Program

Athletics

P.E. is an essential component of the education of children at Curtis. We strive to make our classes fun while teaching the fundamentals of motor skills and movement patterns, the elements of teamwork, the importance of personal responsibility, and the value of fitness.

Lower Elementary Physical Education

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  • From the Director of Physical Education

    I welcome your interest in learning about the Physical Education program for Lower Elementary students (DK-Grade 2). Curtis School's P.E. program is one of the finest in Los Angeles. We have seven full time P.E. teachers, which enables us to provide instruction and guidance in physical education five days a week.

    Our primary objective is to provide a program that encourages all students to participate in and enjoy physical education for their health and wellness, personal pleasure, self-expression, and social interaction.

    Within this framework, we focus on team building, sportsmanship, daily exercise, and developing a basic understanding of the game or activity being played. To develop team skills, children learn to share equipment, work in small and large groups, and play with others whose abilities may differ from their own. Sportsmanship includes encouraging one another and feeling good about winning or losing after putting forth one's best effort. The value of daily exercise is experienced, and children gain confidence as they see their physical skills improve over time with practice and effort.

    Physical education offers rich opportunities for students to develop personal values and interpersonal skills that translate to many facets of life and that they will continue to benefit from long after they have graduated from Curtis School.

    Children are guided to take responsibility for their behavior, to learn to follow directions, and to take care of sports equipment. They are taught to respect the individual space and the learning and skill differences of others. Concepts of team and community are explored to encourage them to share with and care for others.

    Focusing on the individual, children build confidence by learning to set realistic goals, taking risks, and growing beyond the fear of failure. They learn the characteristics and value of both leadership and following. Sports provides opportunities to practice conflict resolution through problem-solving, patience, acceptance, and emotional control. Students develop concentration and focus as they learn to deal with pressure, manage outside influences, and maintain a mental vision of success. Finally, they build determination and commitment by learning the value of effort, endurance, and follow-through.

    While sharing these basic goals, each instructor has his/her own teaching style and is free to choose from a wide variety of games and drills to teach a common core of motor and coordination skills, including throwing and catching, skipping, hopping, running, jumping, kicking, and balance. We strive to have the students understand the importance of physical activity, healthy eating, and taking care of their body and how it works.

    Activities and games fall into two general but overlapping categories: wellness, fitness, and cooperative (team) games. Wellness includes lifetime fitness, body awareness, healthy eating, balance, stretching, and proper breathing techniques. Fitness includes track and field, endurance training, swimming, jumping rope, tumbling, and (for the younger children) movement to music. Team games that are introduced in physical education include baseball, t-ball, basketball, flag football, handball, kickball, soccer, volleyball, field hockey, relays, and flag games.

    I invite you to contact me if you have any questions about the Lower Elementary Physical Education program.

    Alex Chistolini

    Director of Physical Education

Upper Elementary Athletics

Athletics at Curtis is a program of lively interscholastic team sports for all students in Grades 4-6. In addition to developing important physical and athletic skills, our students learn teamwork, resilience, and sportsmanship. They enjoy a special camaraderie, and as a result, Curtis athletics remains a treasured experience for our students long after graduation.

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  • From the Director of Athletics

    The Athletics Department is proud of the unique approach we take to introducing competitive sports to our students. It is something we do with care, attention to skill development and sportsmanship, and a keen focus on helping children learn how to compete within a culture of camaraderie. We believe that both winning and losing impart important lessons and we strive to use these as teaching opportunities.

    Our program is designed to ensure that every child gets involved in interscholastic competition. Teams are organized by skill level to give every student a chance to play, grow as an athlete, and improve their physical and social skills.

    Curtis School is a part of the San Fernando Valley Private School League (SFVPSL), which is comprised of forty-two independent schools. Students in Grades 4 through 6 compete against local SFVPSL schools in three athletic seasons over the course of a year.

    P.E. class time is dedicated to learning and practicing athletic skills and teamwork. Games are scheduled for after-school hours and are played both at home and away. Game days are exciting for the athletes, and they appreciate the support of our Curtis families, faculty, and student body, who show up to cheer them on.

    All the Curtis coaches are committed to making sure that the students are prepared for the transition from Lower Elementary physical education to the athletics program, and we strive to make this experience for 3rd graders an exciting and positive one.

    Over the years, we have found that students graduate from Curtis with a love of sports, compassion for their teammates and opponents, and an appreciation for the importance of discipline in athletics. The coaches take great pride in sharing these life skills with the children.

    We look forward to carrying forward these Curtis traditions. See you at the games!

    Alex Chistolini

    Director of Athletics
  • Sports Night

    At the end of the school year, families are invited to join their student-athletes in Grades 4-6 for the well-loved and much anticipated tradition of Sports Night. The evening features athletic games for parents/guardians and students, followed by a hearty barbeque dinner on the Singleton Quad, Curtis alumni athlete speakers, and the presentation of team and individual awards.

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  • Fall Sports

    Flag Football
    Basketball
    Swimming
  • Winter Sports

    Basketball
    Soccer
  • Spring Sports

    Baseball
    Soccer
    Volleyball
    Track & Field

Athletics Awards

Each year, the athletics faculty presents awards to our students for their achievement in a variety of categories, including physical fitness, league titles, and exceptional individual achievement. These awards are announced at the annual Sports Night awards celebration for Grades 4-6.

The following awards recognize individual students for distinction in specific areas:

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  • Fred Perry Award

    The Fred Perry Award is presented to the outstanding 6th Grade boy and the outstanding 6th Grade girl who are multi-sport athletes and exhibit a high level of athletic skill; demonstrate the finest qualities of sportsmanship; have the passion of a competitor; and by word and/or action raise the level of play of his or her teammates.
  • Sportsperson Award

    Sportsperson of the year is awarded to one boy and one girl in each grade (4-6) who, through actions and words, best reflect the ideals of sportsmanship in their interactions with teammates, coaches, opponents, officials, and other adults during both practices and games.
  • Decathlon Award

    The Decathlon Award is presented to one boy and one girl in each grade (4-6) who individually accumulate the most points in eight fitness and athletic events. The points are awarded based on the student's performance within his/her grade level.
  • David Pappin Competitive Spirit Award

    The David Pappin Competitive Spirit Award is presented to the athletes in Grades 4-6 who best demonstrate desire, effort, commitment, preparation, determination, and a positive attitude.
  • Butch Gross Award

    The Butch Gross Award is presented to the athlete who "demonstrates courage in spirit and is an inspiration to all."

Curtis School

15871 Mulholland Drive  ·  Los Angeles CA 90049
310-476-1251