Here at Sawmill Intermediate School students participate in physical education classes twice a week. We are committed to teaching children the importance of living a healthy lifestyle. The Physical Education classes at Sawmill Intermediate School place a great deal of emphasis on team sport activities, but more importantly, the classes emphasize teamwork, sportsmanship, and physical fitness. Most activities culminate in a tournament that incorporates all the skills that they have learned during the school year. Then, the skills are utilized in a competitive game during class and field day. In addition, students will understand that physical activity provides the opportunity for enjoyment, self expression, and communication.
A new fitness test has been implemented. The “Fitnessgram” consists of a variety of physical fitness tests designed to assess cardiovascular fitness, flexibility, muscular strength and endurance. The students are evaluated at the beginning of the school year and again at the end of the year. This allows the teacher to access the progress that each student has made.
Students are encouraged to participate in activities throughout the year. Some activities include Intramurals that feature games and sports for students of the same grade level. Intramurals meet in the morning before the school day begins. Students also participate in grade level Sports Night. These activities encompass many of our targeted “student learning objectives” (SLO).
Fifth grade students are involved in a program called Athletes Helping Athletes (AHA). Commack High School student athletes mentor our 5th graders about making healthy lifestyle choices, bullying/teasing and drug/alcohol prevention. The high school students are trained, prior to their meetings with the intermediate school students, at Molloy College. The student athletes will meet with 5th grade classes on three separate occasions and discuss the above topics. We are excited about this program and the impact it has on all the students.
Sawmill Physical Education classes are more than just participating in team activities and staying physically fit. Here at Sawmill we develop the whole individual; we touch upon the students’ responsibility within their community and the world around them. The Physical Education Department and the American Heart Association has sponsored “Jump Rope for Heart” each year. Sawmill Intermediate School has been the top fundraising school in Suffolk County for the past ten years. Jump Rope for Heart is a wonderful program that benefits everyone who participates. We look forward to an extraordinary year!