Physical Education

Overview

Every Porter Academy student participates in PE four days a week. Daily movement isn’t just about physical health — it plays a key role in brain development, attention, and success in learning (see Our Approach for more on how physical readiness supports academic learning).

Our PE program is built around four goals:

1. Provide consistent, regular exercise
2. Explicitly teach the foundational skills and abilities that underlie sports and physical activity
3. Help students discover sports and activities they genuinely enjoy, building a lifelong love of movement
4. Develop cooperative behavior and good sportsmanship
5. Help students understand the value of physical activity and wellness

We emphasize teamwork and good sportsmanship over competitiveness, which helps students build self-confidence, strengthen peer relationships, and develop an intrinsic enjoyment of physical activity — a foundation for a healthy lifestyle well beyond Porter Academy. Physical challenges can be hard for many of our students, and our small class sizes mean every student gets the individualized support they need to experience real success in PE.

Our Weekly Rhythm

PE follows a consistent, skills-based weekly structure, so students build strength, coordination, and body awareness progressively over the course of the year — all aligned with state physical education standards.

• Muscle Monday — Basic strength-building (bodyweight exercises, partner workouts), paired with encouragement and mental toughness
• Teamwork Tuesday — Locomotor skills (running, direction changes, throwing and catching) practiced through team games and relays
• Tighten Up Thursday — Balance and body control, through activities like animal poses, balance challenges, and games that build focus and self-control
• Fitness Friday — Personal space, listening skills, and movement control, tying the week’s skills together through games and rhythm-based activities

This rhythm gives students a predictable structure they can count on, while still keeping each day active, varied, and fun.