Physical Education

The Physical Education program in the Middle School builds on the foundation developed in the Lower School. The primary purposes are to encourage all individuals to develop the skills and understanding necessary to participate in sports and to develop good sportsmanship. The program is based on the progressive development of sport skills through a series of modified games. Within this framework, particular sports are modified to fit the needs of individuals so all can experience success. Classes meet four days a week, and skills continue to be developed for soccer, basketball, baseball, lacrosse, floor hockey, and team handball. Teachers emphasize the rules of the game, game strategy, and sportsmanship. In addition, conditioning and fitness, improving self esteem, and developing pride and responsibility are emphasized. All boys take The President's Challenge fitness test in the fall and spring to ensure that appropriate levels of fitness have been achieved.

Grade Five and Grade Six

The boys play in an intramural soccer program in the fall and an intramural softball program in the spring two days a week at Randalls Island. On the days boys are at school, they develop their game skills and participate in a different activity to add variety to their program. During the winter, boys may play on an interscholastic basketball team or participate in the regular physical education program. Boys on the team practice during their scheduled class period and play games after school. For the boys continuing in the regular program, the coaches present a variety of activities to promote skill development for other sports.

Form I and Form II

Boys in Form I and Form II have the option of playing on an interscholastic athletic team or participating in the physical education program. If a boy joins a team, he does not attend physical education classes until the season has concluded. Boys taking physical education classes will participate in a variety of intramural programs: indoor soccer, volleyball, basketball, lacrosse, floor hockey, team handball, wiffleball, and the martial arts form known as Tai-Chi . Boys also continue to develop their skills for each of these sports on the days games are not played. Beginning in Form I and Form II, the boys are introduced to the Fitness Center. They learn how to exercise properly with weights and how to design an exercise program for their specific needs.

Team Sports

Grades Five and Six: Grades Five and Six participate in interscholastic competition in basketball, and intramural competition in soccer and softball at Randall's Island. Form I and Form II participate in interscholastic competition in soccer, cross country, basketball, baseball, and track.