Dear Families,
Welcome (back) to health and PE at Moretown and Waitsfield Elementary School. I hope everyone had a wonderful summer.
Last year, I watched the documentary Anxious Nation and skimmed the book Anxious Generation. Both were thought provoking, pertinent, and pressing; leaving me with anxiety of my own about the character of the adults our kids will become under the insurmountable influence of social media and screens.
This summer, when I debated accepting a job lifeguarding at the Montpelier swimming pool, I had “teenage co-workers” solidly on the con side of the list. I assumed I’d be surrounded by faces buried in screens during every pause from being “on chair”. I was definitely wrong.
My first shift, these teens showed up with novels to read on breaks “off chair.” Over lunch, they discussed these books, how likely we were to get a thunderstorm (and therefore a break), and continued a decades old tradition of drawing in colorful permanent markers on the wooden table in the Guard Room. My young colleagues, including a former student of mine, packed balanced lunches that put my vegetable intake to shame, showed up before their shift to swim laps, and discussed the UV index while helping each other apply sunscreen.
While I can’t tell you what exactly the anxiety level of these teenagers is, I can tell you that my anxiety over how the kids we are collectively raising will turn out has subdued. These soon to be adults were confident and courteous. Though they carried smartphones, they were more than capable of - and content with - interacting IRL (in real life), including with someone more than twice their age (me!).
If you’ve read this blog before, you know I often share resources or tips for health and physical activity at home. (If you’re new here, welcome, and feel free to look at past blogs of this nature and get a vibe check, as the teens say.)
Today, rather than offering more to do on your family’s quest for wellness, I’m inviting you to join me in a moment of doing less- less worrying about how the kids will turn out, less searching for the next hack to set them up for success. The kids are alright. So are the teens. You’re already doing a great job! Take a deep breath and give yourself a pat on the back.
But I will clue you in on how to set them up for success in PE class: send your student prepared wearing socks and sneakers with long hair tied back on PE days.
The schedule for semester 1 is:
Biking will begin at WES on September 24 and October 3 at MES. This gives us time as a PE class to set and practice routines and expectations during the first month of school. Stay tuned for bike week details.
Moretown Elementary
Monday- PE K-4 Health 5-6
Tuesday - Health K-4 PE 5-6
Friday - PE K-6
Wednesday- PE K-6
Thursday-PE K-6
(Health class will be taught during semester 2)
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