High School Physical Education & Health Program

I love helping students believe in themselves—when they do something beyond their own expectations and spark creativity and joy through movement. Teachers help students discover their potential, and sometimes we first find that confidence through our bodies in physical endeavors. Then that confidence carries over into their life.” –PE Teacher Kayla Robertson

At UPrep, the goal of the Physical Education (P.E.) Program is to redefine educational excellence by supporting all students in developing their skills, knowledge, and character in a variety of contexts, regardless of their athletic abilities.

Our students learn how to develop a foundation for lifelong wellness and build upon their physical literacy by exploring P.E. in all domains of learning: cognitive, affective, and psychomotor. Students experience a diverse set of courses that support growth and challenge as they become physically and intellectually courageous and socially responsible.

As students move through Upper School, our P.E. program offers more choice to explore specific interests in a semester or intensive experience.

Our Health Program fosters a culture of lifelong well-being by empowering students with the knowledge and skills necessary to make informed and responsible health choices to thrive in any context. Our philosophy is rooted in the understanding that health is a holistic concept encompassing physical, emotional, social, and mental well-being. The Upper School Health course serves as a cornerstone in our commitment to cultivating a healthy and thriving community of students who are intellectually courageous, socially responsible citizens of the world.

Weight Training

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Courses

Yoga

Upper School
Elective
One semester

This course cultivates breath control, strength, balance, flexibility, and coordination while developing concentration and awareness. Students learn the basic postures and how to link the yoga poses together with breath to create a dynamic moving meditation. The class intends to develop inward attention and awareness of the present moment that will assist in the synthesis of body and mind. The class includes an introduction to meditation and the theory of yoga and considers how to refine the mechanics and alignment principles of the physical practice. This class starts at the beginner level and advances appropriately as the students’ abilities increase.

Lifetime Activities

Upper School
Elective
One semester

This course helps students gain knowledge and experience in a variety of activities that they can enjoy throughout their lifetime in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle. This course also allows students to explore movement in connection to the local Seattle community. The activities range from recreation to traditional and nontraditional games and activities. Experiences may include disc golf, rock climbing, biking, running, hiking, tchoukball, volleyball, bowling, kayaking, and more.

Intro to Strength and Conditioning

Upper School
Elective
One semester

This course helps students learn and improve foundational and functional muscle strength, endurance, mobility, and general fitness. Students develop a greater sense of mental and physical strength through exploring a variety of movements and experiences. Students practice proper use of equipment and learn how to modify exercises to align with their goals and needs. Overall, students enhance skill and health-related components of fitness. Activities include small group and full class workouts and experiences. Topics covered include safety and alignment, training theory and methods, anatomy and physiology, history, and current trends in fitness, and more.

Advanced Strength and Conditioning

Upper School
Elective
One semester

In this advanced course, students focus on expanding movement fundamentals through practice and analysis of higher-level skills and knowledge application of training theory and principles. Students will deepen their learning of biomechanics, practice enhanced evaluations and programming of health and skill-related fitness concepts, and develop their safety and performance in more advanced lifts. Students will explore complex strength development including, but not limited to, the Olympic lifts (cleans, squats, snatches, pulls and jerks) and higher-level CNS power exercises (intensive plyometrics, banded lifts, Zercher squats, pin press, and more). Advanced conditioning will also focus on cardiovascular development anaerobically and aerobically (i.e. V02 Max, lactate threshold, aerobic threshold, zone training) in a variety of ways that support individual student goals and interests. The course will also utilize field trips and guest speakers to help students gain perspectives, develop a personalized approach in training, and explore opportunities in the field of strength and conditioning. Prerequisite: Intro to Strength and Conditioning.

RACKET SPORTS

Upper School
Elective
One semester

Students work on learning and building skills specific to a variety of racket sports. Activities progress from basic skills and drills to game strategy. Units may include tennis, badminton, soft tennis, pickleball, Speedminton, and table tennis. Students also have the opportunity to explore their creative side through group projects and presentations. The class is open to students of all skill levels and occasionally travels off campus.

Dance

Upper School
Elective
One semester

This class gives students a language in movement and increases their knowledge of the basic elements of dance. Styles may include modern dance, basic ballet, break dancing, hip-hop, and improvisation. Class assignments involve concepts for creative expression, movement ideas, choreography, and development of a personal aesthetic. Watching videos and attending professional performances help students develop observational skills and expose students to the broad spectrum of dance as a cultural medium. Dance can be taken for either P.E. or a Fine Arts credit.

Golf

Upper School
Elective
One semester

Golf class emphasizes the workings of the golf swing as well as learning about course management and etiquette. Students learn proper techniques of the golf swing, including grip, stance, posture, and club selection. This class travels off campus often to the University of Washington driving range and Jackson Park’s short nine course. This class is open to all ability levels.

9th Grade Health

Required
One semester

Health is designed to give students a better understanding of how their decisions can affect their lives. Topics include the dimensions of health (mental, social, emotional, physical, environmental, occupational, and spiritual), substances, human relationships and sexuality, nutrition, fitness, diseases and prevention, self-esteem, and stress. Throughout the course, students explore health education skills in a variety of contexts: goal setting, interpersonal communication, assessing valid information, analyzing influences, decision-making, self-management skills, and advocacy.

Intensives

Winter LIFETIME ACTIVITIES

Upper School

This course helps students gain the knowledge and experience in a variety of activities they can enjoy throughout their lifetime in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle. This course also exposes students to the outside world and gives them the knowledge and power to participate in activities beyond the school setting. The activities in this class are currently popular all over the country and include those unique to Seattle. The January intensive is focused on indoor and winter outdoor activities. Units may include biking, running, hiking, rock climbing, volleyball, badminton, pickleball, bowling, ice skating, snowshoeing, and more.

Spring Lifetime Activities

Upper School

This course helps students gain the knowledge and experience in a variety of activities they can enjoy throughout their lifetime in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle. This course also exposes students to the outside world and gives them the knowledge and power to participate in activities beyond the school setting. The activities in this class are currently popular all over the country and include those unique to Seattle. This intensive is focused on outdoor and spring/summer activities. Units may include hiking, disc golf, road and mountain biking, running, hiking, rock climbing, Ultimate Frisbee, bowling, outdoor volleyball, kayaking, and more. Concluding the course, students create a final showcase project in health, fitness, and recreation.

9TH GRADE HEALTH

9th grade

The 9th Grade Health intensive is an alternative offering to the one-semester Health course for students who need more flexibility in their schedule. Students explore and practice the health skills (decision making, interpersonal communication, analyzing influences and accessing valid information) through topics such as substance use and abuse, human relationships and sexuality, nutrition, fitness, infectious diseases, sleep, self-esteem, stress and more. Health is a graduation requirement usually taken in 9th grade.

Yoga: On and Off the Mat

Upper School

In this deep dive into the world of yoga, students will develop internal awareness and physical expression through the practice of postures, breathing exercises, and meditation techniques. Through project-based learning, students will study the history of yoga, Patanjali’s eight limbs, and the chakra system. Opportunities to practice exercises in mindfulness, compassion, and gratitude will guide students in integrating their personal selves with their outer communities. Field trips and guest artist classes will be fun, experiential opportunities to deepen learning, connect with experts in the field, and explore the greater Seattle community. Students will leave the course with a toolbox of strategies to be well and destress and to continue practicing yoga both on and off the mat after the intensive ends.