Contact our PE teacher, Mr. J to Email Mr. Jessup 

Greetings from the Christa McAuliffe Elementary School Physical Education Department. My name is Lew Jessup, and I am really excited to be back at Christa McAuliffe for another year of learning and fun activities! If you have any questions or concerns about our PE program, please don’t hesitate to contact me at (321)768-0465 ext. 47169 or Email Mr. Jessup 

Curriculum:  We are looking forward to a successful year of challenging activities! During the first 2 weeks of school, students learned about the physical education and recess rules. These rules are designed to give our students a clear understanding of our safety and behavioral expectations. In addition to this, all of our students will be watching videos on traffic safety, bicycle safety, and water safety. It is very important for all bike riders to wear a bicycle helmet any time they are riding their bike. This is not just a school rule, it is a state law. We appreciate your cooperation in this.

We also spent the first two weeks talking about some of the fun activities we have planned for the 2023-24 school year. Our primary students will be participating in the following activities: Fleece Ball, Battle Ball, Bowling, Bocce Ball, Newcomb, Basketball Skills, Locomotor Stations, Animal Walks, Flag-Tag, Turtle-Tag, Gator-Tag, Soccer Skills, and Tennis Skills. Our intermediate students will be participating in activities like Fleece Ball, Battle Ball, Bowling, Bocce Ball, Volleyball, Basketball, Flag Football, Soccer, Team Handball, and Tennis.

Physical Fitness:  During our PE classes, students will participate in numerous exercises designed to improve their physical fitness levels. Some of these exercises include: push-ups, burpees, jumping-jacks, up-backs, and ski-jumps. Students also spend several minutes stretching before our main activity. Some of these stretches include the Sit-and-Reach, Straddle Stretch, and Butterfly Stretch. Additionally, students in grades 3-6 will participate in our annual Physical Fitness Test which takes place in February. The test includes the following activities:

1. Push-ups: Students will be scored on the number of push-ups they can perform with proper form.  Proper form requires students to descend towards the ground until their arms are at a ninety-degree angle.  At this point, the students must push themselves back up until their arms are in a straightened position.  The push-ups are to be completed slowly and with a straight back at all times.

2. Trunk lift: Students will lay face down on the ground and are required to lift their upper torsos off the ground without using their arms.

3. Sit and Reach: Students’ lower back and hamstring flexibility will be measured using a “sit and reach” box.

4. Curl-ups:  Students will be scored on the number of correctly performed curl-ups they can complete without stopping. 

5. Pacer: Students will be scored on how many shuttle-runs they can perform while keeping pace with the CD.     

Medical Limitations:  Safety is the number one priority at Christa McAuliffe Elementary. If your student has any medical limitations, please call, email, or send a note explaining the situation so we can make the proper accommodations. We will also need a doctor's note listing the specific limitations instead of general ones. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.                                                                                                                                                             

Clothing:  Ideally, students should wear shorts, lightweight shirts, and some sort of tennis or athletic shoes (sneakers) for PE classes. As a reminder, Crocs, slides, flip-flops, and thongs are not allowed to be worn at school per the BPS dress code policy. High-heeled shoes should not be worn by students on PE activity days. Students are also not advised to wear sweat jackets to PE during hot weather months. Speaking of hot weather, it’s always a good idea for students to bring a water bottle to PE. It is very important in Florida for us all to stay hydrated.

Best Regards,

Lew Jessup

Physical Education Department

The mission of our program is to educate each student in the cognitive, affective, and psychomotor domains of learning as it relates to Physical Education.  It is our intent to challenge each student to attain the highest level of personal fitness, skill, knowledge, responsibility, integrity, and sportsmanship as it relates to Physical Education.  It is our intent to develop a personal aspiration in each child to strive for excellence in all areas of their lives.

• Palm Bay Youth Basketball Association (PBYBA)

• Palm Bay Pal

• The Florida Basketball/Volleyball Association (FBVA)

• South Brevard County Leagues and Associations

• Bayside Bears Football and Cheerleading

•  Palm Bay Pirates Football

• Palm Bay Rockets Football

•  Brevard County Youth Football & Cheerleading Association

•  West Melbourne Football & Cheerleading

•  Brevard Youth Soccer League

•  Palm Bay Youth Soccer

•  West Melbourne Little League

• Palm Bay Fast Pitch Little League Softball

•  Palm Bay West Little League

• Palm Bay East Little League

• Brevard County Parks & Recreation

• Camping in Florida

• Space Coast Runners

• Road Runners Club of America

Carbohydrate:  Foods used for energy including fruits, breads, vegetables, rice, pasta. 

Protein:  Foods used to repair cells and muscles in the body  including meat, eggs, milk, nuts, beans, chicken, and fish. 

Fat:  Foods used for energy that can be harmful to the body if  eaten too often. Includes butter, cheese, oils, mayonnaise,  salad dressing, nuts, and fatty meat. 

Minerals:  The body uses these to perform many different  functions- from building strong bones to transmitting nerve  
messages. Some are even used to make hormones or maintain  a normal heartbeat. 

Calcium:  This mineral helps build strong bones, so you can  do everything from standing up straight to scoring that  winning goal. It also helps build strong, healthy teeth, for  chomping on tasty food. 

Iron:  This mineral transports oxygen from your lungs to the rest of your body. Your entire body needs oxygen to stay healthy and  alive. 

Vitamins: are substances that are found in foods we eat. Your body needs them to work properly, so you grow and develop just like you should. When it comes to vitamins, each  
one has a special role to play.  

For example:  
  Vitamin D in milk helps your bones.  
  Vitamin A in carrots helps you see at night.  
  Vitamin C in oranges helps your body heal if you get a cut.  
  Vitamin B in leafy green vegetables help your body make  
  protein and energy.

Water:  The body is 55-75% water.  Liquid needed to survive. 

Fiber:   Hard to digest food that is healthy for the intestines.  
Includes certain vegetables, grains, and fruit.  

Muscle Endurance:  Being able to use your muscles for a long period of time. 

Muscle Strength:  How strong your muscles are at different events. 

Flexibility:  Keeping your muscles stretched to stop from getting hurt. 

Aerobic Endurance:  Being able to exercise for long periods of time without running out of breath. 

Body Composition:  How much muscle you have compared to how much fat you have. 

Aerobic Exercise:  Aerobic exercise helps make the heart and lungs stronger by increasing the oxygen available to the body and by enabling the heart to use oxygen better.  It uses the same large muscle group, rhythmically, for a period of 15 to 20 minutes or longer while maintaining 60-80% of your maximum heart rate.  Aerobic activities include: walking, biking,  
jogging, swimming, aerobic classes and cross-country skiing.

Anaerobic Exercise:  Anaerobic activity is short in time but high in effort.  
Anaerobic activities include: racquetball, downhill skiing, weight lifting, sprinting, softball, soccer, and football.

Ectomorph:  This body type is characterized by a light build and slight muscular development. Ectomorphs may even have trouble gaining weight and feel they are too thin.   As with other body types, people who fall into this category should exercise,  but will have a different focus. Because they are often trying to gain weight, an ectomorph might spend more time on strength training and a bit less time on cardio work. (1) 

Endomorph:  This body type is characterized by a stocky build, wide hips, and the annoying tendency to easily store body fat. Endomorphs may also have more internal fat around the organs, which makes fat loss more difficult than other body types. People with this body type will want to pay close attention to their diets and make sure to follow a complete exercise program that includes cardio and strength training. (2) 

Mesomorph:  This body type tends to be more muscular, with a large chest and a long torso. A person with this body type may find it a little easier to build muscle than others.  (3) 

(1) By Paige Waehner, About.com  
(2) By Paige Waehner, About.com  
(3) By Paige Waehner, About.com