Health and Physical Education

Philosophy Statement

A quality Health and Physical Education Program supports the physical, intellectual, and social-emotional development of all students. When students maintain adequate levels of physical fitness and make healthy choices, the conditions and opportunities for learning also increase. For these reasons, Health and Physical Education plays an integral role in our comprehensive educational program. To facilitate these optimal levels of wellness, the West Orange Health and Physical Education Department is committed to delivering a comprehensive, sequential curriculum K-12. This curriculum will engage and help inspire students to pursue a lifetime of fitness-related activities and healthy decisions.

The goal of the West Orange Physical Education curriculum is to provide students with the knowledge and skills to value and apply physical activity and its benefits for a lifetime. Through  active participation in movement and sport, students will foster an appreciation for the health-related fitness components (Cardio respiratory endurance, muscular strength, muscular endurance, flexibility, and body composition), develop the skill-related  fitness components (speed, agility, balance, reaction time, coordination, and power) and other social skills vital to becoming healthy, productive members of the community. Each lesson is carefully planned to maximize the amount of time students are engaged in moderate to vigorous physical activity. The following K-12 curriculum strands will be used to meet this Department goal: Creative Movement, Individual Activities, Health-Related Fitness Components, Team Sports, and Adventure Education. In addition to this organizing framework, Fitness, Health, and Safety concepts are incorporated throughout all grade levels.

The goal of the West Orange Health Education curriculum is to provide students with the skills and health literacy necessary to make informed decisions. Students will acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to address health concerns at various stages of development.  Students are encouraged to achieve optimal health through recognizing health issues and applying preventative strategies to promote optimal wellness. By connecting academic content to real-life scenarios, students understand the impact of personal choices and external factors on individual health and the overall health of the community. The following curriculum strands will be used to meet Department goals: Wellness, Lifestyle Disease Prevention, Mental and Emotional Health, Relationships, Human Sexuality, Nutrition, Drug Education, and Safety/Injury Prevention.

The West Orange Health and Physical Education Department is committed to providing all of our students with the knowledge and skills necessary to link Health and Physical Education to the foundation of a healthy, productive, and fulfilling life. The emphasis on lifetime activities and the application of health-related content to real-world situations will provide the basis for this goal. The role of individual responsibility in maintaining optimal wellness is stressed throughout the Health and Physical Education curricular content. The K-12 sequence of curriculum and instruction will allow students to apply their learning in developmentally appropriate settings.

To accomplish this, the curriculum will:

• Provide opportunities for staff to collaborate on best practices, the use of authentic assessment, quality instruction and the use of differentiated instructional strategies
• Incorporate critical thinking, reading and writing comprehension and cooperative learning
• Implement the use of technology to engage and promote 21st-century thinking and learning       
• Provide opportunities for all students to maximize their participation in a safe, healthy and effective learning environment
• Provide students with the knowledge on the importance of a healthy lifestyle which includes social, mental and physical health
• Continue to create program options that meet the individual needs of each student while integrating interdisciplinary learning
• Follow the content standards

We will know we have accomplished this when our students:

• Meet or exceed grade-level benchmarks as identified by the standards
• Are independent learners who can successfully work with others
• Develop an understanding of physical fitness, safety, and quality of life
• Are college and career ready