior experience in, assured that their performance in a new/unfamiliar skill will not reflect negatively on their grade.

All students’ performance and work habit assessments have been updated and are available on the PowerSchool system. Please have your child guide you through the system and use this as an opportunity to hear about their areas of growth and the areas they need to pay more attention to.

In any area where a student has been assessed at a level of proficiency that is below ‘Meets Expectation’ their teacher will have provided feedback and strategies for improvement via a comment attached to the associated assessment on PowerSchool. This feedback along with the assessment rubrics (all available on mDN) provide useful information to both parents and students with regard to the criteria for assessment and areas to work on.

All students have the opportunity to ‘redo’ an assessment (time permitting) in any component of a standard where their overall level of proficiency is below ‘Meets Expectation’. In order to take this opportunity:

• Students must reflect on the comment/strategies offered on PowerSchool.
• Students must take the time to work on improving their performance.
• Students must arrange a time (outside of class and within two weeks of receiving their assessed level of proficiency) to demonstrate their conceptual understanding and improved performance.

As summer approaches and temperatures begin to rise our program continues with more indoor activities.  Students will participate in the Water Adventure component and experience the final  Health Unit – Healthy Sexuality.  I will send out an email to parents two weeks before the commencement of this series of lessons, detailing the content and providing a reminder of the opportunity for you as a family to engage in dialogue about healthy sexuality issues.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me via email.

Kind regards,

Joe Nolasco

Middle School Physical Education Department

HKIS Grade 6 MS Physical Education Update Semester 2

Dear Parents & Students,

During quarter 3, our 6th Grade PE students have been engaged in Sport and Adventure Learning units of study. The Sports unit included netball’ and basketball activities and focused on the transferable skills of Standard 1: sending & receiving and of Standard 2: marking & getting open. The Adventure Learning unit culminated in a series of climbing and rope work challenges. It was encouraging to see so many students positively support their fellow climbers while they stepped out of and expanded their comfort zones.

Please remember that all students have the opportunity to ‘redo’ an assessment (time permitting) in any component of a standard where their overall level of proficiency is below ‘Meets Expectation’. In order to take this opportunity:

• Students must reflect on the comment/strategies offered on PowerSchool.
• Students must take the time to work on improving their performance.
• Students must arrange a time (outside of class and within two weeks of receiving their assessed level of proficiency) to demonstrate their conceptual understanding and improved performance.

Following Spring Break students will begin our second and final component of our Health Unit for grade 6 – Puberty.  An email will be sent out to parents two weeks before the commencement of this series of lessons, detailing the content and providing a reminder of the opportunity for you as a family to engage in dialogue about healthy sexuality issues.

Our final activity for the year takes us back to the swimming pool where students have the opportunity to continue to work on improving their swimming skills and challenge themselves with the Water Adventure activities; a great way for students to enjoy the end of the year as temperatures outside begin to rise.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me via email.

Kind regards,

Mr. Joe Nolasco

Middle School Physical Education Department

Project Adventure - Real Life Skills Transfer

Ascending a fixed line with Jumars

Often we use our 'Project Adventure' activities as a metaphor for the challenges we face in life and to help us build confidence (see PA images earlier in the blog). However, sometimes there really are direct transferable skills. Check out this link for 'Scientist' meets 'Artist' meets 'Adventurer' and one pretty cool tree:  National Geographic
Enjoy!

Project Adventure

My grade 6 classes are nearing the end of our Project Adventure unit (PA).  PA is something that is part of the grade 6, 7, and 8 curriculum.  In grade 6 it is an introduction to the program with a focus on team building, teamwork, and the importance of effective communication within a team setting. PA also focuses on individual challenges such as rappelling, rock climbing, and a zip line. The activities in PA are "challenge by choice."  I ask students to try each activity to the best of their abilities.  Students are also asked to stay within their personal comfort zone.  Students begin to see that the comfort level varies from student to student and that everyones 100% looks different.  Simply, what is easy for student A may not be as easy for student B for a variety of reasons.  Have a look at some of the activities we have done thus far.

Group exercise: Saving the world

Dragon's Back challenge

Challenge by choice day : Wobbly ladder

Challenge by choice day : Mine field

Challenge by choice day : Tightrope walk

Individual challenge: Little wall

Individual challenge: Ladder street

Individual challenge: Short rappel

Individual challenge: Peter Pan

Individual challenge: Peter Pan

Individual challenge: East low traverse

HKIS MS Grade 7 Physical Education & Health Class Update

Dear 7th Grade Parents,

During quarter 3 our 7^th Grade students have been engaged in a series of fitness lessons focusing mainly on cardio-respiratory endurance. Many students demonstrated a marked improvement in their 1 mile run times which bodes well for the final fitness challenge of the year in quarter 4. Some students are now aware that they need to put in some additional effort to improve their cardio-respiratory endurance in order to see an improvement.

Since our last update, other activities have included encouraging our students to step out of their comfort zones and challenge themselves in the high element activities of our Adventure Learning unit. We revisited our motor skills and team support strategies during our Sports unit with a focus on Soccer and we also explored a selection of fitness games that proved to be great activities for engaging students in interval training without them realizing that they were getting a work out. The same cannot be said for our introduction of circuit training, which was just plain good old fashioned hard work!

All students’ performance and work habit assessments have been updated and are available on the new PowerSchool system. Please have your child guide you through the system and use this as an opportunity to hear about their areas of growth and the areas they need to pay more attention to.

All students have the opportunity to ‘redo’ an assessment (time permitting) in any component of a standard where their overall level of proficiency is below ‘Meets Expectation’. In order to take this opportunity:

• Students must reflect on the comment/strategies offered on PowerSchool.
• Students must take the time to work on improving their performance.
• Students must arrange a time (outside of class and within two weeks of receiving their assessed level of proficiency) to demonstrate their conceptual understanding and improved performance.

Following the Spring break students will be encouraged to select an elective activity from Self-Defense, Ultimate-Frisbee/Gaelic Football, Dance or Triathlon. Assessment in these ‘electives’ is focused on interpersonal skills (Standard 5) rather than performance skills, as students are encouraged to take a risk and try an activity that they may have little previous experience of, assured that their performance in a new/unfamiliar skill will not reflect negatively on their grade.

As summer approaches and temperatures begin to rise our program continues with more indoor activities.  Students will participate in the Water Adventure component and experience the final Health Unit  –  Puberty & Relationships.  I will send out an email to parents two weeks before the commencement of this series of lessons, detailing the content and providing a reminder of the opportunity for you as a family to engage in dialogue about healthy relationship issues.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me via email.

Kind regards,

Fiona White

Middle School Physical Education Department

HKIS MS Grade 8 Physical Education & Health Class Update

Dear 8th Grade Parents,

During quarter 3 our 8^th Grade students have been engaged in a series of fitness lessons focussing mainly on cardio-respiratory endurance. Many students demonstrated a marked improvement in their 1 mile run times which bodes well for the final fitness challenge of the year in quarter 4,  and prepares them for their High School focus on fitness. Some students are now aware that they need to put in some additional effort to improve their cardio-respiratory endurance in order  to see an improvement.

In addition to our focus on fitness, students have been engaged in Project Adventure, where they have challenged themselves to explore the outer edge of their ‘stretch-zones’ and seek out their hidden potential. Touch-Rugby was part of our semester two Sports Unit and students have experienced a significant improvement in performance in Standard 1 and Standard 2 in that area.

Following the spring parent-teacher conferences students will have the opportunity to select an elective activity from Kayaking, Dance, Volleyball or Flag-Football. Assessment in these electives is focused on interpersonal skills (standard 5) rather than performance skills.  Students are encouraged to take a risk and try an activity that they may have little prior experience in, assured that their performance in a new/unfamiliar skill will not reflect negatively on their grade.

All students’ performance and work habit assessments have been updated and are available on the PowerSchool system. Please have your child guide you through the system and use this as an opportunity to hear about their areas of growth and the areas they need to pay more attention to.

In any area where a student has been assessed at a level of proficiency that is below ‘Meets Expectation’ their teacher will have provided feedback and strategies for improvement via a comment attached to the associated assessment on PowerSchool. This feedback along with the assessment rubrics (all available on mDN) provide useful information to both parents and students with regard to the criteria for assessment and areas to work on.

All students have the opportunity to ‘redo’ an assessment (time permitting) in any component of a standard where their overall level of proficiency is below ‘Meets Expectation’. In order to take this opportunity:

• Students must reflect on the comment/strategies offered on PowerSchool.
• Students must take the time to work on improving their performance.
• Students must arrange a time (outside of class and within two weeks of receiving their assessed level of proficiency) to demonstrate their conceptual understanding and improved performance.

As summer approaches and temperatures begin to rise our program continues with more indoor activities.  Students will participate in the Water Adventure component and experience the final  Health Unit – Healthy Sexuality.  I will send out an email to parents two weeks before the commencement of this series of lessons, detailing the content and providing a reminder of the opportunity for you as a family to engage in dialogue about healthy sexuality issues.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me via email.

Kind regards,

Fiona White

Middle School Physical Education Department