Black Hills High School

The Black Hills Physical Education Department is dedicated to teaching students motor skills, appreciation and cognitive aspects of lifetime sports and fitness. The curriculum is based on the Washington State Health and Fitness Essential Learning Requirements and the National Physical Education Standards (NASPE). Black Hills High School, a fairly "young" school in existence since 1997, is a traditional suburban high school of 949 students located in a town with a population of 12,750. The three physical educators have been at this school since its opening and have developed their program around physical fitness, lifetime sports and activities. Student are offered a variety of activities on both a required and elective basis. The students at Black Hills are required to take two years of daily physical education, beginning with required ninth grade classes. More than half of the Black Hills student body are motivated enough to take more than the required course work with half of the school's student body enrolled in a daily physical education class of 50 to 55 minutes. Special education students are mainstreamed into the physical education classes. Several unique initiatives include: 5 day weekly courses on a trimester basis; elective career oriented courses in sports medicine and athletic training; guest specialists provide expert instruction in various activities; physical education Student of the Year program; Run-a-Thon fundraiser to support purchase of technology equipment.