Mr. Steve Skweres
Steve Skweres teaches Physical Education and 6th Grade Mathematics at Hamilton Elementary. He has been teaching at Hamilton since 2008 and teaching in CPS since 2005. Steve received his Type 75 in Administration at National Louis University in 2007. He also teaches Drivers Education after school at Amundsen High School. Mr. Skweres is a graduate from Western Illinois University, where he received a Physical Education Degree.
Mr. Skweres also coaches Boys Basketball and Girls Volleyball. He is a strong believer that sports play a vital role for kids in developing skills of teamwork and fair play. When Steve is not teaching he enjoys hanging out with friends, going to sporting events, and being active.
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5/17/12
Dear Parents,
We raised over $2,000 for the American Heart Association, which is great! A BIG thank you to all the participants. The K-3rd grade used the jump ropes again this week, they are all starting to get pretty good! The 4th-8th graders moved on to softball practicing throwing and catching with a partner.
Field Day is Friday June 1st! Looking for parent volunteers that day, let me know if you can help!
As always if you have any questions please let me know.
Thanks,
Steve Skweres
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5/11/12
Dear Parents,
This week in Physical Education we worked more on the Jump Rope and Hoop for Heart. Tomorrow is the last day for this program so please turn in your envelopes. I would like to thank everyone for all their support, we are doing very well!! I will also be putting in all Plunge for Fitness participants in the computer tomorrow, so if you have not turned in your form I will need it by tomorrow morning! Once I send in all the names I will not be able to add anyone else. We are already at over seventy participants which is awesome! I also sent home Field Day forms yesterday if you are interested in helping please let me know. Field Day will be on Friday June 1st. Again thank you for everything you do, Hamilton really is a wonderful place to work at!
Thanks,
Mr. Skweres
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5/4/12
Dear Parents,
We had a fun and busy week in Physical Education class this week! The K-3rd graders worked more with the jump ropes. They were in groups playing some games with the jump rope and learned how to jump backwards and with one foot! The kids really are improving, I cant wait to see how they do when next year we have four days of PE!! The 4th-8th played basketball games. I can also see a lot of improvement in this as well. They still have a hard time understanding all the rules, but that will come with time. This will be one of the last weeks of basketball before we switch gears and move on to softball. Just as a reminder Plunge for Fitness forms were due this week and the Jump Rope for Heart and Hoops for Heart is due next Friday May 11th. Thank you for everything you guys do! If you have any questions please let me know.
Thanks,
Mr. Skweres
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4/27/12
Dear Parents,
We are now in week two of Jump Rope/Hoop for Heart. The Kindergarten through third graders worked in groups with their jump ropes this week. They all seemed to be having fun while staying active! The fourth through eighth graders played basketball games this week. I really have seen a lot of improvement from all the classes. Basketball is an excellent workout where the kids are constantly moving around. As of today we have already raised $915 just online, which is awesome!!! This program will go on until Friday May 11th so if you have any questions please let me know.
ALSO PLUNGE FOR FITNESS FORMS ARE DUE ON MONDAY APRIL 30TH!!! PLEASE GIVE THEM TO THEIR TEACHER OR PUT IN MY MAILBOX. Remember those who complete this get a FREE pass to Raging Waves Water Park.
Thanks,
Mr. Skweres
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4/20/12
Dear Parents,
This week was the kickoff for Jump Rope and Hoop for Heart!! The Kindergarten through 3rd graders worked on Jump Ropes which everyone seemed very excited about. I gave them time to practice jumping while I walked around and helped students who were struggle. Remember this program goes on from April 16th to May 11th, you can donated online or collect money put it in your envelope then turn into me. The website is heart.org/jump.
The 4th through 8th graders worked on Basketball. I had them practicing dribbling and shooting. The kids really seemed to be enjoying themselves and I can really see improvement from everyone! They also have the opportunity to raise money online or by collecting cash/checks and bring envelope into school. The website for them is heart.org/hoops.
I also reminded all classes that the Plunge for Fitness is due on April 30th. Remember its just 30 minutes of exercise a day and if completed you get a FREE pass to Raging Waves Water Park!! If you have been staying active please turn it into your teacher when completed. If you have any questions about any of this please let me know.
Thanks,
Mr. Skweres
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The 4th-8t
3/23/12
Dear Parents,
Had a fun and busy week in Physical Education! The Kindergarten through 3rd grade worked on soccer drills using my assessment boards that I received from Donors Chose. Worked out great, thanks again to everyone who donated! In the 3rd through eighth grade I had people from the Illinois Lacrosse Association come in and teach all the classes skills on Lacrosse. Thought it went well and the majority seemed to enjoy it! Just a reminder to keep working on your Plunge for Fitness Logs!!! They are due April 30th. Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend.
Thanks,
Mr. Skweres
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3/2/12
Dear Parents,
Just a reminder that the Plunge to Fitness starts this Monday. The kids have the day off on Monday and its suppose to be 60 degrees outside so go enjoy the day and be active! Below are the activities the kids participate in Physical Education this week. As always if you have any questions or concerns please do no hesitate to ask, sskweres@cps.edu.
Pre-K through 2nd Grade: Hot Potato and various other games with ball.
3rd Grade: Flag Football Drills
4th through 8th Grade: Volleyball Setting, Bumping, and Serving.
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2/20/12
Dear Parents,
We had a very productive week in Physical Education this week. Kindergarten through third grade worked on football, throwing and passing. The 4th through 8th graders started the Volleyball Unit. Practicing bumping and setting the ball. I also handed out fitness logs for a new program we will be running at Hamilton. Students need to do thirty minutes of exercise a day for a total of 25 hours. You can do any exercise like walking, biking, swimming, or team sports. It starts March 5th and goes until April 30th. Each student that participates and completes log gets a FREE day pass to Raging Waters Water Park. I’m hoping everyone participates! If you have any questions please let me know.
Thanks,
Mr. Skweres
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2/10/12
Physical Education Weekly Update
FIRST WOULD LIKE TO GIVE A BIG THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO DONATED FOR MY DONORS CHOSE PROJECT. WAS FULLY FUNDED THIS PAST SATURDAY SO THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! WILL BE A HUGE HELP TOWARDS OUR PHYSICAL EDUCATION PROGRAM.
K-3rd: Throwing and Catching using one hand. I am trying to advance the kids to start only using one hand while throwing but still using two hands to catch. Kids are doing great! Just need to remember Gym Shoes!!!!!
4th-8th: Fitness Testing. The students did Sit-Ups, Shuttle Run, Sit and Reach and weighed themselves. Was a very productive week. I have posters on wall with the Students who did best in Sit Ups and Shuttle Run for Boys and Girls. I keep their scores recorded to show improvement.
The 5th/6th Grade Boys Basketball teams last game is this Wednesday at 3:45pm. Come cheer us on!
As always if you have any questions or concerns do not hesitate to ask, sskweres@cps.edu.
Thanks,
Mr. Skweres
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2/3/12
Physical Education Weekly Update
K-3rd: Kids worked more with partners throwing and catching the ball. I have seen improvement with all my students over the past couple weeks. It was a very productive and fun week!
4th-8th: Students played Hockey game using skills we have learned over the past few weeks. The majority of kids got really into it and are improving each week. It was really fun to see! Next week we will be doing our mid year fitness testing.
The Boys 5th/6th Grade Basketball Team won against Waters on Thursday 10-7!! This Monday the Boys and Girls have another game. Girls play at 3:45pm and Boys at 4:45pm. Come Support us!!
Thanks,
Mr. Skweres
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1/30/12
Physical Education Weekly Update
PreK-3rd:We starting working on throwing, catching, and hand eye coordination. Every person had a ball and went over a bunch of fun skills. Also had the students practicing dribbling the ball.
4th-8th: We worked more on our Hockey Unit this week. Going over Shooting and Goal tending. While taking turns students would dribble up to the goal and shot on the goalie. After they shot then they become they goalie for a shot. I had them in groups of four.
The boys Basketball Team won thier first game vs Waters yesterday 25-18! So congrats to them! Our next game is this Monday January 30th. The girls play at 3:45pm and boys at 4:45. Both games will be vs Burley. Come cheer Hamilton on!
As always if you have any questions or concerns don’t hesitate to ask, sskweres@cps.edu.
Thanks,
Mr. Skweres
1/23/12
Physical Education Weekly Update
Pre-K-3rd Hula Hoop Assessment Stations-I had four stations set up around the gym. The stations consisted of Hoop Tossing, which is trying to toss your hoop around a cone. Second station was hoop rolling, which is rolling a Hula Hoop to your partner line up across from you. The third station was the bean bag toss where you had to try to toss your bean bag inside a hula hoop that was laying on the floor. The fourth and final station was free play where the students could do whatever they wanted with a hula hoop. I then walked around and assessed all the students on the skills they were working on.
4th-8th Grade: We started our hockey Unit this week. This week we worked on dribbling and giving the kids a chance to learn the correct way to grip the stick. I had cones set out and the students had to dribble throw them using a hockey ball.
This Monday is the 5th/6th Boys and Girls basketball teams first home game! The Girls play at 3:45 and the Boys play at 4:45pm against Burley in the gym. Come Support Hamilton!!!
Thanks,
Mr. Skweres
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Dear Parents,
I hope everyone had a wonderful Holiday! It was a very productive week in Physical Education. The Pre-K to 3rd grade worked more with the Hula Hoops. I had them running, skipping, jumping and galloping through them. They seem to enjoy it and best of all we were VERY active!! The 4th-8th graders finished up Basketball. Up next is Floor Hockey so should be a lot of fun! I am also doing a donors chose for Assessment for PE as well as software for my Fitness Testing. Already over half paid very exciting! I feel this tools will be very valuable towards our Physical Education Program at Hamilton. We also have the 5th/6th Girls and Boys Basketball teams playing their first game this Wednesday. Should be a lot of fun. Parents are welcome to all home games. our first Home Game is Monday January 23rd, the PEP Band will be playing as well. If you have an questions please don’t hesitate to ask, my email is sskweres@cps.edu.
Thanks,
Mr. Skweres
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I just wanted to give a special thanks to everyone who participated in the President’s Active Lifestyle Award. I received logs back from 50 students! Which I feel is great for our first year and I believe next year will be even better! This is such a great program that focuses on being healthy and active. I hope everyone keeps doing what they have been for the past 6 weeks. I realize 60 minutes is a lot to ask for out of your day, but am very appreciative of your time and effort! I sent in all the logs today and once I receive the Certificates from the President I will pass them out!
Thanks again,
Mr. Skweres
Physical Education 10/31 to 11/12
K-3rd Grade Great Games-we played Clean Your Room and Crazy Cones. Clean Your Room is throwing fluff ball to the other teams side and seeing who can keep their side the cleanest.
4th-8th Grade-We worked on Soccer drills, dribbling and passing. Students dribbled in between cones and passed soccer ball with a partner.
PALA LOGS DUE ON MONDAY!!! CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE WHO COMPLETED THE 6 WEEKS!!!!!!!!!
October 25th: We are now in the FINAL week for the President’s Challenge. Please have your kids who participated in this hand in logs to me on Monday October 31st. If you have any questions please let me know.
This Week in Physical Education October 17th thru October 21st: KEEP FILLING OUT YOUR PALA LOGS!!! IF YOU NEED ANY HELP PLEASE EMAIL ME: sskweres@cps.edu. Next week is the 6th and FINAL week! Keep it up were almost there!!
K-3rd-Bean Bag Carnival. Four different stations dealing with Bean Bags. Kids will have opportunity to go to all four stations and use skills learned during the unit!
4th-8th- Flag Football. Still learning all skills to help with game play.
K-3rd: Bean Bag Toss with Partner as well as Hula Hoops
4th-8th: Ultimate Frisbee and Flag Football
Presidential Active Lifestyle Award (PALA): STARTS THIS MONDAY September 19th!! Let’s get everyone involved!!!
Parents/Guardians,
President Obama encourages all Americans to make being active part of their everyday lives. To show his support, he is starting a new program called The Presidential Active Lifestyle Award (PALA). The new plan involves students being active at least 5 days a week for 6 weeks. The plan asks students to log 60 minutes of physical activity each day, with just about any physical activity counting. This program will begin on Monday September 19th.
As a physical education teacher, I feel it is important for our students to participate in this program. As you know, the majority of classes will only have Physical Education once or twice a week. With the new “Open Campus” being installed at Hamilton, student recess time can count towards the daily 60 minutes. However, this only accounts for 20 minutes of the total needed each day. So in order to make this a success, I need your help!
The majority of physical activity will have to take place after school. By encouraging your son or daughter to do something physically active after school, we can make this program work! You can even participate with your child in order to make it more enjoyable for both of you. Whether it is going for a bike ride, a walk, or playing a sport it would give you and your child something to look forward to doing after school! I will be sending home extra sheets for the parents who chose to participate.
On the days the students have Physical Education, we will document what we participated in and count that towards the 60 minutes for that day. Each student will be given an activity log at the start of the school year that they can use to fill out and keep track. I will have my activity log posted outside my office and will update it daily.
The students who hand in their completed activity logs after the 6 week program will receive a PALA Certificate from the President’s office. While this is a fun certificate to receive, there is an even greater incentive. The top 10 CPS Schools who get the highest percentage of kids completing the PALA will have a local professional athlete from the Sky, Fire, Blackhawks or Cubs come to their school on November 7th! I also heard Parents that turn in their Activity Logs will count as extra credit. You can print your own Presidential Active Lifestyle Award (PALA) Activity Log to participate. I strongly encourage everyone to keep a log and turn it into me!
This is a great program that everyone in the Hamilton school and community should be involved in so I hope I can gain your support in pushing this initiative!
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