Academics
Upper School

Physical Education

    • banner

      pe

Physical Education Overview

The Upper School Physical Education program builds a framework for a lifetime of activity and healthy living by providing regular opportunities for students to participate in a wide variety of physical activities and skill development experiences. 

Students work on pushing out of their comfort zone and challenging themselves to confidently meet new challenges as well as social and cognitive development, including a scope and sequence of activities to challenge students of all abilities and skill levels.

Many students take skills they build in class to Burke's robust athletics program with developmental, JV, and Varsity teams.

Grade Level Highlights

List of 4 items.

  • Fifth Grade P.E.

    In fifth grade, students lay a foundation of knowledge and skills that they can continue to build on in the coming years. Instruction aims to meet the students where they are, help them push out of their comfort zones, and learn to challenge themselves physically and socially. Activities are introduced to help students develop collaboration and cooperation skills, and exploring what it means to be a positive and productive partner and group member is a year-long theme.
    Read More
  • Sixth Grade P.E.

    Students continue to participate in a variety of activities designed to develop specific skills in each major unit, expose them to a variety of activities in explorative units, build on their fitness development, and promote cooperation and collaboration between classmates.
    Read More
  • Seventh Grade P.E.

    Students continue to participate in a variety of activities designed to develop specific skills in each major unit, expose them to a variety of activities in explorative units, build on their fitness development, and gradually introduce opposition and decision-making when performing skills.
    Read More
  • Eighth Grade P.E.

    While the skills of the major units are briefly reviewed together to begin each unit, the focus of eighth grade applying the skills and knowledge gained over the years to competitive gameplay. Challenge PE is both the application of and celebration of the physical work and social-emotional development put in over the past years of Upper School PE and is the culmination to our Burke’s PE experience.
    Read More

P.E. Faculty

List of 2 members.

  • Photo of Ashling Bryant

    Ashling Bryant 

    Director of Athletics, Upper School P.E.
    415.751.0187, ext. 255
  • Photo of Charlee Underwood

    Charlee Underwood 

    Upper School P.E., 5th Grade Advisor
    415.751.0187, ext. 302
Burke's mission is to educate, encourage and empower girls. Our school combines academic excellence with an appreciation for childhood so that students thrive as learners, develop a strong sense of self, contribute to community, and fulfill their potential, now and throughout life.
Burke's admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.