The Ashton School is very committed to developing students’ physical abilities as well as academic skills. Our Physical Education program is the foundation to our extracurricular program Ashton Connections and Enrichment (ACE) and Gators’ Club, and swimming classes, where students may choose from the different athletic disciplines offered.

We look forward to seeing all of our students grow not only in academics, but in the very important aspects of physical well-being, as part of our overall school mission.

The school’s facilities provide for consistency of the physical education classes with the use of both covered and outdoor courts, a PK and Kindergarten playground as well as a swimming pool. We follow and comply with the Dominican Ministry of Education curriculum integrating special training techniques to develop the athlete in our students.

The Athletic Department has undertaken differentiated instruction to better target the needs of our different students.

Physical education teachers and a certified trainer join forces in secondary school so that students who are part of sports teams receive physical training as part of our physical education program, while others work out revamped curricular standards and benchmarks.

The training for team members combines multiple components together to allow the student athletes to be well rounded physically in order to prevent injury and excel competitively as a team.

HIIT training or “High Intensity Interval Training” is one of the techniques used. This integrates the use of free weights and resistance training with the heart rate mechanics of cardio training together. This style of training has multiple studies to ensure the growth in cardiovascular endurance during competition with improving VO2 max, as well as improving functional mechanics of the muscles to work properly with the joints to reduce injuries.

The training also consists of strength training. The difference with the strength training is in the “rep schemes,” as well as the amount of cardio that they will do during this training period. The rep schemes will build their strength in their “core” areas of the body, creating a more explosive athlete and again reducing the risk of injury. The cardio involved will be less in order to ensure that the muscles are in an anaerobic state to continue the strength and not the endurance of the muscles.

Another component of the workouts is agility/endurance training. One of the most important qualities of an athlete is how they can get from point “A” to point “B.” In order to have better reflexes and a more adaptable body during competition, we need to go through different ways for the body to move. In order to do this for longer periods of time during competition, we need to train the athlete’s aerobic threshold in order to grow past their limit of endurance. We get this out of HIIT training as well, but more specifically the agility training will involve, but not be limited to: plyometrics, speed training, and change of direction.

All of these training styles ensure the athlete’s health on and off the court/field of play.

Records of standard physical tests are taken for all students in order to see growth in certain areas as the year progresses and to determine other areas for growth during this time with them.

*The Athletic program has been currently modified due to COVID safety protocols (School year 2021-2022).

*Offered through our ACE and Gators Club program.