Have you tried to make up a PE class this year? If you have, you have probably discovered that it’s not that easy. We do have an opportunity to make up for missed Physical Education classes. These make-ups are usually held on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays during 5th block in the weight room.

There is a change from last year, however. This year you have to attend two 5th-block classes to make up one regular class. Last year, you only had to attend one 5th block to make up each class. That would give you a chance to make up about three classes per week. The change was made because people took advantage of the previous opportunity.

To get a first-hand account of this, I decided to interview one of our Rush Henrietta Phys. Ed. teachers: Coach Rotola.

Do you find more or less students making up work?

Coach Rotola: We are finding that the number of students completing make-ups is remaining the same as it has been in previous years, if anything it is a little higher.

Do you find this making an impact on student’s grades?

Rotola: For students who have more than one or two absences, yes, making up a class can be the difference of 10-15 points by the end of a marking period, depending on how many classes their section of PE met.

How does this impact you as a teacher?

For me, the impact is minimal in regards to keeping track of students who have completed make-ups and adjusting their grades accordingly. I feel I have a pretty good system of keeping track of who is doing make-ups and keeping everything up to date in SchoolTool.”

Do you think students take advantage of this opportunity?

I do think students take advantage of it. I wish more students would! Especially when it comes to improving  their fitness testing score.

If you could change anything about this, what would you change?

I wish all students had this opportunity like in previous years. Students who now have a traditional class 5th block have to make other arrangements with their PE teacher to get their make-up in.

How is it trying to teach a class 5th block (if you are) while make-ups are happening at the same time?

While I do not teach a class this year during the 5th block, I have in previous years and there was no impact to my class. Because we do make-ups in the weight room that left the gym area for our regular PE class.

How did you react to the change when you found out about it?

I understand why there needs to be more academic classes during the 5th block, but at the same time, it is a huge opportunity for us to allow students to make up PE requirements. Since our classrooms are used after school hours for sports, and every block during the school day, it makes it hard to offer make-ups at any other time. With the potential of a change in the schedule for next year, I am not sure how make-ups will be done in the future, it is something that we will need to figure out.

I also feel like we need more options for make-up especially if people have medicals and cannot make up any classes that they have missed. Speaking from experience, I think only having to attend one-fifth block would make it easier for more students to make up for more missed classes, and improve their grades. I believe this could be a reason why some students don’t want to take the opportunity to do so. Also, some students might have to meet with other teachers during the 5th block, and can’t make it to the weight room. I get that you don’t have to attend, but some people including myself can get overwhelmed with trying to make-up so many things with so little time.