No Field, No Gym, No Problem!

As we enter the new year and a new building, physical education (PE) spaces look different for both the middle school and lower school students. That is not to say that our activities have changed. We have adapted and found that these various spaces are even more fun and engaging. For the remainder of the school year, we will utilize four spaces throughout the campus and one space off-campus.

 

 

Space 1 – The Back-Black (BB) Top: This location has the largest area to conduct activities. Some of those activities include pickleball, volleyball, basketball, hockey, team handball, and relay practice in middle school. In lower school, student activities include tag games, relays, stations, basketball games, kickball, and other lessons.

 

This location is also the main playground for all students. Concurrently with the BB Top, we will use the quad area for Bocce Ball and other warm-up activities. We may even get some soccer dribbling in.

 

Space 2 – The Kindergarten Black Top or the K Black Top: This location is right next to the kindergarten playground, so it was appropriately named. Here we will have a variety of small games and stations for lower school students. This is also one of the lower school playgrounds.

 

Space 3 – The Front Black Top: Here, for the lower school, we can dance, conduct modified running games, and have mini-lessons. For middle school, the space is used for hockey, corn hole, and small group activities.

 

Space 4 – The PE Studio or The Studio: This location is a multi-use space in one of the larger portables where students practice yoga, ping pong, dancing, bowling, step aerobics, and fitness workouts. The Studio is used along with the Front Black Top to separate larger groups into two small groups to create rotating activities.

 

Space 5 – St. Michael’s Church Gym: Students enjoy a short walk to and from “St. Mike’s” where they have access to gym space. We play games, such as Medic, Jail Medic, volleyball, basketball, wiffle ball, parachute, and indoor tag games. 

 

Here are some of the activities our Harbor Day students are participating in currently:

Lower School has been using the Back-Black Top to play Hot Spot Basketball, Steal the Bacon basketball, stations (jump rope, shooting, bounce-backs, and volleyball), and for Fun Friday, the Hula Hoop Showdown. Students are also using the Front Black Top and the PE Studio for dance and yoga.

 

Middle Schoolers are participating in volleyball and team handball on the Back-Black Top and the PE studio is being used for ping pong and bowling. They are also using the quad for Bocce ball.

 

Our spaces might be small and spread out, but they are ours. They create great opportunities for our students to grow and develop positive mindsets as they face and conquer new PE challenges. As I said, no field, no gym, no problem!

 

I want to thank the PE Team, Joshua Parks and Katie Curci, who work tirelessly to come up with fun creative games and activities and who truly care about the students at Harbor Day School! PE is not just my job, it is my passion, and I thank you both for being along for the ride.

About the Author:

Mrs. Pickard joined Harbor Day in 2018. She shares the responsibilities in physical education from kindergarten through eighth grade and is also chair of the physical education department. Coach Pickard received her bachelor's degree from Arizona State University and her Teaching Credential in Physical Education from National University. She previously taught at Aliso Niguel High School physical education for 9th grade and badminton for 10th through 12th grade students. At ANHS, coach Pickard was the assistant JV softball coach and the high jump coach for track and field where she had 2 league champion high jumpers (1 boy and 1 girl) in 2018. In her free time, she enjoys biking at the beach, photography, going to movies, traveling, and spending time with family.