Athletics and Physical Education are an integral part of the total educational experience at Baldwin, although they are completely separate programs. The common tie between the two programs is that if a girl is a member on an inter-scholastic team during any of the three trimesters, she is exempt from daytime Physical Education class.
Lower School Physical Education (PK-5) is offered three times a week, with one class dedicated to the Learn-to-Swim Program. The primary focus of the curriculum (PK-2) is to enhance the development of movement concepts including body and spatial awareness. As the girls progress to grade 3-5, they are introduced to specific seasonal sports that will lead to successful participation on Middle and Upper School teams.
Middle School Physical Education (6-8) is a required "Pass" or "Fail" course that meets three times per week for girls not participating on a Middle School interscholastic team during the trimester. The primary mission is to introduce and review a variety of lifetime motor skills and to challenge each student to improve her personal fitness. Students elect one course per trimester and may not repeat the same course more than twice during a given year. Course offerings include, but are not limited to: Dance, Squash, Personal Fitness, Pilates/Yoga and Tennis.
Fall 2011 Fall MS PE Offerings include:
Squash, Personal Fitness, and Dance
Upper School Physical Education (9-12) is a required "Pass" or "Fail" course which meets twice a week for 40 minutes for girls not participating on an interscholastic team during the trimester. The curriculum is multi-faced and is offered as an elective based system; students select one course per trimester and may not repeat the same course more than twice during the school year. Course offerings include, but are not limited to: Cardio Conditioning, Golf Basics, Pilates/Yoga, Squash, Scuba Diving, and a Life Guarding Course.
Fall 2011 US PE offerings include:
Pilates/Yoga, Personal Fitness, Court Sports, and Tai Kwon Do
Independent Physical Education
A student may apply for I.P.E. if she competes at a nationally ranked level and participates in that sport at Baldwin or in a sport which Baldwin does not offer (i.e. ice skating, horseback riding, fencing). The Athletic/P.E. Department will make the final decision on the national ranking eligibility.
Application forms are available from the Physical Education Coordinator’s Office in the Athletic Center and must be returned prior to the first week of each athletic season. Applications will be reviewed each trimester by the Athletic/Physical Education Department.
For additonal information on the Physical Education program, contact Dr. Kathleen England, PE Coordinator at
kengland@baldwinschool.org