Health and Physical Education

It is mandatory to pass two years of physical education and health to graduate from high school. Each physical education unit is worth 100 total points. Your grade in physical education will be based on a daily grade, a written grade, a skills grade, and a fitness grade. The following provides a breakdown of how the grade for each category will be determined, as well as how each category is weighed. (The swim unit is the only P.E. unit for which the daily grade may constitute the entire unit grade. Grading guidelines for health will be distributed by each individual teacher.)

1. Daily Grade

This constitutes 70% – 90% of your grade for a P.E. unit. You will begin each unit with 70–90 points; therefore your actions determine if you lose points. Points will be deducted from your grade for the following: failure to make up excused absences/non-participation days (see make-up policy), being late to class causing you to miss participation, not being prepared for class, not participating, and actions that are detrimental to the learning environment of others (i.e. bad language). If you are in class, dressed appropriately and participate 90% or more of the time you will receive an A for your daily grade. If you were to do the above 80% of the time you will receive a B for your daily grade, etc. For example: Given a 15-day unit a student would have to be in class, dressed appropriately, and participate at least 13 days (90% of the time) to earn an A for their daily grade.Excused non-dress/non-participation days and excused absences must be made up – see make up policy document; failure to do so will result in these days being treated as unexcused non-participation days (see above).

2. Written Grade

A written test may be given for each unit and could constitute 10% (10 points) of your grade for the unit.

3. Skills Grade

A skills test may be given for each unit and could constitute 10% (10 points) of your grade for the unit.

4. Fitness Grade

The fitness grade constitutes 10% (10 points) of your grade for the unit. This grade will be determined by effort during warm-up and cool-down, and fitness tests given throughout the unit. The timing and number of such tests may vary by unit and/or individual teacher. There are two to three units per quarter. You will receive a grade for each of these units; these grades will be averaged together to determine your final grade for the quarter.  If a teacher chooses to weigh any of the above categories differently it will be announced prior to that specific unit. At the end of the school year, there may be a final exam/culminating activity worth no more than 10% of your final grade.  Students with an “A” average for the course may be exempt from the final exam.

Note: An “A” means that you are performing in a superior manner for this course, well above average in preparation, participation, effort, and cooperation.

Student grades reflect student achievement and not student behavior.

1. Required uniform: Appropriate dress is a dedicated P.E. shirt and shorts, socks and athletic shoes. Sweats may also be worn. We strongly suggest you mark your “Yorktown” P.E. shirt and shorts for easy identification. These uniforms are not be altered or defaced in any way. During the swim unit, students must provide their own swim suit and towel.
2. Everyone is expected to dress appropriately for class each day. If you are unable to participate 100%, you will dress and do what you are reasonably able to do. Points are deducted for non-dressers. [Parents: please do not excuse your child from P.E. if they are suffering from a minor illness or injury. There are many non-strenuous ways for them to participate in these instances, which allow them to remain current with the rest of the class and not have to make up the missed days.]
3. Be inside of the locker room when the bell sounds, and dressed in the correct uniform and lined up in roll call order 5 minutes later, when and where your instructor indicates, and stay with your class at all times. No one may leave the locker room/gym before the dismissal bell. Doing so may result in a class cut.
4. Each student is assigned a P.E. locker for storing their clothes.  Make sure your belongings are locked securely; do not share lockers, locks or combinations. Lock the locker! Uniforms may be stored in your locker at your own risk overnight.
5. Security of Valuables: Dressing rooms and gym spaces are not always secured. Thus, we strongly recommend students leave any valuables in their hallway lockers. Students should make arrangements with their individual teacher in the rare circumstance it is necessary to bring an item of value to class.
6. For injury or illness excuses up to five days, you must provide a note or email from your parent/guardian. For injury or illness excuses longer than five days, you must provide a note or email from your doctor. You may be given a written or other assignment, which will be graded as an alternative to participation in P.E. if 1/3 of any unit is missed; otherwise the make-up policy will be followed.
7. No electronic devices may be used during class time unless otherwise noted. As per school rules, all electronic devices are to be turned off and put away to help promote an academic learning environment. If electronic devices are found during class in violation of this rule they are subject to confiscation and the student referred to the appropriate assistant principal. The use of cell phones in the locker rooms is strictly prohibited. 

      8.  Miscellaneous: For safety reasons, students are expected to adhere to all directives issued by the P.E. staff. This pertains to the use of the gym, its equipment and the space encompassing the P.E. classroom(s) (the gym area, fields and pool).

Due to the nature of Physical Education classes, activities missed cannot be made up at home the way that work in other courses can be.  Students who have excused absences (including excused non-participation days) will have the opportunity to make up these days for credit.

This policy applies only for excused absences and excused non-participation days. These days must be made up by the end of the unit in which they were acquired – otherwise they will be treated as non-participation days and will have a negative effect on the unit grade.

On the rare occasion that a student misses more than 1/3 of any unit, a written or other alternative assignments may be given in place of this make-up procedure.  Make-up days, times and assignments may vary by teacher and/or unit, but typically take place during Patriot Period. Instruction on Power Standards that were missed will be given during this time. Specific information will be discussed with the students/classes at the beginning of each unit as to how excused absences and excused non-participation days may be made up.