"Making PE Y2K Compliant" by Gerry Cernicky

With the dawn of the new century, it is imperative to direct our programs to meet the national and state standards for the benefit of our students. We must also use a myriad of projects to instill physical education as a viable part of the curriculum.

Nobody will know what we teach or how we teach if we don't tell or show anybody. This means we will have to invite our principals and involve the local PTA volunteers to showcase what we do. In my case, there is an annual GYM SHOW each February that includes the following:

Lead up team sports activities/skills
Rope jumping
Group warm-up exercises
Tumbling/gymnastics
Obstacle course
Novelty relays
Dance/individual routines

There is no cost for the performance and the public has the opportunity to watch what we do in our classes. At the end of the school year a Junior Olympics is held at our high school in scheduled track & field events. Our six schools are involved and the parents are invited to watch the proceedings. Field days are another way we showcase our talents either by organizing or participating (helping).

I know our schedules are full and time is important but I believe that we must also volunteer in the community - serving on the recreation board or serving on a community committee. These efforts will ensure that we are visible and contributing to the education of the whole child.

On a personal level, we can volunteer to organize events on in-service days, take post-grad classes, attend workshops and conventions and write articles for newsletters and magazines. With the use of the Internet at an all time high, we can involve our students in Global competitions like the Tele-Olympics, e-mail other schools, and participate in travel buddy programs.

All of these ideas are not only rewarding but also let everybody know that we are more than "that person" who is in the gym. Once the door is closed, that doesn't mean we should hide. We need to involve the classroom teachers in the "lunch room" and let then know what we really do rather than what they think we do. From time to time, we need to inform our principals of all our programs by way of newsletters, morning announcements and notes in their mailbox.

Finally, we can inform the local newspaper or TV/media of our events. We can showcase the students and our programs in a positive atmosphere. All of this will be accomplished with developmentally appropriate programs that meet local and national standards. But at the same time , we must instill our lessons with one main idea....our choice of activities is student-centered and it must be FUN and they will COME to each class with a renewed spirit. That Spirit should be so strong that will beg not to leave the class and can't wait until the next one.

Happy New Year...P.E. is surely Y2K compliant !