North Carolina DPI K-8 Healthy Active Children Policy 

The Healthful Living program in middle school is designed to help each student develop proactive health promotion behaviors. Students should develop positive attitudes toward regular physical activity and its effect on health. Students learn to be aware of the important health risks for their age group and learn to appraise their own health and fitness status, healthful behavior, and potential for health risk. They learn the principles of exercise and diet that contribute to the development of personal fitness.

Middle school physical education classes offer students a wide variety of movement experiences. Our students engage in traditional sports like basketball, volleyball, soccer, and cross country/running. Some schools also offer units in ultimate games, floor hockey, step aerobics, lifetime pursuits/sports, fitness stations, quiz bowl games, and more!

All schools have dress out policies about what students should wear to safely participate in physical education.  Students have middle school physical education or health every other day. Schools should be using "Energizer Activities" or "Brain Breaks" to promote movement within the core subject academic environment.  These should get students up and moving to increase brain chemicals which improve "time on task" and, therefore, improve learning. Healthy students make the best learners!

Statement of Policy 5143:  IX. Goals for Physical Activity

1. Physical Activity during the School Day. Students will be given opportunities for physical activity during the school day through daily recess periods, physical education (P.E.) classes, walking programs, and the integration of physical activity into the academic curriculum.  Schools will promote an environment supportive of physical activity.

   • Middle: Middle school students shall be provided not less than 90 minutes of physical education for each 5-day school week and shall be offered opportunities to participate in an average of 30 minutes per day of physical activities, such as intramural sports, interscholastic sports, classroom energizers and other activities. In addition, middle school students should be encouraged to participate in the many youth sports programs that lease WS/FCS athletic facilities.

2. Physical Education Classes. Physical education classes shall be taught by state licensed instructors in an environment where students learn, practice and are assessed on developmentally appropriate motor skills, social skills and knowledge. Physical education will be consistent with state standards.  Physical education will include the instruction of individual activities as well as competitive and non-competitive team sports to encourage life-long physical activity.  All students should be provided an opportunity to participate in physical education classes. 

3. Physical Activity Before and After School. Students will be given opportunities for physical activity through a range of after-school programs including intramurals, interscholastic athletics, and physical activity clubs.

4. Creating a Positive Environment for Physical Activity.

   • Physical activity will not be used as a form of punishment.

   • Opportunities for physical activity (e.g. recess, physical education) will not be withheld as a form of discipline, except in the case of a brief timeout for misbehavior occurring during the physical activity.

   • The above two guidelines do not apply to extracurricular sports teams.

   • Recess/physical activity time will not be cancelled for instructional make-up time.

   • All schools in the district will provide a physical and social environment that encourages safe and enjoyable activity for all students, including those who are not athletically inclined.

   • Information will be provided to families to help them incorporate physical activity into their children’s lives.