As the 2017 to 2018 school year is winding down, the process of planning for the 2018 to 2019 school year is in full swing. Heads of all departments are planning to make the best of the time they have in session while the school year is still in cession in order to receive feedback on certain courses that worked and on which ones did not.
The program of studies for the 2019 school year is already published along with a list of the new classes that will be coming to Oliver Ames High School. The list includes Careers in Food Service (Family & Consumer Science Department) which is taught by Mrs. Marie Whalen, Health ( a new component to the current PE program), instructed by Mrs. Corinne McCarthy, and Team Sports, Personal Fitness, and Unified Physical Education, which are all taught by the physical education department.
Ms. McCarthy is the physical education and health department chair head at the kindergarten through 12th grade level in the Easton public school district. Because most of these classes are under her department, she commented on these developments that are being implemented in the next school year.
“We have some exciting new things happening with our department starting next year. Our focus will be implementing a comprehensive health program to Oliver Ames high School. Freshman and sophomore students will take 1 term of health and 3 terms of physical education. We will be offering two new elective classes, Team Sports and Personal Fitness, to any junior or seniors interested in continuing physical education courses.”
Below is a list of the classes that are going to be new for the 2019 through 2019 school year.
TEAM SPORTS- Grade 11 and 12
(916) Every day (Semester) 2.5 Credits
This course will introduce students to a variety
of team sports and the history of each sport. Using a
variety of team sports and recreational games,
students will learn technical and tactical aspects for
each sport. Students will have the opportunity to
learn the different roles for each sport: officiating,
coaching, organization, game play, and
sportsmanship. This course will address the
following topics: The relationship of sportsmanship
and cooperative behavior that leads to group success
and the role of sports in society today; ex. youth
sports, fan behavior and professional athletes as role
models.
UNIFIED PHYSICAL EDUCATION
“Project Opportunity”
(936) Every day 5 credits
Unified Physical Education focuses on the physical,
intellectual and social growth of all participants.
Engaging in physical activity and sports alongside peers
with and without disabilities fosters important
relationships. This class is designed to have each student
gain an appreciation and understanding of each others
abilities in a physical activity setting. This understanding
will promote class participation, team building, tolerance
of diversity and sportsmanship. Students will participate
in their fullest capacity, in all of the activities, including
warm-up and daily activities. they will adapt and adjust
the activity as needed in order for all students to
participate.
PERSONAL FITNESS/WEIGHT TRAINING –
Grade 11 and 12
(917) Every day (Semester) 2.5 Credits
In this course students will learn how to design,
monitor, and follow a comprehensive personal
fitness plan. The students will learn the importance
of achieving and maintaining optimal levels of
fitness. This course will be an extension of Elements
of Wellness (921), where students will have the
opportunity to take on the role of personal trainer.
Personal fitness goals will be determined and
assessed by both the student and the instructor.
HEALTH-Grade 10
(925B) Every day (Term) 2.5 credits
This course will provide students with the
opportunity to learn the main components of health
education for a high school student: physical, social,
emotional and psychological. Students will engage in
differentiated instruction between healthful and harmful
behaviors and to recognize the effects of the behaviors
they choose. The units will address: addiction, Opioid &
OTC drug abuse, human sexuality & pregnancy,
sexually transmitted diseases, interpersonal relationship
& family life, dating & violence prevention, consumer
health and community health resources.
CAREERS IN FOOD SERVICE
(706) (Semester Course) 2.5 credits
This semester course is designed for students who
enjoy the work of food preparation and are interested in
hospitality related fields. The students will learn basic
knife skills, cooking methods, sauce making, pastry and
baking, sanitation, meal planning and math related
concepts such as ratios and proportions. Careers in the
food industry will be explored with guest speakers from
food institutions and colleges with majors in Culinary
Arts. Students will be given the opportunity to take the
ServSafe certification exam.
Ms. MacCarthy also commented on the Unified Physical Education class since it is not new, but instead is getting an overhaul.
“Unified PE is not an entirely new program because it’s former name was Project Opportunity PE. The structure of the class will be changing as we add elective students (juniors and seniors) as model students with our some of our foundation program students. The class will be geared as a best buddies model with all students working of skill building, fitness components, and life long fitness skills.”
All in all, the Easton public school system is changing the way business is being done in order to accommodate these classes and will see them be implemented in the following school year.