Welcome to Garfield Elementary Physical Education!!!

Greetings, my name is Dan Kirsch. I will be your son or daughter’s physical education teacher this year. In this letter, I want to briefly describe the physical education program at Garfield Elementary School and what your child can expect to learn over the next few years. Let me begin, however, by briefly describing my professional background.

My degree is in physical education. This will be my 10th year of teaching. I taught K-6 Physical Education in Chamberlain, SD (2006-2009) and ICT/CTE at Patrick Henry Middle School (2011-2015). I am currently the 7th-grade football, 7th-grade girls/boys basketball, and 8th-grade boys track coach at Patrick Henry Middle School. I completed my Master’s Degree in Health & Physical Education from SDSU in 2011. I am originally from Sioux Falls. I am an avid runner and participate in half marathons. 

I have designed a program for children that helps them develop the physical competence that leads to confidence and participation in physical activity for a lifetime. My goal is to help children find various ways to enjoy being physically active so that they will get all of the physical, emotional, intellectual, and social benefits that come with physically active people.

My goal in physical education is for students to learn to make healthy choices and feel successful when participating in various physical activities. This enables students to develop a positive attitude toward physical activity and develop healthy habits, which will hopefully continue throughout their lives.

At Garfield Elementary, students will be encouraged to have fun and enjoy Physical Education. They will also be encouraged to participate to the best of their ability in various activities. At the elementary level, specific skills are taught so that students will be able to pursue a lifetime of physical fitness.

In closing, I want to invite you to observe your child in their physical education class during the year. My door is always open for questions, comments, and/or concerns. I am very excited for the upcoming year in our physical education classes at Garfield.

I am looking forward to being your child’s physical education teacher this year!!!