PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

The Ontario government is committed to supporting a healthy school environment. Physical activity is essential for the proper growth and development of our youth. Providing students with opportunities to be physically active can have a positive impact on their physical, mental, and social well-being. In particular, physical activity is likely to have an impact on students’ achievement, readiness to learn, behaviour, and self-esteem.

Physical inactivity has become a serious health and social issue for Canadian youth. Research indicates that activity levels for the majority of youth are not sufficient for healthy growth and development, and that many young people do not have daily opportunities to be physically active. Over the past twenty-five years, obesity rates among children have increased substantially, with the result that a large number of children face the risk of developing such serious illnesses as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, stroke, and some cancers. Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Sheela Basrur, has called on schools “to become part of a comprehensive province-wide effort to change all the factors that contribute to unhealthy weight. … [to] act now to create communities that promote healthy eating and regular physical activity.”

Pinehurst School’s Behaviour Code has always emphasized that “vigorous physical activity must become part of each student’s routine and way of life. Participation in physical activity provides students with a variety of opportunities for increasing their self-esteem, and for developing positive interpersonal skills and attitudes, including practices of fair play and respect for others.”

Activity Periods

Activity periods encourage students to develop such aspects of physical fitness as flexibility, agility, coordination, strength, balance, and, especially, cardiovascular respiratory endurance. Activity periods run after school, and as appropriate for the particular scheduled activities each weekend.

Engaging Weekend Programs

Weekend programming at Pinehurst School is diverse in nature, designed to promote pro-social behaviour and team-building skills amongst the students. Each day is designated by a theme; either physically or entertainment oriented. Physical activities are mandatory for all students and can range from an afternoon of swimming to a lengthy game of Ball Hockey. The entertainment activities are designed to reward students in good standing. These activities can range from an afternoon at Canada’s Wonderland to a lunch out and a matinee movie. Students who are not in good standing remain at the school, and participate in individually designed remedial programming.