Longwood University, in partnership with Prince Edward County Public Schools, is excited to be offering a spring edition of P. E. x 3 (Prince Edward, Physical Education and Promoting Excellence) on Wednesday afternoons beginning February 15 and ending April 4. (The program will not be held on Wednesday, March 14 since Longwood is on spring break.)

Due to space availability, the program will be limited to the first 45 PECMS students in grades 5 and 6, who return a complete registration form. Next fall we will return to offering the program to all PECMS students and return to the cap of 60 students.

As in previous years, there will be three physical activity sessions offered. This spring the activities are bowling, floor hockey and Tchoukball. (Tchoukball is an indoor game from Switzerland. You score by throwing the ball into a net and it bounces out. If your opponent does not catch it, you score a point). The students will rotate to all three activities every week. All equipment is provided, as well as a snack each afternoon. The snack is funded through the PECMS 21st century grant.

PE x 3 will be held on the campus of PECMS every Wednesday, except March 14 when Longwood is on spring break and on April 4. On April 4, the students will ride a PECPS bus to Farmville Main Street Lanes and practice the bowling skills they have been learning. Only those students who have attended PE x 3 for four weeks will be permitted on the field trip. The students will not need any money that day since the PECMS 21st Century grant will pay for shoe rentals and any fees. Since skill practice will be the focus, students will not be permitted to play video games or go to the snack bar.

Students may ride the activity bus home. The bus leaved PECMS at 5:30 until Daylight Savings Time begins. Beginning March 21, we will finish at 6:15. This change is due to the activity bus leaving at 6:15 pm with the time change.

All PECMS students in grades 5 and 6, regardless of ability level or disability, are eligible to attend. Longwood University students who plan to become physical education teachers will provide instruction to the middle school students as they learn new skills. These future teachers will be assisted by other Longwood University students who are majoring in Therapeutic Recreation. The students are under the supervision of Dr. Vonnie Colvin, a physical educator with over 38 years of teaching experience (21 in Virginia Public Schools) and Dr. Matt Lucas in his 16th year of teaching (10 years in Virginia Public Schools).

Registration forms are available from PECMS physical education teachers and should be returned to those individuals on or before Friday, February 10. Space is limited and the program is open to the first 45 students who return complete (fully filled out front and back) registration forms to their physical education teachers.

For more information on the PE x 3 program, please contact Dr. Vonnie Colvin in the Department of Health, Athletic Training, Recreation, and Kinesiology at Longwood University (434) 395-2452, email: colvinay@longwood.edu