Physical Education and Health at Spring Run School
We at the Spring Run School provide a program of skill development based on a student’s unique needs with instruction both individually and in small groups. This is accomplished through the combined support and participation of our parent agency the CEA, the administration, and staff at the Spring Run School, parent/guardian and sending district.Our students come to us with a number of handicapping conditions including cognitive impairment, developmental disabilities, autism, ADHD, behavioral disabilities, and learning disabilities. As a consequence of their disabilities, a number of our students are also delayed in gross and fine motor development and demonstrate low motivation to take the necessary physical risks to overcome their disabilities. In addition, some of our students have considerable motor ability, but due to their prior schooling experiences have not had sufficient opportunity to develop these talents.
The gross and fine motor problems that many of our students present have a severe impact on their overall well-being and impairs their viability as independent citizens. Furthermore, those students with greater capability have not had the opportunity to strive for excellence utilizing their physical skills. Therefore, we are providing a physical education program with an emphasis on personal development that is highly individualized, motivating and structured. In addition to enhancing the well being of our students, the increase in self esteem resulting from mastery of physical challenges will carry over into success in our academic, and school to work programs while helping the student to take their place in our complex American social structure.
Participation in specially adapted units in compliance with New Jersey Core Curriculum Standards, in physical fitness, weight training, gymnastics, swimming, team, dual, and individual sports skills help the student to:
- develop skills in balance, body control, grace, flexibility and coordination
- develop cardio-respiratory endurance
- provide a high energy output activity with stress release benefits
- apply knowledge to new areas or situations (problem solving, critical thinking)
- improve self-efficacy as a result of meeting success by taking controlled risks
- progress will be evaluated on a daily basis and students will receive positive reinforcement for their success
We believe that offering a program which puts a focus on developing abilities within the confines of the students’ interest areas, giving a student encouragement to improve their self image and self esteem while discovering what gifts and talents they might have, offers them an opportunity to learn how to develop a healthy life style while making friends in a diverse and supportive environment, producing individuals who are ready to take on the challenges and over come the obstacles barring their success.