The Physical Education program offers a variety of activities and programs to meet each child's physical, emotional and cognitive development. The program is guided by three experienced teaching coaches. The classes focus on building individual skills, including physical fitness, as well as cooperation through team sports. Our younger students strengthen motor skills by learning new games and activities aimed at discovering the joy of movement. All children participate in many activities which offer locomotive and rhythmic challenges including movement and cooperative games, as well as sports lead-up games. The introduction to new kinds of PE and sports equipment develops gross and fine motor skills as well as spatial awareness. The PE staff stress safety, support for emerging and experienced athletes, and a balance between competition and good sportsmanship. Hillel is well equipped and fortunate to have many learning spaces for physical education both inside our gymnasiums and out on the playgrounds. Fundamentals of soccer, basketball, gymnastics, volleyball and other team sports are taught in PE classes and reinforced throughout the school year in the interscholastic sports league in the upper elementary and middle school. The school celebrates fitness and sportsmanship during Hillel Olympics, a school-wide culminating athletics event in the late Spring.

At Hillel, we believe:

• A developmentally appropriate and comprehensive experience in health and physical education is essential for meeting the diverse needs of all students revolving around movement;

• A quality health and physical education program will foster the development of motor-skills, physical fitness, emotional strength, maturity, values, healthful decision-making and the pursuit of lifelong health and fitness;

• Participation in a daily health and physical education is an integral and inseparable part of the total K-8 educational experience;

• Our physical education specialists will continue to search for the best physical education materials and experiences, including lesson plans, equipment, ideas, and experienced, professional mentors to assist in making the program outstanding;

• Ultimately, the goal of the program is to identify, address and support the individual health and fitness needs of all children while developing each child's self-confidence and self-esteem.