Morning Movement
At GALS, we start each school day with Morning Movement. Starting the day with Movement prepares our students (and staff) for the school day, improving alertness, attention, memory, and cognition, not to mention social interaction, community interconnectedness, self-esteem, and (of course) physical health. Teacher-student relationships are strengthened as teachers workout alongside students — sweating and struggling, laughing and achieving together. Students learn through experience how consistent effort and work over time generates big results, and this translates powerfully in the classroom. Students are exposed to a variety of fitness modalities and sports throughout the school year, giving them access to and experience in a diversity of sports and workout styles.
Students are grouped into Wellness Teams, which are small groups of students paired with one teacher, and students workout together in their Wellness Teams. Wellness Teams start the year with a Movement Fundamentals module, where they spend the first two weeks getting to know their teammates and coach, and review the expectations for Movement. Every three to four weeks, Wellness Teams rotate to a new module.
Director of Movement & Athletics: Alyssa Worbetz, aworbetz@galsla.org
About our Movement Program & Expectations
How is my student graded for Movement?
The Modules
Running & Stretching
At GALS we believe that if you have a body, you are an athlete, and what better way to experience that than through running — an activity that requires only your body. Students measure their progress throughout the 4 week module by participating in timed mile runs, with the end goal of improving their time. Teachers lead their Wellness Teams through a structured periodized training program, which includes longer distance runs, sprint/speed training, tempo running, strength workouts, and recovery workouts. Students are led through self-reflections throughout the module, where they reflect on their progress and effort (and how those two are related), as well as their self-efficacy, and how this all translates into other aspects of their lives.
CIRCUITS & DANCE
Students engage in 2 days a week of dance, taught by our professional dance instructors with extensive experience in a variety of Dance forms. Our instructors are Dorian Cohen and Kashana Sharif. Dance is used both as a cultural and artistic expression in addition to exercise.
The other 2 days are spent strengthening our bodies during circuits. Circuit style workouts improve muscular endurance, helping to reduce injuries, as well as improving overall heart health.
GALS GAMES
Students engage in a variety of team games and team sports in the Team Games modules, such as soccer, basketball, flag football, Ultimate Frisbee, Ultimate Ball, Mighty Mighty Scoop Noodle, Capture the Flag, and more. Team games and team sports provide students with many benefits and opportunities for skill development, including fine motor skill development, coordination, team building and cooperation, creative thinking, effective communication, and sport-specific skill development — not to mention a a fun and effective workout!! We structure the games in a way that is accessible to all students, regardless of sport-specific experience level.
STUDENT CHOICE: Self-Defense, Dance, Sports, Yoga, AND MORE!
Each students spends one module choosing their Movement! For example, in a self-defense class, learning skills that empower them to identify potential danger, act with confidence and independence to avoid conflict and get to safety, and, if necessary, to physically protect themselves from an attacker. Students learn skills from a variety of martial arts modalities, including jiu-jitsu, Muay Thai, boxing, and judo. Our self defense class is taught by professional instructors from Team Bully Buster, a martial arts and self-defense gym for kids and adults based in Studio City.
The Galympic games
During state testing, to counter the mental intensity of the state exams as well as provide increased movement and fun opportunities to support students during this time, GALS hosts the Galympic Games! Wellness Teams compete by House (which are groups of three Wellness Teams - one from each grade level) in a variety of physical and mental team games for the coveted prize of Galympic Champion. The Galympics are a positive movement-based outlet for students during state testing, and foster not only a sense of healthy competition, but also a vibrant sense of community across all grade levels.