P.E. Requirements

The State of Florida defines P.E. like this:

"Physical education" means the development or maintenance of skills related to strength, agility, flexibility, movement, and stamina, including dance; the development of knowledge and skills regarding teamwork and fair play; the development of knowledge and skills regarding nutrition and physical fitness as part of a healthy lifestyle; and the development of positive attitudes regarding sound nutrition and physical activity as a component of personal well-being.

State law says:

1003.455 Physical education; assessment.--
(1) It is the responsibility of each district school board to develop a physical education program that stresses physical fitness and encourages healthful, active lifestyles and to encourage all students in prekindergarten through grade 12 to participate in physical education. Physical education shall consist of physical activities of at least a moderate intensity level and for a duration sufficient to provide a significant health benefit to students, subject to the differing capabilities of students. All physical education programs and curricula must be reviewed by a certified physical education instructor.

(2) Each district school board shall adopt a written physical education policy that details the school district's physical education program and expected program outcomes.

(3) Each district school board shall provide 150 minutes of physical education each week for students in kindergarten through grade 5. Students enrolled in such instruction shall be reported through the periodic student membership surveys, and records of such enrollment shall be audited pursuant to s. 1010.305. Such instruction may be provided by any instructional personnel as defined in s. 1012.01(2), regardless of certification, who are designated by the school principal. Each district school board is encouraged to provide 225 minutes of physical education each week for students in grades 6 through 8.

History.--s. 4, ch. 2004-255; s. 19, ch. 2006-301; s. 3, ch. 2007-28.


I'm wondering how 4thGrader will get his 150 minutes in each week when he only has PE class twice a week. And while P.E. is offered daily at 6thGraders school, participation is only "encouraged." Seems like middle schoolers should also be required to participate in P.E. - guess it's the whole scheduling thing that lets them not.

To graduate from high school, you have to have one PE credit between 9th and 12th grades; various sports and activities can substitute for the traditional P.E. class.

Gotta get these kids more active......... what do you do to get your kids moving?

I'm such a nerd...

6thGrader's math homework tonight is to bring in two math facts and their sources. He told me he wanted to use the website I work on for my job because he knew we have math facts there because he helped me with some of it when he participated in Take Your Child to Work Day in April.

I'm so proud! My middle-schooler wants to use my data for his homework!

Best part of the first day of school

The absolutely best part of the first day of school - homemade chocolate chip cookies! A family tradition for 7 years now.

Middle School GIRLS

Our older DS is off to middle school today. Ay yi yi! I'm sure it will be a great year by the time we're done, but did you see those girls???? Those fresh-faced girls I saw at 5th grade graduation have turned into GIRLS with fancy hair-dos and make-up and jewelry and clothes. The elementary school's dress code says that make-up is not developmentally appropriate for elementary school-aged girls, so maybe they just weren't allowed to wear it so I was thinking all those 5th grade girls were still the same as they were when we first met them as kindergarteners. But oh my........ if I were a 6th grade boy, I'd be scared!!!!!!!!!!!!

Maybe I've just been locked in a time-warp????

Loads of paper and plenty of $$

Orientation was today for both 4thGrader and 6thGrader. We got the paperwork for 4thGrader so I can get that done over the weekend. And I wrote several checks payable to both the elementary and middle schools for various fees and PTA's and such. Plus t-shirts for both kids.

Never mind the school supplies I still need to buy. I felt like I should've just given the school district my bank account information and let them empty my coffer.

And more paperwork coming home with 6thGrader next week.

European kids get Euros...

Cool dude

Oh to be 11 again! This photo was taken in Sorrento, Italy, when we stopped for lunch with our tour group.