This school year, Sandburg welcomed a new Physical Education, Health, and Driver Education Department Division Chair to the school: Mr. Sheamus Murphy. The department has seen many changes and projects since his arrival.
Amongst the new implementations is Wellness Wednesday, a weekly activity that aims to educate students regarding ways to stay physically fit. Mr. Murphy said, “It’s something that I’ve done at my previous schools, and it was something that really was good for the students, obviously from a physical standpoint, but also a mental, social, and emotional standpoint as well.”
Regarding the importance of curricular physical education, Mr. Murphy said, “It’s lifelong. You may be in a class elsewhere in this building, where you are never going to use that class again, but your health should be your number one priority, and this is something that you take with you for the rest of your life. You may not like every sport or every fitness activity, but if you can take a couple of things with you and put that into your daily fitness routine, that’s a win.”
Students find that Wellness Wednesdays bring a new and valuable layer to their experience in PE class. Sandburg junior Maria Latawiec says, “[Wellness Wednesday] gets me moving even if I [don’t] want to and is a nice break from the routine that we have in gym.”
The Physical Education Department has also significantly increased its presence within the online school community through its social media page on Instagram. The department shares a weekly schedule that lets students know what to expect in class each week and posts about class activities and field trips.
The department also developed a monthly newsletter showcasing outstanding students and staff. The newsletter highlights one staff member, four students of the month, each from a different department sector, as well as important dates within the department and school that are coming up.
Mr. Murphy outlined his goals as “implementing some new things to recognize staff members and students, and celebrate all the great things going on at Sandburg and Sandburg PE.”
Mr. Murphy explains his deep connection to the school and its community as a 2008 graduate. He said, “I have tremendous pride in this school, and this place, and wanted to make it great.” To pay homage to his positive experience at Sandburg as a student and athlete, Mr. Murphy explains that he does everything he can to “continue to build that [Sandburg] tradition, and continue to elevate it and make it better.”
Change makes way for new opportunities and experiences. “We’re always looking for ways to get better, and ways to provide more to our students,” explained Mr. Murphy. With Mr. Murphy as the newest addition to the PE team, the Sandburg community continues to build an inviting environment for all in every class and every aspect of their learning.