Mission Statement and
Philosophy Statement
Step 2
Overview – Mission
Statement
 A mission statement is a carefully reasoned analysis of the
core values of a school/program and what it aspires to be. It
should:
 Align with the remainder of the curriculum (no contradictions)
 Clearly delineate a school’s focus (i.e. fostering lifetime activity,
building basic skills, improving fitness…many others
 Be concise, like explaining who you are in 50 words or less (there are
87 words on this page).
 Avoid cliché language, i.e., “Students and faculty will interact in a rich
differentiated environment…”
 The mission statement provides a clear sense of direction
around which goals and objectives can be developed.
Examples
 Physical Education is based upon the
acquisition of knowledge and skills that are the
foundation for engaging in physical
activity. The mission of Physical Education is
to empower all students to sustain regular,
lifelong physical activity as a foundation for a
healthy, productive, and fulfilling life. Physical
Education is a sequential educational
program. It is based on physical activities
undertaken in an active, caring, supportive,
and non-threatening atmosphere in which
every student is challenged and successful.
Examples
 The mission of the physical education program of
Harpeth Valley Elementary is to provide quality
instructional physical education so children can
develop motor skills that will serve as the foundation for
active lifestyles. Children with competence in skills a
positive physical activity experiences will choose to be
actively involved in recreational and leisure sports
leading to health-enhancing lifestyles. We also believe
that participation in physical education provides an
opportunity for continuous development for each
individual's physical, mental, social and emotional
capabilities in order to promote a healthy lifestyle.
Examples
 The mission of the Physical Education
program in the School District of
Lancaster is to develop students'
knowledge, skills, and attitudes essential
for leading a healthy and active lifestyle
through a comprehensive K-12
curriculum.
Examples
The process of education requires the integration of psychomotor, cognitive,
and affective learning. As a part of this process, the physical education
content area establishes the competencies and skills necessary for all
O’Fallon Township High School students to be physically, mentally,
socially, and emotionally educated. These skills are sequentially planned,
standards’ based, achievable, and measurable. They follow current
research guidelines regarding fitness/wellness and motor skill acquisition
and cannot be achieved by mere random, willing participation.
The mission of quality daily physical education is to provide a sequentially
planned program that is measurable and results in students who have
learned skills and acquired knowledge necessary to perform a variety of
physical activities, are physically fit; participate regularly in physical
activity, know the implications of and the benefits derived from
involvement in physical activities, and value physical activity and its
contributions to a healthy lifestyle.
Keep in Mind
 The purpose of physical education as
described by NASPE, your national body,
in the national standards is to develop a
physically active lifestyle (2004).
 This concept should play a role in both your
mission and philosophy statement
Philosophy
Statement
What is a philosophy?
 A developed statement, which expounds
guiding ideologies established in the
mission statement with regards to goals,
standards, values and beliefs.
 There is not a set formula for what
constitutes a philosophy statement.
 Ohio State guide to writing a mission
statement
Mission
Philosophy
Goals
Objectives
Possible Components
Options: Must include four of the following (each in separate paragraph)
1. Recapsulate your mission statement or start with what the purposes of your program are

Why students need PE and the benefits gained thereof.
2. Why do you think these purposes are worth including in a school program?
3. How do you think these purposes are best accomplished in the context of your school?
4. Conceptualization of teaching and learning

How learning occurs and how teachers can facilitate the learning
5. Generic goals for students (specific ones come later).

Often cognitive, psychomotor, and affective or may be link to the CT standards
6. Implementation of the philosophy

How one's concepts about teaching and learning and goals for students are translated into action
(models, activities, intramurals).
7. Assessment

How do you know your students are achieving curricular goals
8. Personal growth plan.

Growth in teaching over the years, what challenges exist at the present, and what long-term
goals are projected.
9. Specific populations

Adapted, low SES, minority, urban
Examples
Elementary (CS)
Middle (CS)
High School (CS)
Parsipany, NJ
Solvay, NY
Lots of examples on the web:
 http://www.123helpme.com/search.asp?text=
Philosophy+of+Education&page=5
 Google search
Examples
The West Allegheny School District Physical Education Curriculum reflects the philosophical
orientation and instructional recommendations advocated by the National Association for
Physical Education (NASPE). Physical education addresses the development of students’
physical potential and their related social, emotional, and intellectual growth. Its primary
purpose is to assist the learner in developing:
• total physical fitness and a desire to maintain it
• movement abilities ranging from functional life skills to those needed for successful
participation in leisure activities
• safety awareness
• an appreciation and understanding of specific sports and dances
The mastery of these objectives promotes the development of wellness skills which enable
students to lead full, productive, and healthy lives.
Research completed by the National Association for Physical Education (NASPE) and
the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reveal that there is a direct relationship
between academic achievement and fitness. Movement, physical activity, and exercise enhance
the learning state for memory retention and retrieval. As such, physical activity is a catalyst
for learning in all content areas and should be an essential element of students’ daily
routines.
Example
It is the goal of Howell Township Public Schools "to promote good health and physical activities as
a means to enhance the self-esteem of our students, and to allow the mind and body to grow
more fully."
(Howell Township Strategic Plan, 2005)
As a department, it is the belief that health and physical education is an integral part of the
elementary (K-8) curriculum. The Health and Physical Department (HPE) strives to meet the
physical, mental, emotional and social needs of the child through a wide variety of experiences
and activities. It is through the utilization of individual and group activities that the physical
education program provides a prescription for all children to learn.
The curriculum is organized to include a planned progression of skills and activities to provide
maximum growth for all children at every level. Through participation this progression
encourages the development of fundamental skills, cardiovascular awareness and fitness,
individual responsibility, self-discipline, and respect for the feelings of others. The development
of the curriculum will enhance leadership qualities and the productive use of leisure time to
meet the demands of a changing society.
The health and physical education program is committed to developing within each child's
capabilities and needs a sense of success and accomplishment. Our philosophy holds that
appropriate teaching in health and physical education contributes to a healthy lifestyle by
providing opportunities to develop the resources of the mind and body.
Tasks
 Develop a mission and philosophy
statement for your school.
 step 2