Tell me about Sidwell PE?

[Anonymous]

New 9th grade (maybe, haven't made a final choice) parent here.

Can someone tell me what Sidwell PE options are like? I see that they need 10 trimesters

If they play a jv/varsity sport does that count for that trimester?

If they play an outside club sport does that count for that trimester?

When do non-interscholastic sports take place (during the school day? before or after the school day?)

What are the options? Anything particularly interesting that a kid might not have already tried?

Are there options that would allow a kid to coordinate with an outside sport (e.g. kid's coach wants them to lift, is there a strength/conditioning class they could take that would let them work on that and get credit)?

[Anonymous]

They need to do 10 trimesters as you have noted.

Playing on a JV or Varsity sport actually counts for more than a trimester, so if you play a sport for 4 years in the fall, you only need a handful more credits to fill the requirement.

There are sessions one can do before school starts or after the school day; most are after.

Playing an outside sport usually does not count towards the credit, but you can talk to the Athletic Director about it individually, particularly if it is a sport not offered at the school and done at a high level, like figure skating or Gymnastics, for example.

There is strength/conditioning at different levels, the Coach who oversees that is a "love to hate" type who the serious athletes really respect and love.

[Anonymous]

The outside sport only counts if you participate at ‘national ‘ level

A jv or varsity team sport gives you 1.25 points for the trimester. Other PE gives you 1 point. (As you say - total points required is 10)

Some options are just 45 minutes twice a week . This is a big difference from daily practice on a team.

Two PE outliers that take more time but still just get a single point are crew and indoor track.

[Anonymous]

Thank you both!

What kind of options have your kids chosen?

[Anonymous]

Mine did more than required. 9 jv/varsity trimesters (this covered COVID so one of their sports had a double season that year and was offered in an atypical trimester ) .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thank you both!

What kind of options have your kids chosen?

I am 8:27

On kid play JV/V in fall and spring all 4 years and did conditioning each of the winters.
Other kid did conditioning spring and fall and played a JV/V sport in the winters, all 4 years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thank you both!

What kind of options have your kids chosen?

I am 8:27

On kid play JV/V in fall and spring all 4 years and did conditioning each of the winters.
Other kid did conditioning spring and fall and played a JV/V sport in the winters, all 4 years.

(8:57 here) I see yours also went above and beyond! kudos!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thank you both!

What kind of options have your kids chosen?

I am 8:27

On kid play JV/V in fall and spring all 4 years and did conditioning each of the winters.
Other kid did conditioning spring and fall and played a JV/V sport in the winters, all 4 years.

How was the conditioning scheduled? Is there flexibility in what they work on and when?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thank you both!

What kind of options have your kids chosen?

I am 8:27

On kid play JV/V in fall and spring all 4 years and did conditioning each of the winters.
Other kid did conditioning spring and fall and played a JV/V sport in the winters, all 4 years.

How was the conditioning scheduled? Is there flexibility in what they work on and when?

I'm not PP but it was my understanding was that the timing of conditioning can be flexible. Before school, during a free period, after school. I suspect you would set up a schedule and show up on the same days/times all trimester. It could also be that there is less flexibility for 9th graders (they may not be able to go during the day).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The outside sport only counts if you participate at ‘national ‘ level

A jv or varsity team sport gives you 1.25 points for the trimester. Other PE gives you 1 point. (As you say - total points required is 10)

Some options are just 45 minutes twice a week . This is a big difference from daily practice on a team.

Two PE outliers that take more time but still just get a single point are crew and indoor track.

DD on crew. Maybe only winter crew conditioning gets 1 point. But crew in spring is given the 1.25 credit. Don’t remember exactly. But highly recommend crew. Coach is great and a really tight knit group of kids who love the sport. Lots of bonding from the long trips.

[Anonymous]

NB: Crew is only a girls sport at Sidwell. There have been attempts at creating a boys team several times over the same period of time as the girls team has existed, and for one reason or another, it has never worked out.

Crew is great!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The outside sport only counts if you participate at ‘national ‘ level

A jv or varsity team sport gives you 1.25 points for the trimester. Other PE gives you 1 point. (As you say - total points required is 10)

Some options are just 45 minutes twice a week . This is a big difference from daily practice on a team.

Two PE outliers that take more time but still just get a single point are crew and indoor track.

DD on crew. Maybe only winter crew conditioning gets 1 point. But crew in spring is given the 1.25 credit. Don’t remember exactly. But highly recommend crew. Coach is great and a really tight knit group of kids who love the sport. Lots of bonding from the long trips.

Is this new? It wasn't the case in the past.

[Anonymous]

That’s a lot of PE requirements! Interesting how widely this varies across schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That’s a lot of PE requirements! Interesting how widely this varies across schools.

It's MUCH better than schools with a sports requirement.

At Sidwell you can take a PE class that meets 2x a week for 45 minutes after school. And there are daytime and before school conditioning options. Going this route means you will have 2 trimesters off over 4 years. (being on a 2 sports teams a year means you can end up with 4 trimesters off)

Other schools will require you be on a sports team, manage a team, be in the play - and the time commitment for that is usually 5 days a week for 2hrs each - plus the competitions/performances. GDS is the only comparable school that doesn't have a sports requirement. STA/NCS, Potomac, Maret, Holton, Landon, SAES, Bullis, GT Prep (and more) all have a sports team requirement.

[Anonymous]

While there isn't a requirement for kids to be on an interscholastic team, my sense is most kids will try out for different sports just for the experience and comradarie.