Physical Education Teacher Newsletter: Setting Up the Year

The beginning-of-year PE newsletter has one job that no other first-week letter has to do: convince families that physical education is a rigorous subject with clear outcomes, not a free period with a ball. Families who understand that PE develops specific physical literacy skills, assesses fitness development, and includes cognitive knowledge components are partners in the class. Families who think of PE as recess supervision are not.

Introduce yourself and your teaching philosophy

"I teach physical education because I believe that physical literacy, knowing how to move your body safely and effectively in a range of activities, is a foundational life skill that most adults wish they had developed more deliberately. Students who leave this class having learned to swim, lift properly, run efficiently, and play a handful of team and individual sports have tools that serve them their entire lives, regardless of whether they ever play competitive sports." That is more compelling than a description of your coaching record or your years of experience.

Preview the year's unit sequence

Give families a unit overview so they know what activities are coming and can anticipate clothing or equipment needs. "Unit 1 (September): Fitness baseline and aerobic conditioning. Unit 2 (October to November): Team invasion sports: soccer, flag football, basketball. Unit 3 (December): Gymnastics and body weight movement fundamentals. Unit 4 (January to February): Net and wall sports: volleyball, badminton, pickleball. Unit 5 (March): Individual and dual sports: tennis, track and field. Unit 6 (April to May): Wellness, stress management, and fitness planning." Families who see this sequence understand what year of PE you are running.

State clothing and equipment requirements clearly

Here is a newsletter excerpt that handles PE clothing requirements without shaming:

"What students need for PE: Athletic shoes with non-marking soles. This is a safety requirement, not an aesthetic one. Running shoes, cross-trainers, or sneakers are all fine. Sandals, flip-flops, dress shoes, and boots cause ankle injuries on the gym floor and leave black marks on the court surface. A note on clothing: any comfortable, movement-appropriate clothing is acceptable for PE. A dedicated set of PE clothes is optional. Students who wear jeans or dress pants will be asked to borrow shorts from the spare clothing bin. We keep a clean supply. If athletic shoes are a financial barrier, please email me privately and I will find a solution before the first class without announcing it to anyone."

Explain grading in PE-specific terms

PE grades are often mysterious to families because they do not understand what the rubric measures. Be explicit. "PE grades are based on three categories: Participation and effort (40%): students who are present, engaged, and trying earn full points in this category regardless of their skill level. Students who are present but disengaged, refuse to try, or sit out without a documented reason do not. Skill assessment (40%): at the end of each unit, students demonstrate specific skills. For the soccer unit, this means dribbling with both feet and executing a set piece. This is assessed by me, not by a peer evaluation. Fitness and health knowledge (20%): written components, fitness logs, and the FitnessGram assessment. Athletic talent is not a grading criterion."

Address the medical accommodation process directly

PE generates more medical accommodation requests than any other subject. Prevent the end-of-year surprise by naming the process upfront. "If your student has a medical condition that affects their participation in physical activity, please submit a doctor's note to the main office before the first week of school ends. Without documentation, students are expected to participate in all activities. A doctor's note should specify what activities the student should not do and what alternatives are acceptable. 'No PE' without specification does not result in full PE exclusion. Students who cannot run can walk. Students who cannot do upper-body work can do lower-body activities. We accommodate genuinely."

State the participation policy for illness and injury

Families need to know the answer to this question before the first injury happens. "Students who are ill or injured and cannot participate should bring a note from a parent or guardian, not a student-written note. Signed parent notes allow students to sit out one class per occurrence. For ongoing injuries or illnesses, a doctor's note is required. Students who sit out without a note receive a partial participation grade. Students who have documentation are not penalized for absences. The process exists to keep accurate records and to make sure we know about health conditions that might need monitoring."

Close with your communication plan and contact information

"I send a newsletter at the start of each new unit covering what students will do, what they need to wear or bring, and any upcoming fitness assessments. For medical or health concerns about your student's participation, email is best. For immediate concerns on a PE day, the main office can reach me during my classes. I check email after school and respond within 24 hours." Families who know how to reach you with legitimate concerns are less likely to let small issues become large ones.