Longwood University, in partnership with Prince Edward County Public Schools, is excited to be offering its eighth year of P. E. x 3 (Prince Edward, Physical Education and Promoting Excellence). Any PECMS students in grades 5-8 may participate in this Wednesday after school program which begins September 14.

This year there will be three physical activity sessions offered. The sports are tennis, team handball and flag football. The students will be grouped by grade level and rotate to all three activities every week. PE x 3 is held on the campus of PECMS and there is no charge. All equipment is provided and PECMS 21st Century grant provides a snack for the students each week.

PE x 3 begins on September 14. Since PECPS will have early dismissal on Wednesday, September 21, PE x 3 will NOT meet that day. The program will return on September 28 and ends on November 9. Students may ride the activity bus at 6:15 p.m. (Note: Daylight Savings Time ends on November 6.) On the last day of PE x 3 (November 9), we will finish at 5:15 p.m. This change is due to the activity bus leaving at 5:30 p.m. beginning with the time change. Only the last day of the program is affected.

On October 12, PE x 3 will have a special event for the students. The United States Tennis Association will conduct a tennis “BLOCK PARTY” in the PECMS gymnasium. This event will provide the students in PE x 3 an opportunity to practice the tennis skills they have learned.

All PECMS students, regardless of ability level or disability, are eligible to attend. Longwood University students who plan to become physical education teachers will provide instruction to the middle school students as they learn new skills. The teacher candidates are under the supervision of Dr. Vonnie Colvin, a physical educator with over 37 years of teaching experience (21 in Virginia Public Schools) and Dr. Matt Lucas in his 16th year of teaching (10 years in Virginia Public Schools).

Registration forms are available from the middle school physical education teachers at PECMS and should be returned to those individuals on or before Friday, September 9. Space is limited and the program is open to the first 60 students who return complete registration forms to their physical education teachers.

For more information on the PE x 3 program, please contact Dr. Vonnie Colvin in the Department of Health, Athletic Training, Recreation, and Kinesiology at Longwood University (434) 395-2452, email: colvinay@longwood.edu