Northstar staff are great at adapting. With the addition of new gym equipment, Northstar’s P.E. teacher, Ms. Pigg, will have the tools to customize her curriculum. Because of the generous support provided by the Women’s Giving Circle, a fund of the Catholic Community Foundation of the Diocese of Richmond, she has the equipment she needs to help our students learn and thrive.

While traditional physical education goals can fixate on athletic ability, Northstar’s daily P.E. activities are adapted to meet the needs of every students. Northstar has invested in new equipment with student success in mind. Tools such as yoga mats, varying size balls and birdies, and even the color of the volleyball net have been purchased with student success in mind.

• Multi-size balls help students with developmental delays or differing skill sets in the same class. It also gives students the chance to first build their confidence with an easier-to-grasp ball, then gradually move to into standard equipment.
• A bright orange volleyball net assures students with visual impairments can see the net while playing, and special jumbo-size badminton birdies allows students to clearly track them in the air, helping with hand-eye coordination.
• New mats for yoga lessons help our students practice mindfulness, emotional regulation, and strategies for coping that are crucial for students with disabilities.
• Additionally, organized and clean storage units ensure the long-term sustainability of this equipment.

This equipment has also allowed Ms. Pigg to be creative during P.E. class. During the 2024-25 school year, lower school students played a version of “Battleship” in the new gymnasium. This game, involving mats, scooters, and balls, was an fun way to practice sportsmanship, teamwork, balance, and dexterity. Varying sizes of balls are used, allowing the game to accommodate students with differing muscle tone and gross motor skills.

Thank you again to the Women’s Giving Circle for providing invaluable support to Northstar students!