Not your mother’s gym class

Physical education goes beyond keeping kids fit, experts say

A physical education class offers more than just physical benefits, says Andrew MacNeil — it also supports mental and emotional health.

“And not only that, it’s also a great time with friends,” says the athletics director at St-Laurent Academy

Teachers tell MacNeil that students are calmer and more attentive in class after a phys. ed class. Students at St-Laurent Academy, from kindergarten to Grade 12, have gym every day. “Our classes echo the sports seasons our school teams play in,” says MacNeil. That means soccer and cross-country in the fall, badminton in November, and for the rest of the winter, basketball. Students play volleyball in February and March, and spring sees students participating in track and field and flag rugby.

“We have something for every student,” says MacNeil, “and our high school students can participate in hockey, golf, and tennis.”

The younger students in kindergarten through Grade 3 focus on locomotion — including games that incorporate throwing, catching, sending, and receiving — but are also exposed to sports their older counterparts play. For the younger children, it’s about fostering a love of play that helps them incorporate fundamental skills.

Older students on athletic teams and the more skilled athletes have the opportunity to compete against school teams inside and outside the city. “Our phys. ed classes are flexible so that students with different skill levels can have fun and participate,” says MacNeil. “We increase those skill levels by reinforcing the fundamentals in different ways.”

Equally important is the need for students to enjoy themselves. “We present skills in a fun way with games, music to go along with some games and just playing,” says MacNeil, “because we know if a student is not having fun, they won’t learn.”

Ottawa Sports Academy covers both athletics and academics. With its elite curriculum for students Grades 4 through 12, this multi-sport educational institution is the only hockey school powered by the Ottawa Senators hockey programs.

“We offer a personalized development program that is geared directly to your child’s own sport,” says Heather O’Neill, director of athletics and arts at Ottawa Sports Academy, which specializes in on-ice and off-ice hockey development, on-field and off-field soccer, baseball development, elite dance training, as well as sports-specific strength and conditioning training. “There are different levels of skills and activities for each grade level,” says O’Neill. “Your child’s training will depend on their individual skills, as well as what sport and the position they play in that sport.” O’Neill says that a development program specific to your child is put together by the highly qualified coaches in each program.

The Academy meets and exceeds the expectations of the Ontario Health and Physical Education Curriculum, but academic requirements are met and exceeded as well. “Students spend two hours each day in their sports programs,” says O’Neill. “That includes their strength and conditioning program and their applied sports program. The rest of the day focuses on academics.” For students, learning to take care of their physical well-being and their mental health at a young age is profoundly important. “Physical activity boosts the body’s endorphins level,” says O’Neill. “That not only improves students’ moods, but it also increases energy levels and makes it easier for students to pay attention in class.” And that, says O’Neill, is the perfect recipe for strong mental and physical health and academic excellence.   

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