Exercising Young Bodies and Minds Every Day
Physical activities at The Unquowa School play an important role in the education of our children because we believe that rising to physical challenges can be as instructive as rising to mental challenges. Our program also acknowledges the sad reality that many children in our high-tech society lead increasingly sedentary lives. It is important to tone their young muscles, build their stamina, and provide a wholesome environment in which they may safely burn off excess energy and stimulate their mental skills.
Our program is designed to meet the developmental needs, skill levels, and interests of our students. Locomotor movements, psychomotor skills, coordination and fitness components serve as the basis of skill work within each unit of instruction.
Physical education units of instruction are introduced and proceed along a planned progression (within a grade, and from grade to grade) including fundamental skills, drills employing individual skills, games, rules and strategies. Throughout this progression, the physical growth and development of each student is monitored in conjunction with his or her social, emotional and intellectual development. Within this growth are the vital components of creativity, self-confidence, safety consciousness, decision-making, responsibility to oneself and the team, leadership, character, good sportsmanship, and putting out an effort commensurate with one’s abilities.
Recess
While P.E. offers students daily physical activity with a formal curriculum, recess provides students in PreK through fourth grade with a daily time for unstructured play and physical activity. From swinging and climbing on the playground to imaginative play with friends at the edge of our woods or a quick pickup game of soccer on the field, children have time to simply play without instruction. Teachers schedule recess, and it may vary day-to-day based on the needs of their class.
Sportsmanship
In addition to the cognitive skills imparted, important social lessons are also learned, namely that earning a win is fun, losing is less fun though not catastrophic, and each outcome imparts useful lessons. Winners must be gracious; losers can’t be soreheads; the game is more important than the score and playing by the rule is everything.
Team Sports
Our teams compete as part of the Fairchester Conference which combines elementary and middle schools across Fairfield and Westchester counties.
Championship Cross Country Meet
Posted by Sarah Pollex
The championship meet was held last Tuesday at Penfield Beach. Grade 5/6 runners completed 1.25 miles and grade 7/8 runners completed 2.25 miles. We had a record number of athletes place in the top five:
- Grade 5 girls: Alex 1st (11:03)
- Grade 5 boys: Jackson 1st (12:07)
- Grade 6 boys: Asher 3rd (10:36)
- Grade 7 girls: Virginia 1st (13:49), Emily 3rd (16:00)
- Grade 7 boys: Adrian 3rd (14:50)
- Grade 8 girls: Charlotte 3rd (17:01)
- Grade 8 boys: Teddy 1st (11:32)
What a way to end the season! Congratulations to these individuals for placing in the top 5 and to the entire team for achieving personal best times!
Go Gators!
Record Cross Country Season!
Posted by Sarah Pollex
Our cross country season has came to a close with what could be our most successful season ever! Our team accomplishments come from the hard work put in at our outstanding practices all season long, particularly the beloved ladder main set of 3+ miles! For the overall season results, we had one if not more than one runner in each category:
-Grade 5 girls: Alex 1st; Olivia 5th
-Grade 5 boys: Jackson 1st
-Grade 6 girls: Sierra 4th
-Grade 6 boys: Asher 3rd
-Grade 7 girls: Virginia 1st; Emily 3rd
-Grade 7 boys: William 4th
-Grade 8 girls: Charlotte 2nd
-Grade 8 boys: Teddy 1st
Congratulations to these individuals for placing in the top 5 and to the entire team for achieving personal best times!
Go Gators!
Destiny Calls
Posted by Sarah Pollex
Students in grades PreK knew their name could be drawn at the shooting raffle during the 8th grade/faculty and staff basketball game played earlier in March. During PE classes the morning of the game, students practiced for their big moment to shine. The intensity of the game was only matched by the excitement as the lottery winners took their chance to sink a shot. The entire gym exploded with joy as the shots went in! Go Gators!
March Madness Preview
Posted by Sarah Pollex
March Madness has arrived early at Unquowa as the Third and Fourth grade Basketball team brings its season to a close! Over the last two months, all of our players have persevered through the drills, the fundamentals of the game, learning the basics of team play, picking ourselves up when we fall and… feeling the thrill of personal improvement and most important: the camaraderie of group success. For seventy five grueling minutes at each team practice, our Unquowa athletes showed their heart and school spirit, carrying on a tradition of fair play and sportsmanship that are the hallmarks of the Unquowa character for the last one hundred and six years!
Among our many highlights: Every player showed huge skill growth shooting at the ten foot basket (the standard height of the pros!)
For our “team shooting challenge” the team beat its personal best, scoring 56 baskets in five minutes, a full 22 baskets over our previous best!
At our intersquad scrimmages, regardless of the tenseness of the game or the closeness of the score (or the calls by the officials!!) there was always an attitude of “Good Game Well Played!” that made the coaches proud.
Gators on Three! 1-2-3! Go Gators!
I Wanna Be Like…
Posted by Sarah Pollex
At Unquowa PE we start the pro-league dreams early. Here, the preschool and Kindergarten athletes play follow the leader with Mr. Taylor. Once their dribbling skills and fundamentals are mastered, Mr. Taylor will demonstrate 360 degree dunks…well, maybe we’ll move on to throwing and catching! It’s all smiles and fun on the basketball court with Unquowa PE. Go Gators!
A Record Season!
Posted by Sarah Pollex
Cross country, Fall 2022, was a season of records. We enjoyed new members to our squad. They, along with our veterans, worked hard to become faster runners, taking minutes off their best times. Comparing the season’s opening and final mile runs, the team took a total of 10 minutes off its personal best. At every meet at least 5 runners placed in the top 5. At the Penfield Beach meet, a record number of 8 runners placed in the top 5. For the overall season standings, again a record number of 8 runners placed in the top 5. At the Championship Meet, a record number of 4 runners placed in the top 3, including a first place finish. We are very proud of our team! Go Gators!
