Sport and Co-curricular

Jonas Stoebe PDHPE Teacher

Year 8, Gymnastics

Year 9 students participate in The Cove program

Fundamentals of Sport and Movement at Glenaeon

Class 2 students move their bodies while participating in outdoor games “We have to stop asking what individuals can achieve in the realm of sports and start asking what sport can contribute to the human condition”. Karlfried Graf Duerkheim

The Primary School years in sport reflect the philosophy of the school to educate the whole nature of the child in all its variety with an awareness of the developmental stages of the children in our care. Hence, in the lower years (Primary School) the ethos of the school is to focus on the wellbeing and confidence building of our students through team settings and group challenges, rather than experiencing individual success. Research has shown that early emphasis and celebration of individual success does not foster the child’s emotional wellbeing and development. (Further reading: “Beyond Winning – Smart parenting in a toxic sports environment” K. John Payne, L. Fernando Llosa & S. Lancaster, 2013).

Generally speaking, the idea of competitive sport is introduced when it is more suitable to the natural and healthy development of the child.

A lot of our Primary School activity is based around games in which students spend time realising their potential and experiencing success and defeat within a social group setting. Free and creative play dominates in the lower Primary School years, and the major ball games are introduced through modified games that suit the age and development

Year 9, Warrah Visit Term 2

Glenaeon Basketball, Term 1

Archie Carter Year 7, AICES Swimming Champion

of the children. The focus is not so much yet on the acquisition of particular techniques or detailed rules, but rather on the idea that students are exposed to a great variety of movement and activities which encourage creativity and foster motivation within the children to engage actively.

An important sporting event in the Primary School years is the Class 5 Greek Olympics, in which different Steiner schools join together for a great festival to compete in some traditional athletic disciplines (wrestling, javelin, discus throwing, long jump, ‘marathon’ running, a sprint and relay running) from the original Greek Olympics. All this is again experienced in teams, in ‘Greek city states’ such as Corinth and Sparta. It is a beautiful community event that usually involves parents, teachers and students in a crosscurricular activity that combines history, sport, music and dance and reflects the healthy and well-rounded way how we educate students in the primary years. 

Wheelchair Basketball

Jonas led students in morning movement sessions via Zoom during the lockdown period February 2021: Glenaeon Swimming Carnival, and Year 10 Surfing at Long Reef Year 9 Bubble Soccer