h ealth and physical education
MR STEVEN BAKER
h ead of h ealth and physical education
T
SS Physical Education Department provides a clear pathway for boys to follow from Year 7 to Year 12 and is bolstered with underpinning principles of age appropriate Long Term Athletic Development (LTAD), feedback, opportunities and reparation for fitness development and ample study opportunities in Senior Physical Education and Recreation Studies. The Physical Education Department this year has included an experienced staff including the Director of Rugby Mr Adrian Blundell, Director of Cricket Mr Steven Baker, The Director of Rowing Mr Adam Harrison, First XV Coach and Dean of Leadership Mr Mike Wallace, First XV and First XI Manager Mr Greg Norman, Director of Football Mr Joe Dolan and Mr Peter Bromley. The cutting edge Sports Excellence program for Years 7-10 Physical Education lessons continues to evolve. This program has offered the boys a selection from a wide range of sporting options each term working with outstanding specialist staff in these areas. This has allowed for very high quality teaching and learning, effectively allowing us to offer Sports Excellence training in PE time. Furthermore, the Years 7-10 lessons have been periodised, working towards Athleticism in core strength, sport specific strength, running and agility technique, plyometrics (jump/power training) and flexibility. The activities conducted were age appropriate and are fundamental towards the national curriculum as well as providing health improvement and injury prevention. This was progressively developed through the year from base level aerobic fitness with cross-country running, through to athletics and athleticism training then swimming as key movement proficiencies. Compulsory fitness tests are conducted each semester and this was itemised and reported to parents, coupled with diligence grades and TSS median results. This feedback allows boys to track their progress against national standards and to provide feedback on their performance, progress and effort. As a department we made the step of performing preparation work
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with boys who were below average standard on the aerobic tests. This was extremely successful as the majority of boys (with much work) were able to achieve significant improvement in their performance. TSS Years 7-10 core PE students perform at a satisfactory to excellent standard across the standardised tests and we work hard with any boys below these standards to assist their progress to satisfactory levels. The careful planning of Years 7-10 Physical Education has allowed the successful transition from Junior Health and Physical Education to Senior Board Physical Education and Recreation Studies. Theory classes in Years 7 and 9 were well resourced and focused towards age appropriate and national curriculum based models, with Year 7 working through Mental Health, Resilience and Adolescent Development. Year 9 was focused towards Sport Psychology, Nutrition, Physiology and Personal Development. In 2018, Senior Board Physical Education included cricket, touch football, volleyball and golf in a program that integrated theoretical content learnt in sports psychology, training principles, sociology and biomechanics. Further improvement in use of ICT and the opportunities that Canvas learning platform offers has enabled improvement in drafting, academic writing, research methods
and referencing, and has also assisted the results of the Year 12 cohort in an outstanding effort to set a high standard for the Year 11s in the incoming syllabus to emulate in 2019. Well done to all students and staff involved in the subject and special mention goes to Tyler Wright who received a high VHA ranking and the Year 12 PE Prize for top achievement. Mr Mike Wallace and Mr Peter Bromley deliver the senior PE Lessons exceptionally well through Years 11 and 12 as we continue to refine and evolve in seeking best practice in the subject area. This year has also seen the Board registered Recreation Studies progress to include practical and theoretical components of striking skills, fishing and surf skills, gymnastics, invasion games and strength and conditioning. Underpinning these activities was development of coaching and leadership development through giving boys' ownership and responsibilities in leading/organising/implementing a whole range of activities towards potential employment in the booming recreation industry. Congratulations to the graduating Year 12s and I would like to commend the work of all staff on an excellent year.
