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.
Strength and Balance Training with Coach Lauren
Posted by Faith Barbuto
This week the Cross Country team was treated to a special training session with Coach Lauren from TAPS. As you know, our team is fast, but running is about more than just speed. Coach Lauren showed us some new techniques to improve our core strength and balance. The team really enjoyed the new warm-ups and we plan to add many into our routine! As you can see from the pictures, we all had a great time while conditioning our bodies. We hope to be the fastest and strongest team at our meet this afternoon in Wilton!
An Uphill Battle
Posted by Faith Barbuto
No one likes running uphill but if you want to win at Wooster, that’s just what you need to practice! And that’s just what we did with two first place runners, two second place runners, a third and fifth place. Overall, we had some of our best times recorded. Fortunately for us we are hardworking team who runs daily and has access to neighborhood hills that make for great training grounds. Even more fortunately for us, Mrs. Young provided tasty popsicles as reward for our hard work. Life is sweeter when you have a friend at the top of the hill!
Resolutions Check
Posted by Sarah Pollex
Win, Lose and Draw
Posted by Debbie Leidlein
The girls green (5th and 6th grade) basketball team began their season with a win, a loss (only by 1 point) and a tie. The most important part is that everyone on the team has improved their skills. Alyssa has learned to rebound and put the ball right back up, adding points to the scoreboard throughout the game. Cecibel is a versatile player who plays awesome defense, inbounds the ball, grabs rebounds and can dribble in a pinch. Madeline is learning to box out under the basket and Mandy improves her defense with each game. Bea is playing tenacious defense and has been an unrelenting shooter on offense. Sophia is also playing awesome defense and is improving in her ability to get open on offense. Marianella is a great team player who has learned to defend her zone and Karleigh and Madison are improving their defensive skills as well. Ryley, Erin and Elliott are invaluable to us when moving the ball down court, getting that fast break, and passing the ball inside. The best part is that we are playing well as a team and cheering for each other. So win, lose or draw, it’s a win in my book.
Amazing Fall 2018 Cross Country Season
Posted by Sarah Pollex
Fall 2018 was an amazing season with our 23 runners. They constantly improved and made an impact both individually and as a team. Best times was a recurring theme. At Waveny Park, Andrew took 6 minutes off his personal best. In every meet we had several top five finishers. At Merwin Meadows, eight runners placed in the top five. Over the course of the season, nearly half the team placed in the top five: Sophia, Elliott, Ivy, Michael, Bryan, Eden, Connor, Halie, Kelly and Ben. For the overall season standings, Sophia placed third among grade 5 girls, Connor placed first among grade 7 boys, Kelly placed first among grade 8 girls, and Ben placed second among grade 8 boys. Kelly won every single race, including her race at the championship meet this week. Each of our runners was fun to watch and they exhibited the character of support and sharing that makes a group a team. Congratulations to our runners on an amazing season! Go Cross Country! Go Gators!
Toilsome Hill
Posted by Faith Barbuto
Sometimes it’s an uphill battle, like when your cross country team tackles Toilsome Hill for practice. It isn’t easy but we know practicing on such a big, arduous hill improves our strength and endurance. Maybe that’s why our cross country runners consistently place in the top four in their age brackets! Just like any other challenge, you feel a great sense of accomplishment once you finish. Especially when there are cookies from Mrs. Young waiting at the bottom of the hill!
