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Grading Procedure for Physical Education
Students have physical education three times per week during a grading period. That equals 27 PE classes. Students in grades 3 -5 are assessed based on the expectations listed below. There are four areas that make up a student’s grade:
* Participation
* Effort
* Behavior
* Fitness
Participation refers to wearing the proper athletic shoes for PE. If a student has to miss a class due to wearing the wrong shoes, the date is recorded in the attendance book. If this occurs more than 4 times in a grading period, the grade is lowered.
Effort refers to a student trying to do his/her best in all areas of physical education. Students are observed and monitored during warm up exercises, jogging, and skill/game time. If students are observed not trying to do their best, a mark is recorded in the attendance book indicating which area needs improvement. Infractions in this category include, but are not limited to, completing less than 75% of the warm up exercises, walking more than 50% of the jogging time, not meeting attainable fitness goals, not meeting attainable skill goals. If this occurs more than 10 times in a grading period, the grade is lowered.
Behavior refers to a student’s ability to demonstrate respect and responsibility during physical education class. The expectation is showing responsibility and respectfulness towards equipment, classmates, and teachers at all times. Infractions in this category include, but are not limited to, misuse of equipment, unsportsmanlike conduct, not following rules/directions. Minor incidents are not recorded. More severe incidents are noted in the attendance book. If one severe infraction or many minor infractions occur in a grading period, the grade is lowered.
* Poor behavior will override all other areas of physical education in regard to grading procedures. For example, if a student is sent to the office for fighting, that student’s grade would be lowered regardless of the number marks during regular class
Fitness refers to the mile walk/run. Students are timed on the mile walk/run twice the first grading period and once each grading period thereafter. Students practice for the mile walk/run three times each week during a portion of each PE class. The national average time for elementary students jogging a mile is between 8 and 12 minutes depending on age and gender. The expectation for students at White Oak is 16 minutes or under. Students can accomplish this with a swift walking pace or faster. The expectation of 16 minutes is very easily attainable and well below the national average.
Kindergarten and first grade students’ grades are based primarily on participation, effort, and behavior expectations.
Second grade students’ grades are based primarily on participation, effort, and behavior expectations. The fitness component is gradually added into the grading procedure as the school year moves along.
Grades in PE Students are able to earn an S, S-, N, or U during each grading period. It is very important that students and parents understand that an S- on a report card will prohibit a student from making Honor Roll and/or Principal’s List. For example, if a student had 11 marks in the effort area, the grade would be lowered to an S-. If a student had 11 effort marks and 5 marks for wearing the wrong shoes, the grade would be lowered 2 increments from an S to an N. If a student had 11 effort marks, 5 marks for wearing the wrong shoes and a mile time of 16:01, the grade would be lowered 3 increments from an S to U.
Progress Reports will be sent home near the middle of each grading period to students who are at risk of having their grade lowered. This will let them know to get back on track before the grading period ends. Progress reports are sent if a student has 6 or more effort/behavior marks, 3 or more participation marks, or a mile time of more than 16 minutes. There may be a rare occasion when a student does not get a progress report because he/she did not have enough marks to cause concern, but by the end of the grading period, has accumulated the amount to have the grade lowered. As stated, this is rare, but it could possibly happen.
Excused from Participation If a student is not able to participate in PE class due to an injury or illness, he/she must bring in a note from a parent or physician. (phone call or email is also sufficient) With a note, a student will be permitted to sit out of class for that day or dates indicated on the note. If a student comes to class and says that he/she cannot participate without a note, that student will not be allowed to sit out and will be told to participate as much as he/she is able.
FitnessGram The state of North Carolina has begun implementing fitness assessments to all students in PE classes in order to gather data on the health and fitness levels of school-aged children in our state. Students will be assessed on sit ups, push ups, trunk lifts, sit & reach, and jogging times periodically throughout the year. Height and weight measurements will be taken at the beginning of the year. Scores and measurements are never posted or announced. The FitnessGram assessment has nothing to do with a students’ grade. It is merely data that is collected for the state. No names are attached to the data. The state only wants ages and assessment scores to get a baseline for determining the health status of children in North Carolina. If parents would like a print out of their child’s FitnessGram scores, simply make a request to the PE teachers. An individual report can easily be provided.
President’s Club The President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports is an advisory committee that promotes physical activity, fitness, and sports in America. The President’s Challenge is a list of fitness benchmarks according to gender and age. Students who meet or exceed these benchmarks are within the top 15th percentile for their age in the United States. When students at WOES meet or exceed the Presidential Challenge, they become a member of the White Oak President’s Club. This group earns 2-3 extra “just for fun” physical activity sessions per month in recognition of their achievements.