Health and Physical Education

Wellness

Westford Academy offers many exciting courses for all levels of students’ interests and abilities. Students are offered courses such as Basics of Kinesiology, Kinesiology of Team Games, Kinesiology of Individual/Dual Games, Kinesiology of Fitness and Outdoor Pursuits, Kinesiology of Rhythmic Movement, Kinesiology of Fitness and Exercise, Health Education, Child Development, Senior Health Seminar, Empowerment and Goal Setting, and Nutrition, Culinary Skills, and Consumer Education.

As defined by the National Wellness Institute, Westford Academy believes in the concept of Wellness, which is “an active process through which people become more aware of, and make choices towards, a more successful existence.”  Increasing awareness and one's understanding of the interconnectedness of the Occupational, Physical, Social, Intellectual, Spiritual, and Emotional Dimensions of Wellness can promote growth and balance of an individual's wellness.

Exposure and engagement with the content in these courses each year is vital to a student’s overall wellness, social and emotional well-being, and success as a life-long learner.  Furthermore, Health and Physical Education are identified as an essential component of a student’s well-rounded educational experience and provide the following benefits: 

• Prevention against negative consequences of stress
• Positive association with attention, concentration, and on-task behavior
• Reduction of feelings of anxiousness
• Encourages lifetime healthy habits
• Positive relationship with academic achievement

All students are encouraged to round out their educational experience by enrolling in several Health and Wellness Department courses.

Health and Physical Education

Physical Education is a Massachusetts General Law, WPS School Committee Policy, and Westford Academy graduation requirement (four semesters).  Grade 9 Health Education is a WPS School Committee Policy and Westford Academy graduation requirement.

Should a student choose to defer Physical Education, Grade 9 is the only year in which this can occur (began with class of 2025).  Deferment of Physical Education in grade 9, requires enrollment in 5 PE credits during any one of the subsequent years.  Basics of Kinesiology in Physical Education (requirement) in Grade 9 or 10 is taken first, before moving onto another Physical Education course.  

Additionally, after successful completion of a PE course, students are not permitted to repeat a PE course.

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