Seven Letter P.E.

Sage+Fit+students+play+indoor+soccer+inside+the+Peter+V.+Ueberroth+Gymnasium.+October+11%2C+2013.+Photographer%3A+Kellen+Ochi

Kellen Ochi

Sage Fit students play indoor soccer inside the Peter V. Ueberroth Gymnasium. October 11, 2013. Photographer: Kellen Ochi

Sage Fit students cheer their goal in indoor soccer inside the Peter V. Ueberroth Gym. October 11, 2013. Photographer: Kellen Ochi
Sage Fit students cheer their goal in indoor soccer inside the Peter V. Ueberroth Gymnasium. October 11, 2013. Photographer: Kellen Ochi

Only seven letters remain in Sage Hill School’s block schedule alphabet. H Block P.E. is no more.

The Physical Education Dept. stopped offering H block this year for afterschool P.E.

“We’re hoping that it leads to more students taking time for themselves during the day, to stop and relax and think about their health,” said Merja Connolly-Freund, director of wellness programming  and P.E. teacher

After school proved a difficult time to hold a P.E. class because of conflicts that pulled H Blockers away from exercise. Yes, we’re looking at you SAT classes, doctor’s appointments and parents who need to pick up their kids early.

“I felt like it was a different class than P.E. class during the day. I started feeling that all classes needed to be equal and fair and H block was starting to have different standards,” Connolly-Freund said.

Sage Fit students play indoor soccer inside the Peter V. Ueberroth Gymnasium. October 11, 2013. Photographer: Kellen Ochi
Sage Fit students play indoor soccer inside the Peter V. Ueberroth Gymnasium. October 11, 2013. Photographer: Kellen Ochi
Sage Fit students play indoor soccer inside the Peter Ueberroth Gym Friday October 11, 2013. Photographer: Kellen Ochi
Sage Fit students play indoor soccer inside the Peter Ueberroth Gym Friday October 11, 2013. Photographer: Kellen Ochi

But putting H Block P.E. in the past and anticipating a positive P.E. future is easier said than done for some now-H-Block-less students who welcomed the eight-block schedule.

Junior Juan Rodriguez Rivera reminisces about the lovable small class that ultimately became a small family.

“I really liked it because I kept my free block and we ended earlier than all the sports,” Rodriguez said. “The workouts weren’t too easy or too difficult and for me it was great because I always had a partner to push me to do my best!”