Students returned to school this term to a new look gym learning space with signage of our school's learning dispositions installed during the holidays. 

The display creates opportunities for students to reflect on their learning and provide individual and peer feedback to improve students' learning and physical performance. 

The PDHPE staff encourage all students to continually strive to demonstrate the dispositions of learning in both the practical and theory elements of PDHPE. 

YEAR 7 PDHPE students are provided with many opportunities to learn about and practice ways of adopting and maintaining a healthy lifestyle and a productive and active life. During Term 1 students worked on a range of simple movement skills,  including some lead up work to the major school carnivals, Athletics, Cross Country and Swimming.

During Terms 2 and 3 students are provided with learning experiences that develop understanding around healthy habits in relation to nutrition and exercise, the current issues relating to drug use, including the use and effect of alcohol, movement activities, centred creative dance and Indigenous games. 

In Term 4 the focus shifts to physical and social/emotional issues around moving through puberty, where students are able to contribute ideas, thoughts and questions in a relaxed, safe and positive learning environment.  

YEAR 8 PDHPE began the year with the 'Health Matters' and 'Strike/Catch/Throw' units. Health Matters provided students with an overview of what impacts their lives and how we can be proactive in decision-making processes.

In Term 2 students commenced the 'Supporting Myself and Others' and 'Athletics' units, in preparation for the athletics carnival. First aid quizzes tested students' knowledge on the skills taught in class, which empower students with life skills and awareness of first aid principles.

This term students will become the teacher in court games when they are given the opportunity to create their own game. Year 8 will finish the year with gymnastics and 'Risky Business' where they explore positive relationships and communication methods to create a safe and supportive environment.

YEAR 9 PDHPE students are enjoying a physically challenging and mentally thought-provoking year due to the diverse range of practical and theory units studied. Practical units include: 'Invasion Games', 'Active for Life', 'World Games' and 'Celebrating Diversity'. Each unit provides students with the opportunity to enhance decision-making and problem solving skills in game situations and participating in some unique non-mainstream sports.

Theory units 'HeadStrong', 'Drugs Use', 'Sexual Health' and 'Celebrating Diversity', provide students with the opportunity to collaboratively discuss and individually research topics of great significance in their current lives. 

This semester students will be engaging in a group project based learning task requiring students to create a product that can be used within the school community which answers the driving question, "How can I keep my mental health at its best and support the mental health of others?”. This project based learning task will go hand in hand with the Year 9 Wellbeing Day on Friday 23 August. The PE staff are very excited to see what each of the student groups produce!

YEAR 10 PDHPE have explored a variety of topics which support students to challenge perspectives, develop deeper knowledge and build decision making skills to ensure they continue as lifelong learners in our community. 

Topics included: 'Planning for Safety', 'Road Safety Advocacy', 'Dance', 'Movement Composition/ Appraisal', 'Relationships', 'Overcoming Adversity', 'Planning for Safety', 'Striking Games' and 'Contemporary Games'.  

This term students are working on a practical Movement Appraisal Task where they will assess the movement skills of their peers. In theory, students will be working on an assessment task that emcompasses the impacting issues surrounding road safety. The Op Shop Ball is always a highlight in the calendar for year 10 PE and a quality fundraiser for St Vincent de Paul and will take place in Term 4.

YEAR 11 PDHPE This year we welcomed Mrs Isemonger and Mrs Frew to lead the preliminary PDHPE charge to the HSC. Year 11 PDHPE students are currently working through the unit Better Health for Individuals where they explore health behaviours and the influence of policy and promotion on individual and community health. In Term 2 students explored biomechanical principles in the Unit 'Body in Motion'. 'First Aid' and 'Outdoor Recreation' are being taught this term.

Last week students completed a walk from Durras to Kiola, camping overnight at Pebbly Beach - putting into practice the theory they will have learnt in the Outdoor Education unit. 

YEAR 12 PDHPE Year 12 PDHPE students regularly strive to expand and challenge their knowledge on the 'Health of Australians' and 'Factors affecting Performance'.  In learning teams, the cohort are working hard demonstrating high work ethic and a passion to learn more about health, movement and sports medicine.

YEAR 11 COMMUNITY AND FAMILY STUDIES Students are studying resource management and the intricacies that contribute to the wellness of individuals in our community. Students will identify the Individuals and Groups as to which our resources are diminished or built upon and how people can use techniques such as conflict resolution, leadership styles and group cohesion to influence overall wellness. We are analysing the effects of these techniques by viewing the 'Blind Side' and submitting an assessment task displaying our findings.

Lastly, we will study Families and Communities looking at stages of the lifespan, socialisation, the nature of change and the impacts these factors can have.

YEAR 12 COMMUNITY AND FAMILY STUDIES are  involved in a number of learning experiences, assessment tasks and activities that will enrich their knowledge and understanding of matters concerning our local, national and global matters within communities and family groups. Students are currently  involved in completing Independent Research Projects (IRPs) and will have the informal task of taking home and caring for a robotic baby overnight. Both classes are demonstrating great enthusiasm and dedication to their learning and studies.

The PE staff would like to congratulate the PDHPE and CAFS cohort on their efforts with trial HSC exams last week. 

The PHYSICAL ACTIVITY SPORTS STUDIES (PASS) program is a two year elective subject for students in Years 9 and 10. This subject allows students with an interest in physical activity to deepen their knowledge and skills further than the PDHPE compulsory course.

PASS encourages students to be involved in new and different sports encouraging them to apply their skills and thinking in a new way. The information students learn in theory are applied to practical lessons giving them a strong foundation of knowledge and a real-life basis for what they are learning.

Students in Year 9 are studying the anatomy and physiology of the human body, Australian sporting identities and issues in sport, such as drug use and financial inequalities between athletes. In the practical setting we are looking at the intricacies in sports officiating, how to outsmart and outplay our opponents with strategic and tactical development, hockey and lastly we undertook our Bronze Medallion.

The very competitive 2019 Year 10 PASS cohort are engaging in Coaching, Tournament Games, Team Play, Nutrition and Technology in Sport. The students will draw on knowledge explored in theory classes to coach skills to the class, analyse their peers movement performances, along with organising and running sport tournaments. 

Learning in CHILD STUDIES promotes in students a sense of empathy for children, their parents, caregivers and those that have the potential to influence learning environments. From the unit, 'Conception and Newborn Care', students have the opportunity to put theory into practice when assigned a robotic baby to care for overnight.

The unit 'Child Nutrition' will offer students practical experience of creating and sharing a nutritious meal developed for a child. In the 'Child Service and Career Opportunities' unit Mrs. Melissa Fulop, Mrs. Hayley Prayetno and Mrs. Ellen Gray will guide students through child care activity stations aimed to develop fundamental motor and social skills of children. 

YEAR 10 BUSHCRAFT: Year 10 have been busy preparing and refining their leadership skills in anticipation for the Year 7 and 9 camps, with all Year 10 students  assigned activities to lead the campers in, including canoeing, abseiling, bush walking and swimming. The maturity and care our Year 10 Bushcraft students have shown in organising activities which are engaging, fun and educational is extremely impressive. Well done Year 10!

YEAR 9 BUSHCRAFT: Year 9 have commenced their two year course in Bushcraft with enthusiasm and high energy. Over the coming months they will be learning the basics of what bushcraft has to offer ranging from wilderness first aid, navigation, ecology and canoeing skills. We look forward to seeing the new group of Bushcraft students achieve personal goals and learn invaluable skills!

Ms. Rachel Frew

PDHPE Coordinator