TAYLOR MILL — A revamped physical education program is taking shape at Scott High School, thanks in part to a new field house on campus.
The field house, completed May 1, new course offerings and a different approach to teaching physical education is giving Scott’s students more options and more opportunities to get fit, according to PE teacher Lisa Brewer.
“We’re trying to get away from the traditional PE class, which requires students to ‘dress out’ and engage in specified sports,” said Brewer, who chairs the school’s physical education department. “We want our students to be more engaged in our PE classes, and participate in activities they can enjoy for the rest of their lives.”
Construction of the new facility helped spark the PE program overhaul.
While the school will still offer traditional PE courses, new strength-training courses, individualized leisure-time sport courses, and swimming and lifeguard training courses will be the norm for most students as the revamped program progresses, Brewer said.
Some of the new courses are already being offered, and others will be available this fall for the new school year.
“We’re seeing a lot of interest from students, and classes for next year are filling up,” Brewer said.
Scott is also offering a Concepts of Coaching course, which helps prepare students who have coaching aspirations after high school. The new class combines coursework and a variety of guest speakers – most of whom are current coaches from throughout the local area, according to PE and health teacher Casey Fisk, who teaches the new course.
All of the new PE courses are being held in both the school’s gymnasium and its newly constructed field house. It’s an 18,000-square-foot facility that includes a multipurpose room filled with artificial turf and houses a weight room, trainer room, open areas for instruction and locker rooms.
“The idea is to give kids more options and help promote lifelong fitness,” Fisk said of the new course offerings. “When students are interested in the content, they get more out of it.”