Physical Education / HealthPrograms, philosophy, and school lifePhysical education is offered to all children. The goals are to develop coordination and physical fitness within the structure of cooperative games and competitive sports. Physical education classes are conducted in the gym and outside. Special programs also encourage vigorous physical expression. Mustard Seed School, like many urban schools, does not have a playground. The school is fortunate to have a city park across the street which is used for outdoor activity each day, nearly year-round. Teachers supervise organized games during noon recess, and "formal" gym time is spent helping individual students skip and hop, catch and pitch, and shoot baskets. In the lower grades, there is a great emphasis on cooperative games. In the upper grades, organized athletics provide an opportunity to foster a sense of fair play, an important aspect of character development. Teachers vary their approaches to health education. There are units that focus on nutrition, lifetime wellness, human sexuality, drug education, and HIV/AIDS awareness. |
