At KTS, the Physical Education curriculum is designed to promote a lifelong interest in physical activity and the importance of a healthy lifestyle, and to that end the students are exposed to a wide variety of sports, both team and individual, in order that they may find an activity that best suits their interests and abilities.

The expectations for Grades 6 to 8 build on students’ experiences in the elementary grades and further develop the knowledge and skills they need in order to be physically and health literate. Because the base of knowledge, experience, and skills varies from student to student, it is important for instruction to be differentiated to meet a wide range of student needs. The emphasis in these grades is on building students’ understanding of themselves in relation to others.

Students in these grades undertake units in sports such as basketball, volleyball, touch rugby, soccer, lacrosse, netball, ball hockey, cross country and track & field. Within these sport-specific units, students can utilize the motor and movement skills they have learned previously within the framework of a set of rules and boundaries, and can employ tactics and strategies that encourage teamwork and cooperation within small groups/teams and the class as a whole.

Throughout the year there will also be opportunities to sample a number of other activities, either in club sessions or lesson time, including sports such as cricket, baseball, skating, fencing, hockey, swimming and water polo. In addition, the school takes part in a number of tournaments run by the Algonquin and Lakeshore Catholic District School Board over the course of the year, and many students in our intermediate grades are able to represent the school in cross country, volleyball, basketball, soccer and track & field.

In addition to active participation, students will also learn about issues that affect our health in other ways, such as personal safety, healthy eating choices, healthy lifestyle choices in respect to drug and alcohol use and issues that can affect one’s mental health and well-being. Most of these issues will be addressed within the Outdoor Ed curriculum and/or in specific ‘Living Skills’ lessons.