Academic Departments

Physical Education & Athletics

Faculty

Courses Schedule

very Emma Willard student benefits from a rigorous program of sports and fitness. Whether she plays on an interscholastic team, maintains personal fitness through organized exercise or improves her skill at lifetime sports, each student is required to undertake regular exercise as part of her education. All students are encouraged to balance their physical education program with a combination of team, individual and lifetime sports.

As a complement to the physical education program, the seminar program provides students with knowledge about a wide variety of topics related to the physical and emotional health of young women.

THE DAYTIME P.E. PROGRAM

All 9th grade and 10th grade students take their physical education classes during the academic day. All 11th and 12th grade students are welcome to take class during the day. Activities last five weeks and typically include the following:

• Badminton
• Basketball
• Fitness/Agility
• Field Hockey
• Floor Hockey
• Lacrosse
• Soccer
• Speedball
• Swimming—stroke instruction/water fitness
• Tennis
• Volleyball
• Weight Conditioning
• Wii-Aerobics
  
• Yoga

THE AFTERSCHOOL P.E. PROGRAM

Activity sessions last five weeks, and classes meet Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday immediately after the end of the academic day. Since physical education is a required course, it is imperative that all appointments, music lessons, and extracurricular activities be scheduled on days when the class does not meet. Activities typically include the following:

• Aerobics
• Crew Conditioning
• Fitness Walking
• Floor Hockey
• Kickboxing
• Running
• Soccer
• Swimming
• Tennis
• Ultimate Frisbee
• Water Polo
• Weight Conditioning
• Yoga

SENIOR ELECTIVE

Seniors may arrange to work out in the Emma Willard weight and exercise rooms for credit. The weight and exercise room privilege is reserved for those students who wish to increase their physical fitness level and/or train for a competitive sports season. Students interested in taking this senior elective must submit a written, detailed proposal to the physical education department. If accepted, the student and the student's advisor must sign a contract outlining the details of the weight/exercise program. This elective must be scheduled to occur three times per week during the student's free periods in the academic day (not after school), and it must be completed in one semester, not spread over two semesters. There are eight openings for Senior Elective in each semester.  Selection is made by the physical education department on the strength of the proposals.

Prerequisite: permission of the athletic director.  Proposals must be submitted by September 16 for fall semester and by January 15 for spring semester.

THE INTERSCHOLASTIC PROGRAM

Students interested in a competitive athletic experience are encouraged to try out for any of the school's teams or clubs. The school fields competitive teams throughout the academic year as follows:

Fall
Cross-Country V
Field Hockey V/JV
Soccer V/JV
Swimming V
Tennis V
Volleyball V

Winter
Basketball V/JV

Spring
Crew V/Novice
Lacrosse V/JV
Softball V
Track V

Practices are held every day, Monday through Friday, from 3:40-5:45 after school, and teams compete with many private and public schools. Students wishing to know more about this program should speak with the athletic director.

PRACTICUM SUBSTITUTE

Students of advanced ability in a particular sport who wish to compete in that sport may petition the department to receive physical education credit through the practicum program. Multiple sport practices/lessons may not be combined in one practicum substitute. Freshmen and sophomores may substitute a sports practicum for physical education only when they have demonstrated committed participation in the past. Sports practica can be for one semester or for the full school year; practicum enrollment is approved four times a year: Please submit practicum forms by September 16, November 3, January 18, or March 1 for approval. A physical education practicum will run by quarter and may not be proposed at times other than these quarterly dates.

DANCE SUBSTITUTE

The physical education and athletics department grants PE credit to students enrolled in the school’s dance program. Any dance course taken for PE credit must meet more than once per week.