Frequently Asked Questions
- What is PEM Club?
- How do I join PEM Club? Is there dues?
- When and where are the meetings?
- Why should I join PEM Club?
- What is the member points system?
- What can I do if I have questions regarding the Physical Education Teacher Education (PETE) program, my class schedule/planning, or anything else regarded to our major?
- How do I apply to the Physical Education Teacher Education (PETE) program?
- How do I apply for the Adapted Physical Education (APE) minor?
- How do I apply to the School Health Education (SHE) program?
- What is the PRAXIS I/Pre-Professional Skills Test (PPST) and when do I take it?
- What is the PRAXIS II and when do I take it?
- What is the process to creating my teacher portfolio?
- How do I apply to student teach?
- What is Wisconsin Health and Physical Education (WHPE)? Why should I go to the state conference?
- What is American Alliance of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD)? Why should I go to the national conference?
The Physical Education Majors (PEM) Club is an official UW-La Crosse student organization for students pursuing a degree in physical education. The purpose of the Physical Education Majors Club is to help future Physical Education teachers to develop and maintain a connection to the everchanging world of Physical Education. Our club provides future professionals with opportunities to network with current professionals and become more involved within their Physical Education major. Our members discuss new and innovative ways to further develop our teaching methods on a local, state, and national scale. We hold a shared goal to teach all students how to successfully live a healthy active lifestyle.
How do I join
PEM Club? Is there dues?
The easiest way to join PEM Club is to attend one of our meetings and ask one of our officers about how to sign up. There are membership dues of $10. However, if you are actively involved with the club throughout the entire year, you may be eligible to get your money back and even more through our member points system. For more information on this system refer to the points system page at this link.
When
and where are the meetings?
Meetings are held every second Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. The first meeting of the year will be held in gymnasium 114 in Mitchell Hall. The rest of the meetings will be held in room 337 in the Cartwright Center. There is no meeting in Janurary due to winter break. Check our Calendar page for specific meeting dates.
A: Being a member of PEM Club has many perks. It is a great way to get involved in the physical dducation field. Not only do will you interact and work with your fellow peers, you also will have many opportunities to network with professors and current professionals. Volunteer experiences are annouced at meetings and getting involved by helping out in the community always looks great on your resume.
What is the member points system?
PEM Club members earn points for every hour they spend at meetings, conferences, monthly socials, and other PEM Club events. Members may be eligable to receive a reimbursement check from the club at the end of the school year according to how many conferences they attend and the number of points they accumulate. You must also volunteer for five hours in PEM Club events to be eligible. For more information refer to the points system page at this link.
PEM Club members are always willing to help out their fellow members. Most upperclassmen will be able to help you out with any questions you have. The PEM Club also has a program called "Big PEM/Little PEM" that pairs an upperclassmen ("Big PEM-er") with an underclassmen ("Little PEM-er"). These one-on-one relationships allow upperclassmen to mentor underclassmen as they move along through the program. Members who help out as "Big PEM-ers" will receive one point for each semester they mentor their "Little PEM-ers".
How do I apply to the Physical
Education Teacher Education (PETE) program?
The requirements for applying to the PETE program are as follows:
- Completion of 30 college credits
- Completion of foundation courses - ESS 112, ESS 118, ESS 225, BIO 103 or 105 or MIC 100, and HPR 105
- Passing scores for all of the sections of the PRAXIS
I/Pre-Professional Skills Test (PPST)
- Passing scores: Reading=175, Math=173, Writing=174
- Minimum 2.75 cumulative GPA
- Fitness Portfolio (completed during ESS 118)
- Writing a Teaching Leadership Reflection paper
- Interview with PETE faculty
The application deadlines for the PETE program are the first Friday of October, January, Feburary, and June by 4:00pm. A clearly labeled folder containing your current resume, Fitness Portfolio, and Teaching Leadership Reflection paper should be handed into Dr. Kristi Mally, the PETE Program director, at her office at 210 Mitchell Hall. After a review of your folder, candidates will be contacted via email to set up the faculty interview. Admission decisions will be sent out through email within one month of the application deadline. For more details refer to the official application process website at http://www.uwlax.edu/sah/ess/pete/html/admission.htm.
How do I apply for the Adapted
Physical Education (APE) minor?
The requirements for applying to the APE program are as follows:
- Completion of ESS 231-Introduction to Adapted Physical Education with a minimum BC grade
- Admission to or in application progress into the Physical Education Teacher Education (PETE) Program
- Minimum 2.75 cumulative GPA
The application deadlines for the APE program are October 31st for spring entrance and March 30th and July 15th for fall entrance. Students are advised to apply to the program during or immediately after taking ESS 231. The application process include two forms, an application form (filled out by the applicant) and a recommendation form (filled out by a personal reference who can attest to the applicant's qualifications). Both forms are to be turned into 114 Wittich Hall by the applicantion deadline. After a review of the applications, applicants accepted into the program will be notified within no more than 10 days of the application deadline. Approximately 12 students will be accepted each semester. For more details refer to the offical application process website at http://www.uwlax.edu/sah/ess/sape/html/ugrad.htm.
How do I apply to the School
Health Education (SHE) program?
The requirements for applying to the SHE program are as follows:
- Completion of 30 college credits including HED 205-Introduction to Health and Wellness Education, ENG 110 (B grade minimum), CST 100 (B grade minimum), CS 100 or Gen. Ed. Math course, EFN 205, BIO 103 or 105, CHM 100 or 103, and HPR 105.
- Passing scores on the PRAXIS I/Pre-Professional Skills Test (PPST)
- Minimum 2.50 cumulative GPA
The application deadlines for the SHE program are the September 15th for J-term or spring semester entrance, and January 15th for summer and fall semester entrance. The application form must be completed and turned into Guy Herling, College of Science and Applied Health Assistant to the Dean, at 124 Mitchell Hall. Applicants admitted into the program are typically notified with 15-20 days after the application deadline date. For more details refer to the offical application process website at http://www.uwlax.edu/sah/hehp/ug_she/html/apply.htm.
What is the PRAXIS I/Pre-Professional Skills Test (PPST) and when do I take it?
The PRAXIS I/Pre-Professional Skills Test (PPST) is a standardized test made up of three sections- math, reading, and writing. Passing scores on all three sections are required for admittance into the PETE and SHE programs. New freshmen should take the test during or shortly after their first year. Advanced students should take the test as soon as possible. For more information visit the websites below.
- PETE Program's preperation website: http://www.uwlax.edu/sah/ess/pete/html/ppst.htm
- Wisconsin Testing Requirements website: http://www.ets.org/praxis/wi
What is
the PRAXIS II and when do I take it?
The PRAXIS II is a standardized test that education students take on the subject material they are planning to teach. Students are required to take this test and receive passing scores prior to student teaching for both physical education and health education. For more information visit the Wisconsin Testing Requirements website at http://www.ets.org/praxis/wi.
What is the process to creating my
teacher portfolio?
The teacher portfolio is a comprehensive assessment tool that the School of Education uses to evaluate Teacher Candidates (TC's) development in the Wisconsin Teacher Education Standards. The portfolio will contain artifacts from the TC's learning experiences that reflect the TC's understanding of the skills, knowledge, and depositions of the Wisconsin Teacher Standards. A reflective narrative is written by the TC which connects their artifacts to each of the ten standards. PETE students will be introduced to the portfolio during ESS 225: Introduction to Physical Education Teaching Methods. Two completed portfolios are required during the student teaching process, one prior to student teaching and one after student teaching. For more information visit the websites below.
- School of Education portfolio website: http://www.uwlax.edu/soe/portfolio/index.html
- PETE Program portfolio process website: http://www.uwlax.edu/sah/ess/pete/html/portfolio.htm
How and when do I apply to student teach?
Student teaching is completed during a student's final semester before graduating. PETE Program students are advised to apply to student teach one year before their final semester at UW-L (ex: apply spring '13 if intending to student teach and graduate spring '14). To be eligible to student teach a student must hold a 2.75 cumulative GPA AND 2.75 major GPA. They must also have met the prerequisites for EDS 494 and/or 495. Students must attend a mandatory information session during the semester they apply and complete an application form to be submitted by the application deadline. The following websites below will help you through the process.
- School of Education Student Teaching: http://www.uwlax.edu/soe/field/sti/index.html
- Admission to Student Teaching: http://www.uwlax.edu/soe/field/sti/admission.html
- Student Teaching Important Dates: http://www.uwlax.edu/soe/field/sti/announcements.html
- Student Teaching Forms and Documents: http://www.uwlax.edu/soe/forms/index.html
What is Wisconsin Health and Physical
Education (WHPE)? Why should I go to the state conference?
Wisconsin Health and Physical Education is a state organization which mission is "to provide members with professional development opportunities and be advocates for our profession." Becoming a member of WHPE has many benefits which include the opportunity to attend the annual state conference as well as other professional workshops, receiving the WHPE newsletter, be exposed to multiple leadership opportunities, and opportunities to get involved with political advocacy for our profession. Through WHPE you will meet many people you would not have otherwise, including current professionals and future professionals. At the state conference in October, you can attend a variety of sessions to learn new activities, strategies, and ideas for physical education and health (many UW-L professors present at these sessions). There are also other events, socials, guest speakers, and activities to network and grow as a future professional. The PEM Club organizes for many of our members to go together. We stay at the hotel where the convention is hosted and it is a great time to get to know many of your fellow PEM members. There is also a water park at the hotel we take full advantage of! Visit offical WHPE website at http://www.whpe.us.
American Alliance of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance is a national organization which mission is to "promote and support leadership, research, education, and best practices in the professions that support creative, healthy, and active lifestyles." AAHPERD is much like WHPE except on a national level. Much like WHPE, as a member of AAHPERD you will have the opportunity to attend the annual national conference as well as other professional workshops, receiving the AAHPERD newsletter, be exposed to multiple leadership opportunities, and opportunities to get involved with political advocacy for our profession. AAHPERD also has many scholarship and grant opportunities for its members. Being a member of AAHPERD and attending the national conference for AAHPERD is a great way for future professionals to expand there boundaries and see what other states have to offer in the fields of physical education, health, and more. The PEM Club organizes to send as many members as it can to the national conference and the location of the conference is always at a great place to visit. This coming April it is in Charlotte, North Carolina! Visit the official AAHPERD website at http://www.aahperd.org.