Athletics

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

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

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.