Alberta's Physical Education Curriculum supports students in acquiring skills through a variety of developmentally appropriate movement activities. They will gain experience within various physical activities assisting them in further understanding health & wellness benefits, promoting positive interactions and leading an active lifestyle.
Physical Literacy is the motivation, confidence, physical competence, knowledge and understanding to value and take responsibility for engagement in physical activities (Whitehead, 2016).
Physically literate individuals consistently develop the motivation and ability to understand, communicate, apply, and analyze different forms of movement. They are able to demonstrate a variety of movements confidently, competently, creatively and strategically across a wide range of health-related physical activities. These skills enable individuals to make healthy, active choices that are both beneficial to and respectful of their whole self, others, and their environment.
Quality Daily Physical Education (QDPE) is a well-planned school program of compulsory physical education provided for a minimum of 30 minutes each day to all students throughout the school year.
A QDPE program includes:
- Daily curricular instruction for all William D. Pratt students for a minimum of 30 minutes.
- Purposeful, well planned lessons incorporating a wide range of activities.
- Application of various wholistic assessment strategies.
- A high level of participation by all students in each class.
- An emphasis on fun, enjoyment, success, fair play, self-fulfillment and personal health.
- Appropriate activities for the age and stage of each student.
- Qualified, enthusiastic teachers.
- Creative and safe use of facilities and equipment.
Please ensure that your child is bringing appropriate footwear for athletic movement. Students in our Physical Education classes are not asked to change into separate PE clothing in order to maximize the 30 minute time period.
Physical Education Team & Teacher Assignments for 2022-2023
PHE Canada's Daily Quality Physical Education 4 Star Award
Here at William D. Pratt School, we put the highest priority in providing our students the very best in both our Physical Education & Athletic programs. Every year since opening in September 2016 we have applied & been recognized with a 4 star ranking from Physical & Health Education Canada, which is their highest category.
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Requirements for the Four Star PHE Canada DQPE Award
- Achieves provincial curriculum learning outcomes
- Well-planned lessons incorporating a wide range of activities that address the provincial curriculum learning outcomes/objectives
- A variety of assessment and evaluation strategies that enhance student learning
- Emphasize student learning, personal success, fair play, and personal health and wellness
- Adhere to provincial student safety guidelines
- Appropriate learning activities for the age/stage of development of each student that reflect current research and best practices
- All students are taught by a qualified physical educator
- Minimum of 30 minutes of physical education every day of the school year
Why is Daily Quality Physical Education an Important Part of the William D. Pratt School Day?
Daily Quality Physical Education ensures that all children have the opportunity to develop the knowledge, skills, and habits that they need to lead physically active lives now, and just as importantly, into the future. Regular physical activity can help children and adolescents improve cardiovascular fitness, build strong bones and muscles, control weight, reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression, and reduce the risk of developing health conditions such as heart disease, cancer and Type 2 diabetes.
There is also evidence that exercise helps children to learn more efficiently. Dr. John J. Ratey, an associate clinical professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, explored the connection between exercise and the brain, providing strong evidence that aerobic exercise physically remodels the brain for peak performance on all fronts. Specifically, Dr. Ratey wrote that exercise improves learning on three levels: "First, it optimizes your mind-set to improve alertness, attention, and motivation; second, it prepares and encourages nerve cells to bind to one another, which is the cellular basis for logging in new information; and third, it spurs the development of new nerve cells from stem cells in the hippocampus." In short, not only does exercise help the brain get ready to learn but it actually makes retaining information easier.
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Thank you for assisting your child in being successful not only in their Physical Education class, but in all aspects of school here at William D. Pratt School.
Your 2022-2023 WDP Physical Education Team:
Mr. Howat, Mr. Vahaaho, Mr. Lee & Mrs. Pentelichuk
