Physical Education Updates in Your Classroom Newsletter

Physical education is one of the subjects parents hear least about from their students. A student who had a memorable reading lesson will mention it at dinner. A student who learned a new volleyball skill often does not. A PE newsletter gives families visibility into a significant part of their student's school week and helps them reinforce physical activity habits at home.

What PE teachers should include in a newsletter

Describe the current unit or sport focus. What are students learning? What skills are you developing? Are there any rules to the game that parents might not know, which would help them talk to their student about it? A brief description of the activity is enough to give parents a hook for conversation.

Note any equipment or clothing requirements. This is practical information that directly affects participation. If students need athletic shoes on Thursdays, say so. If there is a particular piece of equipment coming home for practice, let parents know to expect it.

Fitness testing communication

Most PE programs include fitness testing at some point in the year. Tell parents when it is coming, what it involves, and how you use the results. Frame testing as an individual progress measure rather than a comparison. Many students feel anxious about fitness testing, and parents who know what to expect can have a calming, informed conversation with their student beforehand.

Connecting PE to home physical activity

Every PE newsletter should include one or two suggestions for how families can support physical activity outside of school. These suggestions work best when they connect to current class content. If students are working on throwing and catching in class, suggest spending ten minutes in the backyard practicing the same skill. If the class is playing a team sport, suggest a family version of the game.

For classroom teachers referencing PE days

If you are not the PE specialist but your newsletter covers the full school week, a brief line reminding parents of PE days and any clothing requirements is worth including once a month. It prevents the situation where a student arrives on gym day in dress shoes and cannot participate fully. One sentence is all it takes.

Celebrating student effort in PE

PE newsletters are an opportunity to celebrate physical effort and improvement in a subject where grades are not always the primary measure. A brief note about what you have seen the class achieve, personal bests on a fitness activity, increased confidence in a skill, strong team cooperation during a game, makes families feel connected to their student's physical development, not just academic performance.