Through physical education classes and recreation activities, students at St. Thomas Aquinas develop the knowledge, skills, and true sporting spirit to be ACTIVE for LIFE.
Development activities offered in support of the PHE 8 Physical Literacy Active for Life journey include:
- Fundamental Movement Skills (FMS): Run, Jump, Throw, Gymnastics
- Strength and conditioning via functional training for sport and active living
- Fundamental Sports Skills (FSS) and game play: football, basketball, floorball, futsal, softball, volleyball, badminton, wrestling, dance, martial arts, and track & field
Students also develop their health literacy in support of their social and community health and mental wellbeing.
PHE Course Offerings (Grades 8-12)
Student Leadership and Community Recreation:
Over the course of their PHE 8-12 journey, students are equipped to take on progressively greater shared leadership roles in PHE classes. In intramurals, students collaboratively organize, manage, and captain their own teams. Student led intramural sports offered include volleyball, basketball, floorball and futsal.
Long Term Active for Life Development (LTAD):
Through in-class, intramural, extracurricular and community rec. streams of physical activities, students develop their physical and health literacy and athleticism across the full continuum of Physical Activity for Health to Sporting Excellence.
Sports Academy & Kaizen Athlete Development
We also offer two unique programs at St. Thomas Aquinas for those students who are looking to challenge themselves, grow as athletes, and develop specialized skills
PHE Fighting Saints Sports Academy and PHE Kaizen Athlete Development
- Both The Fighting Saints Sports Academy and Kaizen athlete development program replace a student’s regular Physical Education (PE) class. A student can only be enrolled in ONE of these programs.
- Students wishing to enroll in either of these courses will be required to complete a separate application form.
- Students earn their grade-equivalent PE credits upon successful completion of the program.
Application to programs
Current students between Feb and March
New students – April (At the time of course selection)
Applications submitted to coaches
Fee: $250
PHE Boys Academy | PHE Girls Academy
The Fighting Saints Sports Academy program focuses on an athlete’s skill development. The goal is to enhance a player’s confidence and self-esteem while giving them opportunities beyond the secondary school system.
The Fighting Saints Sports Academy meets/exceeds the BC Ministry of Education’s Curricular Competencies for Physical Education. Students earn their grade-equivalent PHE credits upon successful completion of the program.
The Fighting Saints Girls Sports Academy balances basketball and volleyball training while also including other minor PHE activities associated with the curriculum such as strength training, bowling, skating, boxing, golfing, hiking and more.
The Fighting Saints Boys Sports Academy focuses on basketball training while also including other minor PE activities associated with the curriculum such as strength training, bowling, skating, boxing, golfing, hiking and more.
The Fighting Saints Grade 8 Sports Academy balances basketball and volleyball training (for girls) and focuses on Basketball training for boys. Other minor activities include strength training, bowling, skating, boxing, golfing, hiking and more.
For more information, email Mr. John Prescott – prescott@aquinas.org
PHE Kaizen Athlete Development
Kai (change) – zen (good), is Japanese for constant improvement. The Kaizen program is ideal for those athletes who would like to progressively take their “game” to the next level. The program focuses on improving the movement, strength, power and speed that underpins all athletic development and performance.
Kaizen provides a training program designed to increase overall athleticism during your sports’ pre – in – and off seasons of play.
Kaizen follows the age and stage progressions of Canada’s Long Term Athletic Development (LTAD) model, with students advancing through Train to Train (11-15 females, 12-16 males) and Train to Compete (15+ females, 16+ males) stages.
The Kaizen program includes:
- Progressive development of athletic movement skills – linear, lateral, backwards, multi-directional, and gymnastic
- Applied power and speed in running, jumping, landing, change of direction, throwing, striking and sending of implements (puck, ball)
- Progressive resistance weight-training for injury reduction and development of strength and power to support all athletic movement and skills
- Progressive athletic conditioning recovery and regeneration to keep the athletic body ready for the next challenge
- Integral testing and monitoring of improvement across each student’s athletic development profile
For more information, email Mr. Steve Vachon – vachon@aquinas.org