Human Performance: A Mastery Approach to Physical Education 

HP Mission Statement

Our mission is for individuals to identify the correlation between their physical presence and ability to perform – in the classroom, theater, band, athletics, and life. We provide the platform, resources, and guidance to enhance student achievement and strengthen athlete development. The environment allows them to experience the daily process and training necessary for success and helps inspire them to determine their own path and unleash their potential. Our students will thrive with energy and creativity while our athletes train with unparalleled competitive spirit.

In the fall of 2019, Hawken’s Physical Education program was re-established as the Human Performance (HP) Department. “We felt strongly that there was a need to change the perception around PE that shifted away from standardized testing and activities, and moved towards student-centered fitness programming,’’ says Upper School Human Performance Department Chair and coach, Patty Hace. “We wanted to move toward a model that ensures that every student, athletes and non-athletes alike, find the correlation between one’s physical presence and activity to whatever performance goals they have.” 

Lower and Middle School Human Performance teacher and coach Dan Walton ’96 emphasizes the most important outcome of Hawken’s shift from PE to Human Performance: ensuring a very logical, intentional connection between what is being taught at the lower, middle, and high school levels. “All HP teachers and coaches aim to be on the same page when it comes to terminology, technique, warmups, and strength training,” he explains. It may happen on a smaller scale with Hawken’s youngest students, but the seeds are nonetheless planted at an early age. When teaching tumbling, for example, Walton has a deliberate conversation with his students about how the core is responsible for all of those movements, telling them, “When it comes to the well-being of your body, your core is everything, whether you’re an athlete or not.” 

Given all that has changed in recent decades in the field – including research that points to the connection between physical fitness and anxiety and stress levels, Hace asserts, “Our current approach for HP is designed to allow our high-performing athletes, recreational athletes, and those with limited interest in fitness to thrive and establish habits to sustain an active life in the future.” In our long-term active development approach, “Upper School students can identify their own pathway within that model and progress at their own pace toward individual mastery. And as they do that, our students begin to see the correlation between physical fitness and one’s overall physical and mental wellbeing.

Student Quotes:

 “This course has reshaped how I think about a typical high school gym class, as it has shown me that fitness is more than just being fit, but rather taking the time to exercise your body and mind.” - Anna Ricci ’22

“This course has impacted my performance in the classroom, on the field, and on the court. Human Performance has kept me in shape and increased my productivity during the school day.” - Carmen Cicerini ’23

“Human Performance is a great way to spice up the schedule for the day.” - Jackson Martinez ’26