Coach Cowie is the 5th – 8th grades PE teacher at St. Philip.  He has recently started encouraging and incorporating fitness during the Junior High’s PE classes.  This is a new and controversial change in the Junior High because of the increase in running and the decrease games, but it may be for the better.  I asked coach a few questions and here’s what he said:

1. What made you decide to change up PE and start to incorporate more fitness into your lessons?
   1. – “Things were getting stale and physical fitness is really important.”
2. Do you plan to have the Jr. High students participate in the 22 for 22 initiative (the program meant to bring awareness to veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) actively?
   1. – “I would encourage it.  It is great to raise awareness for the veterans.  I feel when you do something for a cause, you are more likely to do it rather than to slack off.”
3. What type of plans do you have for PE in the future, new games that incorporate more active activities, more fitness days, or do you plan to guide the student body to help them to become more fit through PE and on their own?
   1. – “All of the above, there needs to be a balance.”
4. What are your thoughts on Jr. High’s park days, will they stay the same or will they change?
   1. – “Similar activities and bigger spaces make it easier to have more organized games and fitness.  But most importantly, I want to involve everyone.”
5. What do you feel will motivate the student body the most?
   1. – “I believe that the students need a source of self motivation, they are more likely to do something if they actually want to do it.”

1. What do you feel will hurt the students the most?
   1. – “I feel the year has started positively, and I don’t think anything will hurt them.”
2. What will you continue to do and how will you build your ideas and classes from here?
   1. – “We already have a base and I hope the students keep building onto it.”