The Power of PE

As lifelong athletes, HPA Village Campus physical education teachers Betsy Tranquili (opposite page, left) and Lydia Blackburn understand the importance of cultivating a passion for movement from a young age.

Tranquili oversees PE for the youngest students in Lower School, while Blackburn is responsible for working with sixth- through eighth-graders at the Middle School. Despite being in charge of different age groups, they share a common vision that transcends grade levels and aims to equip students with skills and knowledge that serve them in the Upper School and beyond.

Their approach to physical education is centered on creating a strong foundation of athleticism that can be built upon as students grow. Tranquilli and Blackburn took some time to discuss their programs and the role of PE in a well-rounded education.

What do you enjoy most about your roles? What have been some of the highlights or pride points?

Tranquili: I always say being an elementary PE teacher is the closest I'll ever come to being a rock star. People cheer when I show up to do my job—how cool is that? But in all seriousness, I enjoy all the teachable moments throughout my day. Some of them have to do directly with movement and health, but the majority don't. PE teachers have always been at the forefront of social-emotional learning. It is really one of the best environments for young people to learn about cooperation, creativity, problem solving, understanding and managing different emotions, and making sense of the world around them and their relationship with others.

Blackburn: My go-to response when students ask how my day is going is usually, "Fantastic, I have PE all day!" The students at HPA are top-notch. They're funny, engaging, enthusiastic, considerate, and curious. I always say Middle School is the best because they're still kids, but they have the physicality to play games, sports, and more. We have a lot of fun together.

How is HPA unique when it comes to PE education at the Village Campus?

Tranquili: Whenever I talk to my colleagues at other schools, I feel immense gratitude for the value that HPA places on physical education. Our class sizes are small. We have world-class facilities available to us — spacious playing fields, Hale ʻĪnana gym, Stan Schutes Track at the Upper Campus, Dowsett Pool and Rutgers Tennis Center — that are all utilized multiple times during the year as part of our curriculum. I am so proud of the PE program that has been developed and the learning opportunities that we offer. I believe it is among the best you will find anywhere.

How do the two programs work together to create a cohesive experience for a student who attends K-8?

Blackburn: Betsy was on my hiring committee, and one thing we both really connected about was the importance of making each PE class meaningful. It would be very easy to treat PE like recess, throw out a ball, play some dodgeball, and call it good. We both take a lot of pride in the way we think about our programs and how to get the most out of them.

What’s your take on Lower and Middle School PE in relation to Upper School and beyond?

Tranquili: I am often the first introduction they have to fitness and movement. I want that to be a positive experience so they continue with it for the rest of their lives. Our PE curriculum in the Lower School is skill-based, not sports-based. I want every kid to feel comfortable doing basic hings like throwing a frisbee or kicking a ball, so they never feel like they have to sit out of a family picnic softball or kickball game because they never learned the fundamentals.

Blackburn: Middle School is really the bridge between foundational movement skills and Upper School athletics. This is my favorite age because they can still find a sport that they've never considered before and have time to become successful at it. My job is to give them opportunities to consider those sports! And not only consider, but realize that broken down, most sports use very similar foundational skills that they can learn and apply universally.

Alumni News, Class Notes, Events, Giving and More