Physical Education: The purpose of VCMS physical education is to provide all students with the skills needed to be physically fit, to give students the opportunity to practice and improve these skills and to leave VCMS with the skills needed to maintain a healthy level of fitness throughout their lifetime. All students receive physical education every other day for the entire school year. Students will begin class with a warm up to prepare the body for exercise, followed by a unit activity and ending with a cool down. In the first trimester, students will focus on the components of the CT Physical Fitness Tests. The tests include the mile run, push ups, curl ups and the sit and reach. Students will also partake in other fitness and game activities such as soccer, flag football, disc golf, trail walking, and team handball. Second trimester, students will practice the CT fitness PACER Test as well as basketball, bowling, and volleyball. Students will be given the opportunity to workout in the fitness center and learn about basic muscles, the FITT Principle, and workout center safety. The third trimester, students may participate in cooperative games, orienteering, disc golf, floor hockey, track and field, ball games, and the half mile challenge. The main focus of physical education class is to provide all students with a variety of fitness experiences to help students discover activities they could enjoy for a lifetime of fitness.

Health: All students will have one trimester of health per school year. The class will meet every other day for the trimester opposite physical education. In sixth grade, students will learn about steps to making good decisions, peer influences, and bullying. As well as tobacco, alcohol, nutrition and wellness. Students will learn about human growth and development, specifically, puberty changes. In seventh grade health, students will research a variety of lifestyle diseases and first aid procedures. Other topics include; the health triangle, sun safety, nutrition, tobacco, alcohol and other drugs. As well as how to set SMART goals, understand tolerance, and gain conflict resolution skills. Eighth grade health explores similar topics in nutrition, substance abuse, and human growth and development in more depth. Students will research healthful diets and evaluate each one with classmates to find a healthy and realistic eating plan. Students will learn about a variety of drugs and learn refusal skills to help keep them safe. Also, students will learn about puberty, healthy relationships, conception and birth, as well as sexually transmitted diseases including HIV/AIDS education.

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