When some people think about a balanced education, reading, writing and math instantly spring to mind, but it’s easy to forget about physical education. P.E. is fundamental to helping kids develop motor skills, stay healthy and build character. Rossman School, an independent preparatory school, understands its importance. The school strives to meet its mission of excellence in all aspects of its curriculum, including physical education.
Larry Huusko, a P.E. teacher at Rossman for 30 years, says a major reason its program stands out is every student has P.E. every day. “It allows them to develop at their own pace,” he explains. “We can do a variety of different games that focus on the same skill. If students don’t get it right away, they can continue to work on it.” The P.E. program targets specific skills for different age groups. The lower school (junior kindergarten to second grade) learns movement education, mastering balance and coordination. After second grade, students move on to a sports-based curriculum.
Rossman uses a team-teaching model that further distinguishes its program from others. “At its most basic, team teaching allows us to focus on the individual child,” says lower school director Elizabeth Zurlinden. “Collaboration allows teachers to determine the best way to address personalized needs and nurture students’ strengths.” The team-teaching model is found across Rossman’s curriculum, and Huusko and his teaching partner Jenna Lucas see the benefits in their classes. “We want the children to develop into the best people they can be, and team teaching is very helpful in achieving that,” he says. “One of us can lead a unit, and the other can help those who are struggling or need other attention.”
Character education also is integral to Rossman’s philosophy; teachers endeavor to apply its core values of kindness, responsibility, respect and honesty to all student activities. “We are intentional in how we teach curricular content, but we are just as intentional about building and applying strong character,” Zurlinden says. P.E., according to both Zurlinden and Huusko, provides unique and tangible ways to model these character traits through sportsmanship. Along with character development, P.E. provides a space for students to express themselves creatively. According to Huusko, the lower school always is working creatively with movement, and the upper school completes a dance unit each year, culminating in student-choreographed performances.
Huusko is grateful for the support the Rossman community gives the P.E. department. The school’s dedication to professional development has allowed him to attend conferences and innovate his curriculum. He even attended an international conference in Istanbul, Turkey. “It was an eye-opening experience,” he says. “It’s not an opportunity every elementary school teacher gets.” Alongside the administration’s dedication, parents at Rossman also offer support for P.E. and other programs. The school recently was able to install a new rubberized running track, making it safer for students and allowing it to be used more often. Zurlinden sees this commitment as indicative of Rossman and its community as a whole. “We are committed to excellence,” she says. “Every day, our parents and faculty prove that is a lived mission.”
Founded in 1917, Rossman School is a coeducational, independent elementary school that serves students in junior kindergarten to Grade Six. The school’s open house is from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., Nov. 29 and it’s Winter Wonderland is 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., Dec. 2. Pictured on the cover: students enjoying the school’s new state-of-the-art track. For more information, call 314.434.5877 or visit rossmanschool.org.
Cover design | Julie Streiler
Cover photo | Colin Miller of Strauss Photography