The Pizitz Post

We have an incredible team of teachers who work to support the needs of our students in Physical Education class each day at Pizitz. In Alabama, P.E. is a required class for students in grades kindergarten through eighth. At Pizitz, P.E. is a great opportunity for physical movement, skill development and teamwork participation. In the year ahead, we have a few changes to our P.E. program that we look forward to implementing. Taking into account parent and teacher feedback, we have made changes to our schedule that will allow for students to participate in grade-level P.E. While this does limit flexibility with the schedule for students, it will allow for our P.E. teachers to focus on the skills needed for grade-level development of skills rather than mixing grade-levels during P.E. Our P.E. will continue to be male and female specific and students will participate in their P.E. alongside grade-level peers.

In addition to the shifts in our master schedule, our board of education has allowed us to add an additional P.E. teacher. This year, Jason Berryhill will be joining our P.E. team. His focus during P.E. will primarily be in the area of strength and conditioning for male and female athletes. We believe both of these changes will have a positive impact on the P.E. experience here at Pizitz.

Pictured from left to right: John Brown, Jason Berryhill, Katie Matchen, Shannon Barger, Mandy Burgess, Ryan Binkley, and David McKenzie

At the beginning of the school year we have the amazing opportunity to implement a strength and conditioning component for our 7th and 8th grade student-athletes during the school day. This will not only benefit our student-athletes in their physical strength improvement, it will also contribute to injury prevention in the whole group class setting. There will be a rotating schedule per week to allow for boys and girls to have the opportunity to strength train with our strength and conditioning coach during their Physical Education class time. On the days they are not working out, they will return to their Physical Education class. The program will be designed for developmentally appropriate movements to empower our student-athletes to improve in their strength training and development as a whole athlete. There will be a rotation between boy and girl athletes.

If your child is a 7th or 8th grade athlete at Pizitz, he or she will participate in strength and conditioning training. More information will be coming from athletic department once the school year begins.

Preparation for the 2024-2025 school year is in full swing at Pizitz. We look forward to welcoming our students back to school in August. Please note these important dates below:

• 8:00-9:00 6th grade (last name A-H)

• 9:15-10:15 6th grade (last name I-O)

• 10:30-11:30 6th grade (last name P-Z)

• 12:00-12:45 7th & 8th grade (last name A-H)

• 1:00-1:45 7th & 8th grade (last name I-O)

• 2:00-2:45 7th & 8th grade (last name P-Z)

August 7: First Day of School

August 14: Parent Orientation

• 4:30-5:30 6th grade
• 6:00-7:00 7th grade
• 7:30-8:30 8th grade

Over the next few weeks, we will plan to share school updates with you regarding staffing, programming, and procedures. As always, let our team know when you have questions or concerns that arise regarding your child's middle school experience.