From the Head of Health & Physical Education

As we draw to the end of a second challenging year, it is satisfying to reflect on a number of positives. The COVID-19 pandemic threw challenges at all Australians, and at the world, that we never could have imagined. However, through these tumultuous times the St Catherine’s School community, School Leadership Team, teachers, students and parents have come together in a real spirit of kindness and solidarity.

The Health and Physical Education (HPE) Faculty have been committed to exploring new and agile ways to deliver a streamlined, authentic Physical Education program that included ongoing physical activity, despite the difficulties of online learning. Evidence-based research reflects that when students find activities intrinsically interesting, enjoyable and personally relevant, they are more likely to engage with them. Our Physical Education lessons for Years 7 to 10, have proven to be an appropriate avenue for our students to enjoy participating in, and benefitting from, a physically active lifestyle during online learning. Units of work such as the ‘5 Option: Your Choice’ program, where students selected one of the five activity categories depending on how they were feeling at the time of their class, proved to be overwhelmingly successful in meeting the individual needs of all students.

One Year 7 student commented on her involvement in the ‘5 Option: Your Choice’ program as being “really awesome to have such good choices of activity.” Year 10 HPE elective students reflected that, “I decided to go for a 30-minute run because it was a nice day outside and I am trying to rebuild my cardiovascular fitness, because I have lost some of it during lockdown. I have found running to be one of the best ways to do that,” and, “It was really great doing the energy blaster option, as I needed to burn off some energy from sitting inside all day and doing school online.”

The pandemic has accelerated the range of digital tools utilised in our teaching. Of necessity, the range of digital technology incorporated within the core Physical Education curriculum has expanded, providing greater choice and autonomy for independent learning to occur. Our students have gained agency, through greater awareness of how to monitor their overall health and wellbeing, using a number of different fitness apps. Additionally, physical activity has provided welcome relief and stress reduction, by facilitating welcome breaks from screen time during the school day. Students enjoyed the physical challenges of the Strava Art App and the Kilometre Team Challenge, both of which provided extra motivation to leave the house and exercise. One Year 8 student reflected that she had “taken up running regularly after tracking her speed and journey through Strava.”

The Year 9 Advanced HPE class made the most of their online learning by setting themselves a physical goal and designing a six-week training program to work towards achieving their goals. Goals included ‘running The Tan in under 20 minutes’ and ‘completing 30 continuous push-ups’. Students applied their understanding of the training principles, training methods and sports nutrition to great effect, while relishing the opportunity for physical activity.

Many parents, who have often partnered with their daughters in their physical pursuits, expressed gratitude during lockdown for the many exercise opportunities offered. Our wonderful HPE team have felt very privileged to see their students working away from computer screens, applying knowledge and skills, while also being active and involved in class. Their willingness and motivation to engage with the variety of programs has demonstrated their resilience and has been a great credit to them all.

Ms Debbie Thompson