Physical Education

Most schools squeeze Physical Education into a gymnasium. At First Steps Elementary Academy, PE takes students out into the community at real facilities with real activities. Every student gets their body moving, their confidence growing, and a broader picture of what an active life can look like.

Page Summary
  • Physical Education off-site at community facilities, serving families in Red Deer, Blackfalds, and Penhold
  • The off-site PE model gives students exposure to a wider range of physical activities than a traditional school gymnasium offers
  • All off-site activities are supervised by first aid and CPR trained staff, with a close staff-to-student ratio, licensed transportation

Physical Education at First Steps

Our Physical Education program takes students off-site to community facilities in Red Deer, where they access a wide range of activities.

This approach does more than get students moving. It connects them to their community, introduces them to activities they may never have tried otherwise, and builds the physical confidence and life skills that stay with them long after the school day ends.

Every off-site activity is carefully chosen to be age-appropriate and aligned with the physical literacy goals of the Alberta Education curriculum.

Some of the Activities Students Have Experienced

Swimming 

Swimming is one of the most important physical skills a child can develop and one of the most enjoyable. Students participate in swimming sessions that build water confidence, technique, and fitness in a structured, supervised environment.

Taekwondo 

Students build focus, discipline, self-control, and respect — values that align directly with the character education at the heart of First Steps. It is one of those activities where the lessons learned on the mat carry directly into the classroom and beyond.

Dance 

Dance develops coordination, rhythm, physical expression, and confidence in a way that few other activities can match. It also gives students, particularly those who are more comfortable expressing themselves through movement rather than words, a place to shine.

Rock Wall Climbing 

Climbing builds strength, problem-solving, and resilience. Students learn to assess challenges, push past hesitation, and trust themselves to reach the next hurdle. The confidence that comes from reaching the top of a wall for the first time is something students carry with them.

Gym Sessions at the Dawe Community Centre 

Regular gym sessions at the Dawe Community Centre give students access to structured physical activity, games, and skill development.

They Build More Than Physical Fitness

Confidence 

Trying something new and succeeding at it builds the kind of self-confidence that carries students back into the classroom with more energy and focus.

Community connection 

Students who know their city's facilities and programs feel more connected to their community. These outings plant seeds for a lifetime of active participation in Red Deer.

Exposure to new activities 

Many students arrive never having climbed a rock wall, tried Taekwondo, or taken a dance class. First Steps opens those doors. Some of the activities students discover here become hobbies and skills they carry for life.

Social skills 

Off-site activities put students in new settings with new challenges, and working through those together builds teamwork and communication.

Healthy habits 

Introducing children to a variety of physical activities at a young age is one of the most effective ways to build a lifelong relationship with movement and health.

Safety First

Every off-site activity is planned and executed with your child's safety as the first priority. Our staff are trained in first aid and CPR, and we maintain a close staff-to-student ratio during all off-site sessions. Transportation is arranged through licensed and insured providers, and thorough safety assessments are completed for every activity and venue.

An Active Child Is A Focused Child

Ask us about what's on the PE calendar this term. We'd love to talk about all the ways First Steps keeps your child moving, growing, and engaged.

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