Alberta's Physical Education Curriculum supports students in acquiring skills through a variety of developmentally appropriate movement activities. They will gain experience within various physical activities assisting them in further understanding health & wellness benefits, promoting positive interactions and leading an active lifestyle.


Physical Literacy is the motivation, confidence, physical competence, knowledge and understanding to value and take responsibility for engagement in physical activities (Whitehead, 2016).


Physically literate individuals consistently develop the motivation and ability to understand, communicate, apply, and analyze different forms of movement. They are able to demonstrate a variety of movements confidently, competently, creatively and strategically across a wide range of health-related physical activities. These skills enable individuals to make healthy, active choices that are both beneficial to and respectful of their whole self, others, and their environment.







WDP Physical Education Clothing & Footwear Requirements


All William D. Pratt students in grades 7, 8 & 9 are required to change for their Physical Education classes unless otherwise directed. Specifically, each student is required to meet the following 3 standards to be considered changed for P.E. class:



  • A short or long sleeve T-shirt that is worn ONLY in P.E. class.  However, students may also wear a hoodie, sweater or jacket for outdoor P.E. classes as long as you have changed the layer underneath.
  • Shorts or sweatpants that are worn ONLY in P.E. class.
  • Properly tied or fastened footwear that is clean and appropriate for athletic activity.


Students in Grades 5 & 6 are not asked to change for PE classes, but are required to wear properly tied or fastened footwear that is clean and appropriate for athletic activity.


Hats may be worn during outdoor P.E. classes only.  Students have been directed to place their hat in their hallway locker prior to coming to an indoor P.E. class.


Please note that clothing branded with our school logo is NOT required for gym class, but is available for purchase throughout the school year.


Regularly refusing to change for class may negatively affect your mark, specifically under Physical Education’s Report Card Outcome #3 – “Explores strategies for leading a healthy and active way of life.”  Simply put, clothing that you have worn during physical activity should NOT be worn in your academic classes. This is unhygienic and therefore disrespectful of both yourself and others who are unfortunately seated nearby you. 


Students who are not changed into separate clothing or are not wearing properly tied or fastened footwear that is clean and appropriate for athletic activity may be provided alternate activities during their PE class.­­



Physical Education Team & Teacher Assignments for 2023-2024









Why is Physical Education important?


Physical Education ensures that all children have the opportunity to develop the knowledge, skills, and habits that they need to lead physically active lives now, and just as importantly, into the future. Regular physical activity can help children and adolescents improve cardiovascular fitness, build strong bones and muscles, control weight, reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression, and reduce the risk of developing health conditions such as heart disease, cancer and Type 2 diabetes.


There is also evidence that exercise helps children to learn more efficiently.  Dr. John J. Ratey, an associate clinical professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, explored the connection between exercise and the brain, providing strong evidence that aerobic exercise physically remodels the brain for peak performance on all fronts. Specifically, Dr. Ratey wrote that exercise improves learning on three levels: "First, it optimizes your mind-set to improve alertness, attention, and motivation; second, it prepares and encourages nerve cells to bind to one another, which is the cellular basis for logging in new information; and third, it spurs the development of new nerve cells from stem cells in the hippocampus." In short, not only does exercise help the brain get ready to learn but it actually makes retaining information easier.


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Thank you for assisting your child in being successful not only in their Physical Education class, but in all aspects of school here at William D. Pratt School.


Your 2023-2024 WDP Physical Education Team:  

     Mr. Vahaaho (Learning Leader), Mr. Howat & Ms. Maxwell