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Victor
High School "STRIVING FOR THE STARS"
by Whitney
Paul
The NASPE
STARS program is a national awards
program that features five levels of
achievements to recognize outstanding
physical education programs in K-12
schools across America. This award program
offers an opportunity to gain national
recognition for the school and its physical
education teachers by documenting the
excellence of the physical education
program. The criteria for this award
are based on the essential elements
that are necessary for a quality physical
education program.
- They have to meet the National
Standards for K-12 Physical Education.
- The activities have to be educational
and developmental with appropriate
instructional strategies and teaching
skills.
- The school has to have adequate
facilities and equipment that are
safe and appropriate for the age and
capabilities of the students, and
that enable the students to participate
in the maximum amount of active time
on task.
- Classes are to be taught by a licensed
physical educator.
 APPLYING
FOR STARS RECOGNITION
Victor High School’s motto is
“Striving for Excellence,”
and when you talk to the school principal,
Yvonne O’Shea, she will tell you
that they do just that. “There
is NO QUESTION in my mind that we have
an outstanding PE program,” says
O’Shea. “It is unique in
its curriculum and student-centeredness.”
She believes that the Physical Education
Department is a star model for all of
the departments in their district when
it comes to combining curriculum and
instruction to give the students the
best education possible. Also adding,
“The PE faculty are never referred
to as just gym teachers.”
Ronald Whitcomb, Victor’s Director
of Physical Education, served as New
York State AHPED president. In 2008
Whitcomb suggested to his staff that
they should apply for the NASPE STARS
Program. After they looked at the award
criteria for each level they decided
to go for the 3 STARS Award. They liked
the idea of the national recognition
that the award would bring to the school,
and the support it would get from the
parents and the administration.
The staff decided to elect one teacher
to handle the application process and
they chose Shelly Collins. She then
broke down the application criteria
and assigned a portion to each teacher
involved in the process. Shelly included
all of the physical education staff,
the director of physical education,
the assistant superintendent, the guidance
department, and the buildings and grounds
department in the efforts also. Each
department participating was given a
copy of the criteria, the associated
evidence needed to support that criteria,
and a deadline for each item.
 After
six months of waiting the school was
notified that they achieved the NASPE’s
3 STARS Award. Whitcomb then went to
New Orleans to attend a recognition
ceremony at the AAHPERD National Convention
where he accepted the award on behalf
of the school. That respect continues
to this day in school board meetings,
their local newspaper, and also in the
Superintendant’s newsletter. The
Associated Press visited the campus,
took pictures of the physical education
classes, and reviewed the program. They
used the information for a national
article on physical education and child
obesity.
THE PHYSICAL EDUCATION PROGRAM
In the Physical Education Program at
Victor High School there are eight units
per year, five 85-minute classes per
unit, and the students are assessed
in each unit. The junior/senior students
have an opportunity to pick the activity
they will be doing in each unit. There
are normally 4 activities offered for
each unit. “Think of it as a college
registration.” say Collins, “There
are only so many spots open for each
unit, and once those spots have been
filled that unit is closed and the student
needs to pick another unit.” Some
of the units offered include kayaking,
canoeing at the local park, self defense
for girls, cardio kickboxing, rock climbing,
dance, inline skating, distance running,
yoga, rugby, cross country skiing, badminton,
water polo, hydro fitness, team handball,
tennis, and orienteering.
 Teachers
use the high school grading policy of
80% of the grade for authentic assessment
and 20% of the grade for participation.
“At the high school level physical
education is part of the overall GPA
for a student,” says Whitcomb,
“the parents do not struggle with
this because we can explain exactly
how a student “earns” a
grade. It’s based on performance,
not on changing your clothes and coming
to class.” All the skills taught
and assessment tools/rubrics are consistent
throughout the department.
Every teacher is on board with this
process and works hard to maintain the
integrity of the units. They meet as
a high school staff once a week, and
as a K-12 department four times a year.
There are conference days that focus
on improving the program and how to
help it grow professionally. They also
add at least one new unit every school
year and drop units that they no longer
feel are meeting their student’s
needs or standards. There are 9 PE teachers:
6 fulltime, 2 part-time and 1 adapted.
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“The curriculum has a clear
vision for developing life-long
skills and encouraging active and
healthy lifestyles. The units are
carefully chosen to appeal to a
wide range of interests and abilities.
Our program is oriented to real-life
activities - it's more realistic
that our students will participate
in kayaking or canoeing as adults
than playing professional sports.”
“Instruction in our Physical
Education department is as thoughtful
and professional as any other academic
department in our school. Our PE
program is truly respected by other
departments in the high school.”
“Our teachers and curriculum
respect student differences. The
PE program is not about developing
professional athletes nor does it
favor students with more natural
athleticism or experience. ALL students
are respected and can be successful.
Victor students enjoy PE classes,
respect the teachers and know that
we have a nationally recognized
program. A large number of our student
leave high school to pursue careers
in physical education and health-related
fields.”
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