Health & Physical Education

The Western Australia Department of Sport and Recreation has recently released a new resource ‘Brain Boost – how sport and physical activity enhance children’s learning’. This document has been prepared by Curtin University outlining the positive link between children being active, playing sport and their ability to get better marks at school. The research makes it very clear that children who are more physically active learn better. I am pleased to say that Trinity College is well-placed with a comprehensive Health & Physical Education program to complement a diverse sporting program to fully support this research.

The research between physical activity, fitness and academic achievement is supported by a number of studies:

“The average academic achievement of children who received extra physical education is significantly higher than children who were in a control group which did not receive extra physical education.” (Ardroy et al., 2014 Shephard RJ et al., 1994)

“Cognitive benefits are maintained over time.” (Koivusilta, Nupponen, & Rimpela, 2012; Stevens et al., 2008; Wittberg, Northrup & Cottrell, 2012).

Participation in physical activity at Trinity College is designed to aid in developing life skills, good sportsmanship through supporting the notion of fair play and the confidence to take on challenges whether they be academic or physical. Mr Rod Rainer Head of Health & Physical Education

Physical Education in Years 7–10

The year 2015 promised to be a very challenging year with the loss of facilities due to the development of the new gymnasium. With no oval or outdoor courts available for most of Semester 1 the program had to be modified to suit without majorly disadvantaging the education of our students.

The ground staff did a magnificent job in renovating the oval and enabling classes to use it for most of Term 2. Coupled with the availability of the outdoor courts most of the normal program was resumed.

Another major change this year was the return of Year 10 Physical Education with the College returning to a six period day. A more varied program has been offered with inclusion of such activities as rowing, badminton and ultimate frisbee. The approach has been to further develop the sport education approach with the emphasis on interclass competition in a range of sports.

Congratulations to the following boys as recipients of awards:

Year 7 Physical Education: Ethan Regan (7.4)

Year 8 Physical Education: Reesjan Pasitoa (8.6)

Year 9 Physical Education: Michael Le (9.7)

Year 10 Physical Education: Brandon Starcevich (10.1)

Fitness and Health Education

These units are designed to be an extension of the physical education program, providing a more in-depth approach. Boys taking part in these units gain a greater understanding of fitness training principles and methods. They are exposed to a greater range of training methods designed to assist the aspiring athlete or those who just want to develop a healthier approach to life. They also complement material covered in Year 9 Health in relation to fitness profiling.

New electives such as sports science, strength and conditioning and aquatics have provided a greater range of learning environments with these electives now being offered in Year 10.

These units provide a working knowledge and practical experiences for the various Physical Education courses offered in Years 11 and 12.

Aquatics: Mr Dion Mepham

Middle School aquatics is an elective designed to introduce the students to life around the water. The Year 8 unit is broken into four areas:

1. stroke technique 2. water polo 3. lifesaving 4. coaching and management

Year 8 Aquatics is fundamentally a skill-development year in which the boys learn how to dissect and analyse sport through its decisions and tactics.

Year 9 aquatics extends the boys’ knowledge in stroke technique and lifesaving, culminating in a bronze medallion exam. During 2015, a record 21 Year 9 students completed their bronze medallion award.

Finally, the boys undertook an aquatic recreation component, integrating the running and supervision of various aquatic sports.

Year 9 students practise their Lifesaving techniques

Students practise their Lifesaving techniques

Year 10 Aquatics has been re-introduced in 2015, giving us an opportunity to develop lifesaving skills to a whole very high level. Five boys were awarded an Award of Merit; two achieved an Instructor of Lifesaving, four a Bronze Cross and a further seven achieved a Bronze Medallion. The boys are also given an introduction into the teaching and management of others via a big buddy program that had them instructing swimming to the Year 4 students.

Congratulations to all lifesaving award recipients:

Award of Merit (Year 10) – Houston Jennings (10.5), Harrison Griffiths (10.1), Sam Moffatt (10.3) and Will Starkie (10.3)

Instructor of Lifesaving (Year 10) – Nicholas Abrahams (10.2), Ben McGuire (10.6) and Michael Nicoli (10.6)

Bronze Cross (Year 10) – Nicholas Ellison (10.5), James Michelon (10.3) and Callum Lauriston (10.8)

Bronze Medallion – Congratulations to nine boys from Year 10 and 20 boys from Year 9 for achieving the award.

Health Education

The Year 7 Health program follows a rationale aimed at a student’s understanding of the importance of developing self-esteem and self-confidence through accepting challenges. Throughout the eight week course, students were informed of the benefits of a healthy lifestyle as well as key issues related to bullying, resilience and forming positive relationships. Students thrived on contributing to class discussions focused on the adolescent changes encompassing the five dimensions of health – physical, social, emotional, intellectual and spiritual.

In a new approach, Year 7 Health Education has been linked with an eight lesson block of Outdoor Education. The rationale is to provide the boys with a new s et of challenges and give them the opportunity of gaining experience in developing teamwork.

Our Year 9 Health curriculum encourages our students to critically examine modern health issues and formulate strategies to combat their impact. Students investigate various lifestyle diseases and are educated in modern dietary and exercise practices which should arm them to confront the all too common complications associated with a sedentary adult life.

An important component of the Personal Development & Wellbeing program in Year 10 is the Keys for Life Pre-Driver education program.

Keys for Life explores different aspects of road safety for all road users and is aimed at deterring young drivers from being involved in risk-taking behaviours. Issues such as speeding, not wearing seat belts and the use of mobile phones whilst driving are discussed.

In 2015 our Year 10 students attended the RAC bstreetsmart road safety event at the Perth Arena. This event displayed a re-enactment of a motor vehicle accident and testimonies from family members of victims

Mr Dion Mepham with representatives from the Royal Life Saving Society of WA

of road trauma. Guest speakers from the Paraplegic Fund of WA also visited the school to discuss road safety and share their stories with our students. These events have had a profound effect on the attitude of our boys.

Young people, especially males aged 17–24 years, are over represented in motor vehicle accidents. It is important that we all work together in an effort to reduce road deaths and serious injuries on our roads.

Physical Education in Years 11 and 12: Mr David Hankin

For the eighth consecutive year, Trinity College 3A/3B Physical Education Studies students have managed to rank in the top ten schools across the State for performance in their final WACE examinations. Their average mean scaled score of 69% was an outstanding achievement and ensured almost all students used PE Studies as one of their best performing subjects.

Corey Evans (’14) and Brayden Keizer (’14) each received a Certificate of Distinction in Physical Education Studies which places them in the top 0.5% of the students statewide in this subject. This is an outstanding achievement and both these boys were recognised for their efforts at the Physical Education Studies Teachers’ Association (PESTA) awards earlier this year.

Brayden Keizer (’14) achieved the honour of being the best performed student in the State with a final scaled mark of 89%. For this he was awarded the Subject Exhibition for Physical Education Studies.

Special thanks must go to Mr Andrew Jenkin, Mr David Hankin and Mr Stephen Leahy (‘78) for their ongoing efforts in preparing the students for their final WACE examinations.

Congratulations to the following boys as recipients of awards:

ATAR Physical Education Studies William McDonald (11.5)

3A/3B Physical Education Studies Adam Rosato (12.2)

Pre-service Teacher Program

Pre-service teachers perform an important function at Trinity College. The addition of these young teachers has enriched the educational lives of our students. Not only do they provide a great resource in the sporting field but they have brought the latest in educational resources to our classrooms.

These Pre-service teachers bring up-to-date teaching methods currently being studied at institutions such as Edith Cowan University, Notre Dame University, Murdoch University and the University of Western Australia.

Trinity is fortunate in that we have attracted some excellent young teachers who have made a significant contribution to the education of our boys.

Students practise their ball skills

Mr Leahy congratulates Brayden Keizer (’14) on achieving a Course Exhibition in PE studies

Overall, students at Trinity College display excellence in skill development, a high level of self-management and interpersonal skills. I personally thank the Health & Physical Education staff for the significant contribution they make to the education of our students to ensure that they live up to the College mantra of Men for Others.

Mr Rod Rainer Head of Health & Physical Education