Physical Education: Special Programs

The Livingston High School Health and Physical Education department offers an Adventure Education program for grades 9-11.  Students participate in a sequential series of courses that develop their interpersonal skills and technical abilities in both a team-challenge and high-ropes course environment.  During our Adventure Education courses, students sign a “full value contract” and abide by a “challenge by choice credo” which sets the groundwork for a cooperative and safe learning environment.  The Adventure Education program is full of opportunities for character building, leadership/fellowship, problem solving, and the use of communication skills.  During this unit, students also learn proper management of an adventure course and rope knots, safety management, and climbing and belay skills.

Our goal at the highest level of the Adventure Education courses is to have students serve as peer leaders in our Advanced Leadership Program (ALP). Students apply for our ALP peer leader program on a volunteer basis, and after careful review of all applicants, students are selected. Junior ALPs are placed in Grade 10 Adventure Education classes during semesters 1B and 2A, and senior ALPs are placed in Grade 11 Adventure Education classes during semester 1A. All classes are supervised by the Physical Education teacher who is a certified & trained specialist in Adventure Education. 

ALP peer leaders receive full Physical Education credit for ALP participation, in lieu of the regular 11th/12th grade Physical Education offerings.  Grades are based upon the applicable portions of the PE grading policy, completion of journal logs, and an exit interview.  Some students who participate in this program are interested in careers that utilize technical skills and training on an outdoor or indoor course, and others may use the training for immediate employment at camps or area gyms.

The goal of the Adapted Physical Education program is for students to explore a variety of sports and lifetime activities, in an inclusive and supportive environment. Some of the activities that students participate in throughout the year include, basketball, cooperative games, dance/balance, fitness, yoga, throwing and catching skills, hula hoops, jump rope, bowling, pickleball, volleyball, bocce ball, miniature golf, and fishing. 

Not only are students improving their skills in a variety of areas in this class, but they are also developing strong teamwork, communication skills and sportsmanship. In order to expand students’ ability to work with others and develop strong social connections, the Livingston High School Adapted Physical Education program has implemented the program “PE Pals”.  PE Pals is a program where LHS senior students come into the Adapted Physical Education class to participate with students in the activities listed above. 

The LHS Seniors join the class once per week in Semester 2B during their physical education period, and they participate with the students in the Adapted Physical Education Program.  The students participating in this program are selected by their Physical Education teacher. The responsibilities of the senior students selected are to encourage, support, and work together with the adapted students. All students involved in PE Pals benefit from this program as they continue to build and reinforce their SEL or social emotional learning skills. Developing strong communication and teamwork skills are not only important for class, but will be important in each child’s future profession and relationships, and PE pals targets these exact skills.