Physical Education

Talented Teacher Award

Congratulations to Bryan Wickoren, recipient of the September Jeffco Talented Teacher Award. Bryan has been recognized for the specialized, adapted physical education services he provides for differently-abled students all across Jeffco. Bryan created and maintains a flagship adapted athletics league, in which differently-abled students get to enjoy all the benefits sports and athletics have to offer in friendly, monthly competitive events. 

Colorado PE teachers of the year

• Lisa Ordway, PE teacher at Van Arsdale Elementary, was recognized by the Colorado Society of Health and Physical Educators (SHAPE Colorado) as the 2022 Elementary PE Teacher of the Year for her contributions to the field of physical education. 
• Rusty Owston, PE teacher at North Arvada Middle School, was recognized by SHAPE Colorado as the 2022 Middle School PE Teacher of the Year. 
• Alicia Knickerbocker, PE teacher at Shelton Elementary, was recognized by SHAPE Colorado as the 2021 Elementary PE Teacher of the Year. 
• Jim Thyfault, Former Executive Director of Activities & Athletics, was recognized by SHAPE Colorado as 2018 Administrator of the Year.
• Jaime Rice, Health Education Content Specialist, was recognized by SHAPE Colorado as 2019 Health Educator of the Year.
• Brad Hull, Former PE teacher at Everitt Middle School was recognized by SHAPE America as 2019 Central District Middle School Teacher of the Year
• Bonnie Walker, PE teacher at Jeffco Virtual Academy, was recognized by SHAPE Colorado as 2020 High School Teacher of the Year.

Tips for supporting elementary students’ health and physical fitness:

Kindergarten

• Limit students’ time in front of a screen to two hours or less per day.
• Provide a variety of opportunities for moderate to vigorous activity at least 60 minutes per day.
• Foster an enjoyment of movement by emphasizing participation and effort over competition.
• Discuss the importance of being a safe and responsible “mover.”

First Grade

• Provide multiple opportunities to jump rope, run, dodge, play catch and swing with or without music.
• Repetition is important in creating balance and muscle memory.
• Model healthy eating and being active.
• Involve students in creating healthy meals; ask them to identify different food groups.
• Help them develop good hygiene habits, including dental care.

Second Grade

• Provide opportunities to jump rope, run, dodge, play catch and swing. Repetition is important in creating balance and muscle memory.
• Provide healthy food choices and have them explain why they are good choices.
• Ask why they enjoy a particular activity over another.

Third Grade

• Provide opportunities to combine and change movements without stopping, such as run and jump.
• Talk with students about setting goals. Possible questions might include: “What’s a reasonable goal and what’s not? How do you decide what’s realistic? What factors influence the ability to reach goals?”
• Discuss safety in the home, cars, bicycles and walking to school.

Fourth Grade

• Involve students in the planning and choosing of healthy snacks and meals.
• Encourage them to participate in a variety of individual as well as team activities every day for at least 60 minutes.
• Talk with them about respect for rules, officials, their own teammates and competitors and the examples of professional athletes.

Fifth Grade

• Have students identify a health- or skill-related fitness component that would improve their success in an activity they participate in and set goals for improvement.
• Talk with them about food choices for energy.
• Talk with them about truth in advertisements and what influences choices about activities and food.