Passion Projects: Delivers the Mission

Strategic Intent - Promote an enriching holistic education and student experience that challenges and nurtures the spiritual, academic, physical, emotional and social character of each student empowering them to lead and serve their communities and make a difference in the world.

DEBBIE WESTMCINNES Springfield Head of Primary In 2022, after reflecting on a range of data and our strategic intent, our goal was to expand the extra-curricular activities provided to our students across the Upper Primary school. Studies show that when students are passionately engaged in their learning— when they are fascinated and excited by their learning environment or activities— there are myriad responses in their brains making connections that simply would not occur without that passion or emotion. This year, there was a change in focus for our Years 4-6 students on a Thursday afternoon. We moved from a Sport Development model to a Passion Development model, Thriving Thursday. Sport Development has been an important program in the Upper Primary school at St Peters Springfield since 2010. Initially, the Thursday afternoon program was held at the Springfield Lakes Sporting Fields when our campus was in Education City. When we moved to our current address in Health City, the program moved to our school oval. The Sports Program has provided students with the skills to confidently represent the College in range of sports. Over the years, the students took part in lessons to teach them Netball, Football, Cricket, Softball, Basketball, Tennis, Touch Football, Cross Country and Track & Field. In 2022, a decision was made to extend the activity offerings on a Thursday afternoon to further meet students’ interests and passions. Sport would still be a focus but there was the introduction of Technology, Arts and Well-being options. Thriving Thursday has been offered over the past three terms encompassing subjects such as Dance, Mosaics, Creative Drawing, Robotics, Lego animation, Coding and Kindness Crew. Australian Rules, Netball, Basketball, Cricket, Soccer and Track & Field have also been offered to continue the tradition of sports development. Students have chosen activities where their talents and passions lie and have been able to further extend these through planned weekly sessions. The program allows students to be creative, show leadership skills, be mentors, show initiative and be in smaller groups to trial new ways of doing things. Students have flourished through their involvement in these passion activities as they share a time with like-minded peers who have the same interests. "Once something is a passion, the motivation is there," Michael Schumacher.