Academic Programs

Keeping Our Students Happy, Healthy & Strong
On any given day, if you peek through the windows of our gym, you'll see our students geared up to sweat it out. Whether they're being taught the benefits of static and dynamic warm-ups, taking part in team sports, or running fitness circuits, they are learning that fitness is both functional and fun.

Interwoven in our Physical Education (PE) classes is an alternative health program called Nutrition & Fitness for Life. This program is open to all students who would enjoy and benefit from working out in a smaller group setting. During their scheduled PE day, students have an opportunity to work with our Nutrition Educator and Fitness Specialist, Martha Pellegrino, to assess their current eating habits and fitness levels while developing personal wellness goals that will enhance their self-care, health, and wellness. 


Building Physical Fitness
Our PE teachers introduced our students to the five components of physical fitness and a wide variety of activities in the hope they find something enjoyable that will lead to a lifetime of healthy habits and wellness. The curriculum is designed with five areas of health-related fitness in mind:

• Cardiovascular Endurance is the ability to perform exercises at moderate-to-vigorous
   intensities for a prolonged period of time. Endurance activity keeps your heart, lungs, and
   circulatory system healthy and improves your overall fitness. Some endurance exercises
   include walking briskly, running, jogging, dancing, biking, and climbing stairs.

• Muscular Strength refers to how much force a muscle can exert or how much weight you
   can lift. Muscle-strengthening activities include weightlifting (think equipment or tools in
   shop), bodyweight exercises (squats, pull-ups, triceps dips, etc.), and working with resistance
   bands. Strong muscles can have direct and indirect benefits for health, including ease of 
   movement, good posture, and decreased risk of injury or falls.

• Muscular Endurance is the ability to move a muscle or groups of muscles to sustain repeated
   contractions against resistance. With increased muscular endurance, the higher number of
   repetitions you can complete. Of course, it all depends on which muscles you train; you may
   have more endurance with squats than with biceps curls, due to the size of the muscle. While
   strength allows you to lift a force, endurance will enable you to perform physical tasks for a
   more extended period of time.

• Flexibility is the pain-free movement of muscles and joints through a full range of motion.
   Although flexibility varies widely from person to person, minimum ranges are necessary for
   maintaining joints, functional movement, and total body health. One way to improve
   flexibility is through regular stretching exercises. Stretching is essential after exercise, as part
   of a consistent workout routine, and even after sitting in an office/classroom chair for an
   extended period.

• Body Composition is a term used in the health and fitness community to describe the ratio
   of fat mass to fat-free mass like muscles, bones, organs, tendons, water, and other tissues
   in the human body. Lean mass is also referred to as the fat-free component because it
   measures everything else in the body besides fat.

PE Meets Occupational Heath
Our PE teachers also concentrate on aspects of health-related fitness that are relevant to the safety and success in each of our students vocational fields. Studies show that being physically active can improve your brain health, reduce the risk of disease, strengthen bones and muscles, and improve your ability to do everyday activities. Many employers now encourage physical activity and exercise in the workplace, recognizing the benefits of a fit and healthy workforce, which results in less absenteeism, more productivity, and higher staff morale.