Candice Anvari staff writer
Due to the transition to home learning, the Athletics Department decided to provide students with alternative ways to continue their physical education from the safety of their homes.
Students currently enrolled in physical education, dance and spring sports must fill out weekly fitness logs accounting the exercise they performed that week. The weekly logs count toward the students’ grades and, further, encourage their physical education.
BHUSD Director of Athletics Tim Ellis believes the weekly logs allow athletes and physical education students to stay motivated and keep their bodies healthy.
“We’re hoping our instructions can help students stay both mentally and physically in shape by working out and keeping themselves healthy during this difficult time,” Ellis said.
Sophomore Warren Jacobson believes the weekly logs have both effective and ineffective qualities. He noticed that the logs cannot prevent students from breaking the honor code.
“While you do have a log you are required to fill out, there is nothing stopping you from lying on it just to get points,” Jacobson said. “It may encourage you to go out and exercise, but there is only so much you can do.”
However, dance teacher Dana Findley believes the weekly fitness logs can help motivate students. Findley is incorporating dance projects into her online curriculum to help students tap into their “creative outlets” and release their emotions into their dances.
“I’m hoping that I’m inspiring my students to do something that makes them feel better. Dance can be a stress relief, so I’m hoping my students are benefiting from these activities,” Findley said.
Junior Eva Levin finds it “really interesting” to have the option to take dance classes online and release some creativity into video projects.
While experimenting with online activities, Findley noticed that dancing through a camera and dancing face-to-face are two separate experiences because dance is a three-dimensional art form.
“Most teachers go into teaching for that personal connection with their students, and it’s hard to make something three-dimensional into something two-dimensional,” Findley said. “We’ve used recordings in class before, but we found that it doesn’t do justice to the amount of energy and effort you put into something.”
Findley believes that her students will benefit in their physical education if they follow the weekly fitness logs and continue working on their projects.
“I think that my students are a lovely and honest group of kids, and I believe they’re thinking about what they’re getting out of every assignment,” Findley said. “I assign dancing and working out so my students can relieve some stress and keep their body and mind as healthy as possible while we’re all trying to stay safe and healthy during this time.”
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Students run without sun: PE goes virtual
April 17, 2020
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