The Physical Education and Health program at Westbury Friends School promotes physical activity, the attainment of fitness, and an understanding of human growth. There is a strong emphasis on how behaviors affect healthy development. Through cooperative learning and student led or teacher guided discussions, students learn techniques on how to promote health and put into practice positive healthy behaviors. Initiative, leadership and responsibility are fostered in a non-competitive environment. The students learn how to establish personal goals that improve their fitness and develop an understanding between physical activity and overall wellness.

In a variety of activities, Preschoolers and Kindergarteners practice non-locomotive skills such as stretching, bending and balancing, and locomotive skills such as hopping, skipping, jumping and running. The child's own physical awareness develops through spatial and directional activities. In combination with manip-ulation skills such as ball handling, ball kicking and throwing and tossing, children play active collaborative games that improve physical fitness.

In the Primary grades, children learn to follow safety procedures, show consideration for others, and do proper warm-up and stretching techniques prior to physical activity. They learn cooperation and teamwork through games that entail individual and team skills. The balance between cooperative and competitive behaviors, the development of problem-solving skills, and the growth of playing in organized games with consistent rules allow the physical and mental growth that defines a healthy child.

The Intermediate and Upper grades continue their physical growth by concentrating on strength, flexibility and endurance as they engage in sports, calisthenics, and other physically demanding exercises. Kickball, relay races, volleyball, basketball and badminton become part of the skills activities that test the children, as they prepare for the more organized team and individual activities that will greet them in Middle School. Students learn to enjoy the company of those with individual variations, practice leadership skills, and take on responsibility for safety and thoughtfulness in their physical environment.

• Early childhood
• Kindergarten
• Primary
• Intermediate
• Upper
• Special subjects