Denver Academy Physical Education and Health
Source: http://www.denveracademy.org/academics/physical-education
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:11
Denver Academy Physical Education and Health
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Active Bodies = Active Brains
Five days a week!
At Denver Academy, that's how many times Physical Education (P.E.) teachers see their students in grades 2-6. P.E. is also offered as a daily elective for grades 7-12.
The Physical Education Department at Denver Academy provides students with individualized and group instruction for motivating movement learning experiences. Students take responsibility for their own fitness goals, track their personal progress, and work to develop and improve their fitness and overall wellness. Our goal is to provide the opportunity for our students to develop a pattern of life-enhancing and self-rewarding experiences to increase their potential to be healthier members of society.
Health education is provided at all grade levels at Denver Academy. The curriculum is designed to provide essential knowledge and skills related to the student’s physical, mental, and social well-being. We encourage students to develop healthy habits and leave with a solid understanding of how their bodies work.
PE: A Priority at DA
At many other schools, P.E. teachers see classes every other day, or even once per week. Guidelines from the National Association for Sport and Physical Education recommend 150 minutes of P.E. for elementary school students and 225 minutes per week for middle and high school students. Today's P.E. model places a greater emphasis on personal fitness and a cognitive understanding of the principles of movement to help students live healthy and active lives now and in the future.
Elementary P.E.
During the elementary years, the focus of physical education is on the development of motor skills, coordination, and balance. Cooperative learning, team sports, leadership skills, and character development are emphasized. Team strategies and rules for a variety of sports and activities allow students to work together to accomplish personal and group goals. The elementary physical education curriculum is dynamic and emphasizes fun and learning through movement as well as group problem-solving. Health lessons are woven into P.E. classes and also taught in the classroom on a weekly rotation.
6th Grade
The students in sixth grade have a choice of three different physical education options per quarter, similar to what they will experience with middle school electives. General physical education is always a choice. Units offered usually align with current athletic seasons for middle school students and some options allow students to participate at a competitive level.
*Elementary and sixth grade students have an annual field day at the end of each school year, along with a scooter highway event in the winter.
Middle School
In grades seven and eight, various team and individual activities are introduced. Our focus is to incorporate physical fitness and health as a lifetime endeavor. We accomplish this by offering a new selection of classes beyond team sports, such as weights and fitness, yoga, and CrossFit. The primary objective (besides having fun) is to introduce students to various activities with the hope that they will choose to participate in athletics and healthy physical activities in the future. Volleyball, basketball, soccer, track, cross-country, mountain biking, pickleball, and baseball are some of the more competitive sports taught during middle school. Find out more on the
Athletics page
and/or
Middle School Academics page
. Health education is offered during the second and third quarters and is a mandatory class for seventh-grade students.
High School
During the high school years, Denver Academy’s P.E. courses focus on lifetime sports and fitness activities. Our hope is to instill the value of lifelong fitness and health in our students. We accomplish this by offering a variety of activities. Lifetime sports, such as yoga and weight lifting, are very popular courses. The continuation of team sports that incorporate leadership, team building, and cooperative learning are also emphasized. These include Ultimate Frisbee, football, basketball, tennis, floor hockey, and team handball.
DA High School students can also participate in our athletic program and compete against other schools through team sports.
Find out more about competitive Athletics at DA here
.
Meet the Physical Education Team
List of 4 members.
Kyra
Ruscio
Dean of Physical Education
Read Bio
Mrs. Ruscio heads the Physical Education and Health department at Denver Academy and teaches many of the PE and health classes herself. Beyond these duties, Mrs. Ruscio also coaches the middle school division girl's volleyball and basketball. Kyra joined the teaching faculty at DA in 2003.
Mrs. Ruscio earned her B.A. in Human Performance from Metropolitan State College of Denver and her M.S. in Counseling from the University of Phoenix.
David
Acker
Physical Education Teacher
Read Bio
Mr. Acker's background is in adolescent mental health with an emphasis on positive youth development. He has eight years of experience coaching soccer at the club and high school level and is excited to continue coaching at D.A.
Mr. Acker earned his BS in Human Services from the Metropolitan State University of Denver and his MSW from the University of Denver.
Ben
Ollett
Physical Education Teacher
Read Bio
Ben joined the Physical Education team at Denver Academy in 2016. He's starting his 3rd year of teaching after fifteen years of mountain bike and endurance coaching. Ben earned a BS in Exercise Physiology from Rutgers University and an MS in Sport Pedagogy from the University of Northern Colorado.
Samantha
Silverman
Physical Education Teacher
Read Bio
Ms. Silverman is excited to join Denver Academy this year! Ms. Silverman got her B.S. in Kinesiology with a focus on Physical Education and Health Education at Indiana University-Bloomington. Ms. Silverman has been teaching Physical Education in Colorado for eight years as well as coaching a variety of different sports.
Find Us
4400 E. Iliff Ave. Denver, CO 80222
Main/Attendance: 303.777.5870
Admissions: 303.777.5161
General:
info@denveracademy.org
About
Denver Academy is an independent private school for grades 2-12 located in Denver, CO. DA
inspires and empowers a diverse group of learners through student-centered, differentiated, and transformative education.
Sign Up for DA Dateline Monthly Newsletter
Member
© 2022 Denver Academy. All Rights Reserved.
Menu
Login
Styles
Templates
About Us
arrow
The DA Difference: How We Teach & Learn
From the Head of School
Administration & Faculty
Board of Trustees
Employment
Press Room
Strategic Plan
Campus Map
Admissions
arrow
Why Denver Academy
Apply to DA
Tuition & Tuition Assistance
Inquire About DA
Visit Denver Academy
FAQs
Connect with DA Parents
Academics
arrow
Elementary School
Sixth Grade
Middle School - Grades 7-8
High School - Grades 9-12
Physical Education
Arts & Media
Meet the Teachers
Denver Academy Curriculum
Athletics
arrow
DA Athletics
Athletics Calendar
Community
arrow
Diversity Equity Inclusion and Belonging
Clubs & Organizations
Counseling & Wellness
DA Parent Association
Online DA Spirit Store
Distinctive Programs
arrow
Summer Program
College & Transition Counseling
Tutoring
Library
Elementary After-school Activities
Experiential Education
Denver Academy Symposium 2026
Give to DA
arrow
The Fund for Denver Academy
Performing Arts Center
Ways to Give
Giving FAQs
Denver Academy Gala 2026
Alumni
News
Calendar
Non-Discrimination Policy
Privacy Policy
Academics
Physical Education
Visit
Inquire
Give
Active Bodies = Active Brains
Five days a week!
At Denver Academy, that's how many times Physical Education (P.E.) teachers see their students in grades 2-6. P.E. is also offered as a daily elective for grades 7-12.
The Physical Education Department at Denver Academy provides students with individualized and group instruction for motivating movement learning experiences. Students take responsibility for their own fitness goals, track their personal progress, and work to develop and improve their fitness and overall wellness. Our goal is to provide the opportunity for our students to develop a pattern of life-enhancing and self-rewarding experiences to increase their potential to be healthier members of society.
Health education is provided at all grade levels at Denver Academy. The curriculum is designed to provide essential knowledge and skills related to the student’s physical, mental, and social well-being. We encourage students to develop healthy habits and leave with a solid understanding of how their bodies work.
PE: A Priority at DA
At many other schools, P.E. teachers see classes every other day, or even once per week. Guidelines from the National Association for Sport and Physical Education recommend 150 minutes of P.E. for elementary school students and 225 minutes per week for middle and high school students. Today's P.E. model places a greater emphasis on personal fitness and a cognitive understanding of the principles of movement to help students live healthy and active lives now and in the future.
Elementary P.E.
During the elementary years, the focus of physical education is on the development of motor skills, coordination, and balance. Cooperative learning, team sports, leadership skills, and character development are emphasized. Team strategies and rules for a variety of sports and activities allow students to work together to accomplish personal and group goals. The elementary physical education curriculum is dynamic and emphasizes fun and learning through movement as well as group problem-solving. Health lessons are woven into P.E. classes and also taught in the classroom on a weekly rotation.
6th Grade
The students in sixth grade have a choice of three different physical education options per quarter, similar to what they will experience with middle school electives. General physical education is always a choice. Units offered usually align with current athletic seasons for middle school students and some options allow students to participate at a competitive level.
*Elementary and sixth grade students have an annual field day at the end of each school year, along with a scooter highway event in the winter.
Middle School
In grades seven and eight, various team and individual activities are introduced. Our focus is to incorporate physical fitness and health as a lifetime endeavor. We accomplish this by offering a new selection of classes beyond team sports, such as weights and fitness, yoga, and CrossFit. The primary objective (besides having fun) is to introduce students to various activities with the hope that they will choose to participate in athletics and healthy physical activities in the future. Volleyball, basketball, soccer, track, cross-country, mountain biking, pickleball, and baseball are some of the more competitive sports taught during middle school. Find out more on the
Athletics page
and/or
Middle School Academics page
. Health education is offered during the second and third quarters and is a mandatory class for seventh-grade students.
High School
During the high school years, Denver Academy’s P.E. courses focus on lifetime sports and fitness activities. Our hope is to instill the value of lifelong fitness and health in our students. We accomplish this by offering a variety of activities. Lifetime sports, such as yoga and weight lifting, are very popular courses. The continuation of team sports that incorporate leadership, team building, and cooperative learning are also emphasized. These include Ultimate Frisbee, football, basketball, tennis, floor hockey, and team handball.
DA High School students can also participate in our athletic program and compete against other schools through team sports.
Find out more about competitive Athletics at DA here
.
Meet the Physical Education Team
List of 4 members.
Kyra
Ruscio
Dean of Physical Education
Read Bio
Mrs. Ruscio heads the Physical Education and Health department at Denver Academy and teaches many of the PE and health classes herself. Beyond these duties, Mrs. Ruscio also coaches the middle school division girl's volleyball and basketball. Kyra joined the teaching faculty at DA in 2003.
Mrs. Ruscio earned her B.A. in Human Performance from Metropolitan State College of Denver and her M.S. in Counseling from the University of Phoenix.
David
Acker
Physical Education Teacher
Read Bio
Mr. Acker's background is in adolescent mental health with an emphasis on positive youth development. He has eight years of experience coaching soccer at the club and high school level and is excited to continue coaching at D.A.
Mr. Acker earned his BS in Human Services from the Metropolitan State University of Denver and his MSW from the University of Denver.
Ben
Ollett
Physical Education Teacher
Read Bio
Ben joined the Physical Education team at Denver Academy in 2016. He's starting his 3rd year of teaching after fifteen years of mountain bike and endurance coaching. Ben earned a BS in Exercise Physiology from Rutgers University and an MS in Sport Pedagogy from the University of Northern Colorado.
Samantha
Silverman
Physical Education Teacher
Read Bio
Ms. Silverman is excited to join Denver Academy this year! Ms. Silverman got her B.S. in Kinesiology with a focus on Physical Education and Health Education at Indiana University-Bloomington. Ms. Silverman has been teaching Physical Education in Colorado for eight years as well as coaching a variety of different sports.
Find Us
4400 E. Iliff Ave. Denver, CO 80222
Main/Attendance: 303.777.5870
Admissions: 303.777.5161
General:
info@denveracademy.org
About
Denver Academy is an independent private school for grades 2-12 located in Denver, CO. DA
inspires and empowers a diverse group of learners through student-centered, differentiated, and transformative education.
Sign Up for DA Dateline Monthly Newsletter
Member
© 2022 Denver Academy. All Rights Reserved.