PE Teachers Gather At Hawley For Professional Development

By Eliza Hallabeck

Although school was out for the day, a number of physical education teachers from the Newtown Public School district gathered in the gymnasium of Hawley Elementary School to learn new techniques from Cody Foss, owner of The Fitness Loft on Simm Lane, on Friday, April 3.

In response to the Connecticut Physical Fitness Test changing to a new form in the coming fall, Hawley PE teacher Doug Michlovitz said Mr Foss volunteered his time to help the gathered PE teachers from the district to learn about new ways to test and prepare students for the new generation of the test.

“With the new version of the test,” said Mr Michlovitz, “I thought it would be great to have [Mr Foss] come.”

Mr Michlovitz said two teachers from Sandy Hook Elementary School, Jan Huot and Beth Gattey, originally contacted Mr Foss with the idea for the staff development event.

The day was a “give and take” between Mr Foss and the teachers, Mr Michlovitz said, because the teachers were able to learn new techniques and Mr Foss was able to hear feedback from the teachers about which movements and combinations would work with students.

Mr Michlovitz said he is hopeful that the day is the first in a continuing effort to give students in the district up-to-date training and analysis.

This year’s third grade students will begin preparing for the testing in the spring, but will be officially tested as fourth grade students next school year.

The test combines multiple different forms of a student’s physical capability, including a sit and reach test and potentially running a mile. All students in the fourth, sixth, eighth and tenth grades are tested, and their results are sent to the state, similar to the CAPT.

“It’s a lot of work,” said Mr Michlovitz about administering the test to students, “but it’s great.”

Some of the things Mr Foss went over with the teachers included dynamic stretching, speed and agility work, and using hurdles and an agility ladder.

Mr Michlovitz said Mr Foss giving up his time to go over these things for the staff development day was much appreciated.