Pullman School Board members and teachers discussed the transition to hybrid classes and various physical education opportunities available to students during a meeting Wednesday.

“Having students back has been great,” Superintendent Bob Maxwell said. “It’s exciting to see students all the way from preschool to seniors being back in person.”

Maxwell said the board received a letter from a second-grader in the district expressing her excitement about returning to in-person classes and seeing her teacher.

Mia Ohki, ASB officer at Pullman High School, said they are creating ways for students to give their feedback about the hybrid model. She said the high school received a shipment of masks for students.  

“Masks for students have arrived this week so we are planning on how to best pass those out to students,” Ohki said. 

District sports are up and running and teams are engaging in competition, Maxwell said. 

“We are live streaming those games to the best of our ability,” he said. “The student broadcasters are doing a great job with that.”

The district is trying to make physical education courses appealing by increasing options available to students. Assistant Superintendent Roberta Kramer said she also hopes students access community resources like pickleball courts.

Physical education goes far beyond any experience in a school gym. The district is trying to instill lifelong healthy lifestyles and activity goals in students, Kramer said.      

“We know that the way to engage kids in physical activity is choice,” she said.

Pullman High School students can enroll in new physical education courses. Courses include yoga fitness, lifetime fitness and sports fitness, Kramer said. 

Seniors can take advanced lifetime fitness or advanced personal wellness. Kramer said the two courses encourage activities students may participate in after graduation. 

“There are opportunities for kids to participate in things that interest them, which increases the likelihood that they will maintain and continue to pursue some of those interests,” she said.