Physical Education - Seattle Academy
Source: http://www.seattleacademy.org/academics/our-curriculum/pe
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:19
Physical Education - Seattle Academy
The Hub
Physical Education
The Seattle Academy Physical Education Department fosters a philosophy of teaching and learning that emphasizes fun, fitness, and lifelong well-being. Our approach encourages students to engage in a diverse range of fitness, sport, and leisure activities within a safe and supportive environment. Through creative movement and a variety of activities, we aim to cultivate both physical fitness and pro-social development, helping students build confidence, learn new skills, and understand the importance of staying active. From Middle to Upper School, students develop foundational movement skills, such as throwing, catching, functional movement patterns, and weight lifting, all while gaining the tools to apply fitness concepts in their daily lives. In line with the school's broader commitment to academic excellence, the PE program provides students with the opportunity to set personal goals, challenge themselves, and develop the skills necessary to thrive in a dynamic and ever-changing world. Our goal is to inspire a love for physical activity and equip students with the habits necessary to maintain a healthy lifestyle long after they leave the classroom. Students earn grades based on a pass/incomplete scale rather than a traditional letter grade in all PE offerings for grades 6-12.
MEET THE Physical Education/Health FACULTY
Middle School
At Seattle Academy, the journey of a student through the Physical Education (PE) program begins in Middle School, where the emphasis is on developing physical fitness, collaboration, and self-awareness. Students are introduced to a wide variety of traditional and nontraditional activities, such as ultimate frisbee, tchoukball, and target games, all emphasizing participation and inclusivity. The focus is on building competence in fundamental body movements and physical skills, as well as understanding the rules and strategies of each sport. Students are encouraged to actively support one another, learning to play with respect for everyone’s unique contributions. Through individual and group feedback, they develop skills in collaboration and conflict resolution, all while engaging in cardiovascular exercises, strength training, and balance activities that build the foundation for lifelong fitness. For 6th and 8th grade there is also a Health component incorporated into the classes, where students will cover topics such as peer pressure, nutrition, body image, puberty, risk-taking behaviors, consent, and mental health and mindfulness.
MIDDLE SCHOOL CURRICULUM GUIDE
YETi Project
Students in PE 6 choose a new physical movement skill that they can’t do…YET! They learn how to break down a skill like juggling or cartwheels into manageable steps and then practice these steps as they work towards acquiring their new skill. Students enjoy learning how to learn and supporting each other along the way.
Upper School
As students move into Upper School, the curriculum begins to incorporate more specialized and advanced practices, challenging them to refine their physical abilities and deepen their understanding of fitness. Courses such as Yoga introduce students to mindfulness, self-reflection, and stress management techniques. Strength and Conditioning courses focus on safe and effective resistance exercises using a variety of tools. Students learn to integrate these fitness practices into their daily lives, fostering habits that support both physical well-being and mental resilience. The Upper School experience at SAAS is designed to encourage students to become lifelong learners of fitness, continually striving for excellence, both individually and collectively.
Upper School students can also earn PE credit through participation on Seattle Academy sports teams. They can earn 1 credit for each sports season. As with all PE classes, the student must meet the 75% participation requirement. Students who are at risk of not receiving PE credit will be informed, along with their parents, in writing during the first half of the season, giving them enough time to meet the PE participation requirement. Students who wish to participate in sports at other schools and receive credit must obtain approval from the Athletics Department before participating. Club activities, such as bouldering and mixed ultimate, do not earn a PE credit, nor does sports participation in a Middle School sport.
Students who wish to participate in an outside club sport, recreational sport, or other athletic activity (e.g., Yoga, Fencing, Crew) should check with the Registrar's Office to ensure the activity is approved. A minimum of 40 hours per trimester must be completed in order to receive 1 PE credit. Students can earn 1 PE credit for fall, winter, spring, and/or summer. A student may not earn PE credit in a sport that runs concurrently with Seattle Academy sports offerings.
Upper School Curriculum Guide
Facilitate Play and Movement
We structure environments where students can experience the fun of movement and play and the challenge of learning new skills or developing skills they already have. Whether they are playing sport-like games, such as basketball, or a made-up game like Castleball, we teach students to focus first on enjoying the experience, learning new games, and learning how to play so everyone has fun.
Social-Emotional Development
We work to teach students - through experience, individual and group feedback and occasional reflection - how to play in groups. We play in a way that is inclusive and that recognizes contributions from each student. Boundaries and expectations are in place for safety, and students learn how to make a positive contribution to the group experience.
Physical Fitness & Mental Wellness Basics
We want each student to understand the basic concepts of fitness and be able to apply them in their own lives. Fitness is included in every part of the curriculum, from 6th grade through graduation. Nearly every class will include some kind of cardiovascular warm-up and/or some muscular strength or endurance training. Many of the games we play also involve a lot of vigorous movements that will enhance overall fitness.
PE Credit for Participation in Athletics?
Upper School students can also earn PE credit through participation on Seattle Academy sports teams. They can earn 1 credit for each sports season. As is the case with all PE classes, the student must fulfill the 75% participation rate requirement. Students who are in jeopardy of not receiving PE credit will be informed along with their parents in writing during the first half of the season in order to give them enough time to reach the PE participation requirement. Students who wish to participate in sports at other schools and receive credit must obtain approval from the Athletics Department prior to participation. Applications are
available on our website
or from any of our front offices. Club activities, such as bouldering and mixed ultimate, do not earn a PE credit nor does sports participation in a Middle School sport.
The Hub
Physical Education
The Seattle Academy Physical Education Department fosters a philosophy of teaching and learning that emphasizes fun, fitness, and lifelong well-being. Our approach encourages students to engage in a diverse range of fitness, sport, and leisure activities within a safe and supportive environment. Through creative movement and a variety of activities, we aim to cultivate both physical fitness and pro-social development, helping students build confidence, learn new skills, and understand the importance of staying active. From Middle to Upper School, students develop foundational movement skills, such as throwing, catching, functional movement patterns, and weight lifting, all while gaining the tools to apply fitness concepts in their daily lives. In line with the school's broader commitment to academic excellence, the PE program provides students with the opportunity to set personal goals, challenge themselves, and develop the skills necessary to thrive in a dynamic and ever-changing world. Our goal is to inspire a love for physical activity and equip students with the habits necessary to maintain a healthy lifestyle long after they leave the classroom. Students earn grades based on a pass/incomplete scale rather than a traditional letter grade in all PE offerings for grades 6-12.
MEET THE Physical Education/Health FACULTY
Middle School
At Seattle Academy, the journey of a student through the Physical Education (PE) program begins in Middle School, where the emphasis is on developing physical fitness, collaboration, and self-awareness. Students are introduced to a wide variety of traditional and nontraditional activities, such as ultimate frisbee, tchoukball, and target games, all emphasizing participation and inclusivity. The focus is on building competence in fundamental body movements and physical skills, as well as understanding the rules and strategies of each sport. Students are encouraged to actively support one another, learning to play with respect for everyone’s unique contributions. Through individual and group feedback, they develop skills in collaboration and conflict resolution, all while engaging in cardiovascular exercises, strength training, and balance activities that build the foundation for lifelong fitness. For 6th and 8th grade there is also a Health component incorporated into the classes, where students will cover topics such as peer pressure, nutrition, body image, puberty, risk-taking behaviors, consent, and mental health and mindfulness.
MIDDLE SCHOOL CURRICULUM GUIDE
YETi Project
Students in PE 6 choose a new physical movement skill that they can’t do…YET! They learn how to break down a skill like juggling or cartwheels into manageable steps and then practice these steps as they work towards acquiring their new skill. Students enjoy learning how to learn and supporting each other along the way.
Upper School
As students move into Upper School, the curriculum begins to incorporate more specialized and advanced practices, challenging them to refine their physical abilities and deepen their understanding of fitness. Courses such as Yoga introduce students to mindfulness, self-reflection, and stress management techniques. Strength and Conditioning courses focus on safe and effective resistance exercises using a variety of tools. Students learn to integrate these fitness practices into their daily lives, fostering habits that support both physical well-being and mental resilience. The Upper School experience at SAAS is designed to encourage students to become lifelong learners of fitness, continually striving for excellence, both individually and collectively.
Upper School students can also earn PE credit through participation on Seattle Academy sports teams. They can earn 1 credit for each sports season. As with all PE classes, the student must meet the 75% participation requirement. Students who are at risk of not receiving PE credit will be informed, along with their parents, in writing during the first half of the season, giving them enough time to meet the PE participation requirement. Students who wish to participate in sports at other schools and receive credit must obtain approval from the Athletics Department before participating. Club activities, such as bouldering and mixed ultimate, do not earn a PE credit, nor does sports participation in a Middle School sport.
Students who wish to participate in an outside club sport, recreational sport, or other athletic activity (e.g., Yoga, Fencing, Crew) should check with the Registrar's Office to ensure the activity is approved. A minimum of 40 hours per trimester must be completed in order to receive 1 PE credit. Students can earn 1 PE credit for fall, winter, spring, and/or summer. A student may not earn PE credit in a sport that runs concurrently with Seattle Academy sports offerings.
Upper School Curriculum Guide
Facilitate Play and Movement
We structure environments where students can experience the fun of movement and play and the challenge of learning new skills or developing skills they already have. Whether they are playing sport-like games, such as basketball, or a made-up game like Castleball, we teach students to focus first on enjoying the experience, learning new games, and learning how to play so everyone has fun.
Social-Emotional Development
We work to teach students - through experience, individual and group feedback and occasional reflection - how to play in groups. We play in a way that is inclusive and that recognizes contributions from each student. Boundaries and expectations are in place for safety, and students learn how to make a positive contribution to the group experience.
Physical Fitness & Mental Wellness Basics
We want each student to understand the basic concepts of fitness and be able to apply them in their own lives. Fitness is included in every part of the curriculum, from 6th grade through graduation. Nearly every class will include some kind of cardiovascular warm-up and/or some muscular strength or endurance training. Many of the games we play also involve a lot of vigorous movements that will enhance overall fitness.
PE Credit for Participation in Athletics?
Upper School students can also earn PE credit through participation on Seattle Academy sports teams. They can earn 1 credit for each sports season. As is the case with all PE classes, the student must fulfill the 75% participation rate requirement. Students who are in jeopardy of not receiving PE credit will be informed along with their parents in writing during the first half of the season in order to give them enough time to reach the PE participation requirement. Students who wish to participate in sports at other schools and receive credit must obtain approval from the Athletics Department prior to participation. Applications are
available on our website
or from any of our front offices. Club activities, such as bouldering and mixed ultimate, do not earn a PE credit nor does sports participation in a Middle School sport.