Health
and Physical Education
In June 2020, John Kennedy Sr was recognised by the Australian Football Hall of Fame as a legend of the industry, only the 29th individual to be titled with this honour. Despite John’s passing a few weeks later, his legacy remains clear _ no matter the situation, we are judged by our actions, not our words. With the challenge of learning remotely within a practical subject, students studying Health and Physical Education are to be commended on their actions throughout the year. Equally, I would like to extend my thanks to all staff within the faculty for their contributions. New and creative methods of delivering curriculum were passionately carried out in order to effectively motivate and educate students.
With incidental physical activity such as walking to your next class, kicking a ball at lunchtime or sprinting down Monash Drive to catch the bus a distant memory, it was extremely important for students to dedicate time for physical activity. Professor Lea Waters is supporting Mazenod College to action visible wellbeing within the community. To quote Lea, “we must train our muscles to become physically fit, similarly, we must train our brains to be mentally fit”. The Health and Physical Education program aims to address all aspects of fitness through a variety of theoretical and practical avenues. Despite major excursions and events being replaced with online activities, students are to be congratulated on their participation. Junior classes focussed on the importance of making healthy lifestyle choices. They, along with some Senior classes, tracked their own physical activity, sleep and sedentary behaviour. Collecting personal movement data enabled students to reflect on the positive impact physical activity can have on their wellbeing. Across all year levels, students participated in various live Zoom sessions with qualified instructors. This included F45, a high intensity 45 minute workout that develops the major muscles and joints of the body, not to mention the effect it has on increasing your heart rate! There were also classes with
Sarah Piotrowski, which focused on strength, flexibility and controlled breathing. Students often commented about the improved focus and energy they felt post workout and reflected on the importance of setting aside time to develop their mental fitness.
In difficult situations, we must do our best to find the positives. VCE Physical Education classes led the charge in this field, strengthening their key knowledge and skills from the study design via new modes. The annual enhancement day at Monash University was replaced with interactive YouTube videos from their sensational teachers. Participation in training methods previously conducted at school were completed at various DIY home gyms, backyards, ovals and footpaths. The past year has been a timely reminder to value our own health and wellbeing. Physical activity is an important aspect of our life that we cannot afford to neglect. Remember, any activity is better than none, just thinking about incorporating more physical activity into your life is a great start. However, do not forget to action the thought, to quote the late John Kennedy Sr, “don’t think, do!” Josh Muling
33
