A physical education course called “Junior Polar Bear” has been added as a possible selective choice for juniors during the online programming period for the upcoming spring term.

This class will consist of students running outdoors and doing drills and exercises. The course is designed for students with various levels of running experience. According to physical education teacher Peter Bologna, who will be teaching the class, students who consider themselves good runners will focus on increasing their endurance. The novice runners will be taught how to run better and develop a proper conditioning routine.

“The goal for everyone will be to become more fit, and to set a goal and achieve that goal,” Bologna said.

It is still uncertain whether the class will be offered in the spring term. According to interim acting Assistant Principal Physical Education Lawrence Barth, the current online programming period will determine whether or not the class will run based on the number of interested juniors.

Junior Polar Bear was a class previously taught at Stuyvesant High School but was removed from the curriculum several years ago for unknown reasons. According to Barth and Bologna, the course was possibly withdrawn due to the retirement of former physical education teacher Charles Sharkey, who taught the class.

Bologna requested to bring this course back for the spring term for several reasons. “I enjoy running, I enjoy racing,” he said. “It would be interesting to teach people how to run properly and how to train properly.”

“It also gives a chance for non-P[ublic] S[schools] A[thletic] L[eague] participants to enjoy the fundamentals of running,” Bologna said. “I think it’s a fun class and there’s a part in it for everyone.”

According to Barth, this additional class would also help ease the lack of sufficient gym space. “There are not enough big gym classes,” he said. “Having an outdoor class will alleviate that.”