What supplies do PE teachers typically need families to provide?

The most common PE family-supplied items are: athletic shoes with non-marking soles, a water bottle (a genuine health requirement, not a preference), and in some schools a PE uniform or specific athletic clothes. Some units require additional items like a swim cap for aquatics, mouth guards for contact sports, or athletic supporters. The school provides all equipment and supplies for activities: balls, nets, protective gear, and fitness equipment. Family supplies should be limited to personal items that students need for safety and participation.

How do I explain the non-marking sole requirement for athletic shoes?

Name both the safety reason and the practical reason. 'Non-marking soles are a requirement for all indoor PE activities for two reasons: they protect the gym floor from black streaks that are expensive to remove and that become a slip hazard when they build up, and they provide better lateral traction than marking rubber soles during quick direction changes, which reduces ankle roll injuries. Running shoes, court shoes, and most standard athletic shoes have non-marking soles. Dress shoes, boots, sandals, and most outdoor cleats do not. If you are unsure whether a specific shoe qualifies, bring it to the first class and I will check.'

Should I require a dedicated PE uniform?

Many teachers do not, and the research on whether required uniforms improve participation is mixed. If your school requires a PE uniform, state the exact specifications and where to purchase it. If you allow any appropriate athletic clothing: 'Students can wear any comfortable, movement-appropriate clothing to PE. Jeans, restrictive pants, and dress clothes are not appropriate because they limit range of motion and can cause chafing during extended physical activity. A dedicated PE outfit is not required. Any athletic shorts, leggings, sweatpants, or similar bottoms with a t-shirt or athletic top is fine.'

How do I handle families who cannot afford athletic shoes?

Have a private resolution process and name it explicitly in the newsletter. 'If purchasing appropriate footwear creates a financial hardship, please email me privately before the first class and I will connect you with school resources that can help. In the meantime, your student can participate in sitting and floor activities in their regular shoes until the footwear situation is resolved. No student will be excluded from PE for not having the right shoes while we work on a solution.' Naming the private solution removes the barrier for families who need it without requiring them to ask in front of others.

What platform makes PE supply request newsletters easy to send?

Daystage sends the supply list directly to family email inboxes before school starts, which gives families time to handle the shoe and clothing requirements during back-to-school shopping. Unlike a paper flyer sent home in a backpack, an email stays searchable and retrievable. Families who have a question in October about whether a specific shoe type is acceptable can search their email for the supply letter rather than emailing you to ask the same question you answered in September.

Physical Education Teacher Newsletter: Supply

PE supply requests are simpler than supply requests in most subjects, but the ones that generate the most family friction, specifically the athletic shoe requirement, need to be handled with both clarity about why the rule exists and care for families who face financial barriers. A well-written supply newsletter covers both.

Lead with what the school provides

"The school provides all activity equipment for PE: balls, nets, goals, rackets, protective gear, and fitness room equipment. Students do not purchase any of these. What students need to provide are personal items: athletic shoes, a water bottle, and appropriate clothing." This opener immediately reassures families that the cost is manageable and focused on personal items rather than equipment.

The shoe requirement: be specific and explain the why

The shoe requirement generates more questions than any other PE supply item. Here is a newsletter excerpt that handles it completely:

"Athletic shoes are required for all indoor PE activities. Required characteristics: non-marking soles (most athletic shoes qualify, including running shoes, cross-trainers, and court shoes), closed toe and heel, and enough ankle support for lateral movement. Not acceptable: sandals, flip-flops, Crocs, boots, dress shoes, or outdoor cleats with marking rubber. Why: non-marking soles protect the gym floor, and proper athletic shoes reduce ankle injuries during quick-change-direction activities. If you are uncertain whether a specific shoe qualifies, bring it to the first class and I will check before purchasing anything new. If appropriate shoes are a financial barrier, email me privately before the first class. We will find a solution."

Address the water bottle requirement as a health need

"A water bottle is required for PE, not optional. Students who engage in 40 to 50 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity need to hydrate during and after that activity. The gym has a water fountain, but stopping to use it interrupts activity flow and students consistently underdrink when they do not have a bottle at hand. Any reusable water bottle works. It should have a secure lid. We keep a small supply of clean water bottles for students who forget. If purchasing a water bottle is a barrier, please let me know."

PE clothing: be clear without being prescriptive

"Clothing for PE should allow free movement and be appropriate for physical activity. This means: athletic shorts, gym pants, sweatpants, athletic leggings, or similar bottoms. Any t-shirt, athletic top, or sweatshirt. Denim jeans limit movement significantly and are not appropriate for activity days. Skirts and dresses without bike shorts underneath are also not appropriate for floor-based or inversion activities. A dedicated PE uniform is not required. Students can arrive in any appropriate athletic clothing. If a student arrives in jeans on an activity day, I have athletic shorts in the spare clothing bin they can borrow."

Unit-specific equipment requests

Some units require additional items. Give families advance notice, specific instructions, and alternatives. "For our swimming unit (late October): students who prefer to wear a swim cap may bring one. Swim caps are not required but are recommended for students with long hair for comfort and for reducing chlorine exposure. School-issued swim goggles are available for the unit, or students may bring their own. For the archery unit: no special clothing required, but students with long sleeves or hoodies should know that loose fabric on the arm can interfere with the bowstring. We will address this in class on day one."

Name a clear deadline and where to bring supplies

"Please have athletic shoes and a water bottle in school by the first PE class. Check your student's schedule for when their first PE period is this semester. Both items can come to the first class or be dropped at the main office labeled with your student's name beforehand. Questions about whether a specific shoe qualifies can be sent to my email with a photo of the shoe. I can answer that before school starts so families do not need to wonder."

Close with the private accommodation offer

"If any item on this list creates a financial barrier, please email me privately before the first week of school ends. I will connect you with school resources quietly and without making it a public matter. No student will be excluded from PE participation due to a supply issue while we work on a solution together. The goal is to get every student moving, and that goal is more important than any specific piece of equipment." That sentence, delivered clearly and followed through on, builds the trust that makes the rest of the year's communication work.

Physical Education Teacher Newsletter: Supply Request Newsletter