Physical Education

Health and Physical Education is a combination curriculum in Guilford County Schools. The two disciplines complement one another in providing students with the strategies and skills needed to assist them in leading a healthy, active lifestyle. Both include the teaching of skills as well as content.  In physical education, more of the skills are psychomotor or movement skills; in health education there is a major focus on critical thinking skills, such as decision making, communication, and goal setting. The curriculum is based on the premise that knowledge in itself does not change behavior, but that learning and practicing skills promotes the adoption of learning from both discipline areas into daily life.

Physical Education and physical activity are integral to academic achievement and the emotional and physical health of our students. Research supports that healthy, active, fit children perform better academically, so keeping students safe, healthy, and ready to learn is our primary responsibility.

All schools in Guilford County use the North Carolina Healthful Living Essential Standards as the guiding document for instruction. The North Carolina Healthful Living State Standards is a curriculum that addresses social development, character education, self-esteem, decision-making and the importance of physical activity throughout a lifetime. Effective delivery in the classroom addresses diversity, sharing, and personal development as well as many other issues.

The standards have been implemented since August of 2012. Health education emphasizes the value of physical activity and lifetime fitness. Students will learn how to balance proper nutrition with physical activity for ideal weight management. Physical education delivered in a quality environment emphasizes student learning and the mastering of skills which enable individuals to be physically active for a lifetime.

All Elementary and Middle Schools in Guilford County strive to meet the requirements of the NC Healthy Active Child Policy.  According to the NC Healthy Active Child policy, schools are to provide a minimum of 30 minutes of physical activity for all students in grades K-8.  This can be accomplished through Physical Education class, recess, intramurals, or energizers in the classroom. Another requirement of the policy states that schools may not use physical activity as a punishment for students or that structured recess cannot be withheld from a student.

Guilford County Schools is committed to preparing its students to be physically active and healthy for a lifetime. The General Assembly of North Carolina has enacted House Bill 1757 that requires all students in grades K-8 to complete a health-enhancing personal fitness assessment.

Students in grades K-8 will complete the FITNESSGRAM assessment in the fall and spring to see if changes and improvements have been made in a student's health-related fitness levels based on goals that were established by the teacher and/or student. The FITNESSGRAM is composed of 5 components: Aerobic Capacity, Body Composition, Muscular Strength, Muscular Endurance, and Flexibility.  The Body Composition requires that students have their height and weight recorded. Please note that the height/weight measurements are collected privately and are only used in determing Aerobic Capacity of each student. If parent/gaurdian does NOT want their child involved in the Body Composition portion, they must contact their schools Physical Education Teacher.