This site is to support PDHPE teachers with background teacher information, resources and ideas. The aim of the site is to help teachers understand the Catholic perspective of content covered in the NSW NESA K-10 PDHPE syllabus, so that these important areas can be taught to the students in a life giving way.
This resource is structured in four main sections.
First section is titled 'Foundational Principles' and is a general section for all teachers (K-10). This page explains the foundational framework that this whole resource is based on. It is highly recommended that teachers first read this page before using the resource.
Second section is the 'Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspective' page which is also a general section for all teachers (K-10). This page is not an exhaustive list of everything connected to the Aboriginal ad Torres Strait Islander perspective, but aims at giving basic assistance to teachers to help students appreciate the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspective. Teachers would be encouraged to further pursue more in depth resources in this area of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspective, as the PDHPE syllabus has wonderful opportunities to integrate this important topic into teaching and learning opportunities.
Third section is PDHPE (7-10) Towards Wholeness: The Joy of Life page and is specifically for Year 7-10 PDHPE teachers. This section is structured around topics, which often come up in PDHPE high school classrooms, based on teacher feedback. This page is background information to assist teachers understand the Catholic perspective of the different topics. Each topic has background information as well as a combination of short videos and website article links. Teachers should view these resources to discern the appropriateness of their use in their classroom.
The fourth section of the resource is titled PDHPE (K-6) Towards Wholeness: The Joy of Life. This section is for K-6 teachers of PDHPE, to help them teach the catholic perspective of topics which are found in the new NESA PDHPE syllabus. The K-6 section is written for each stage and is structured according to each inquiry question in the two strands (Health, Wellbeing and Relationships and Healthy, Safe and Active Lifestyles). The format of the background information for teachers is written in student friendly language, which would allow teachers to use some of the phrases in class with their students. The format also includes some teaching ideas/activities and key scripture references to help teachers draw out the catholic perspective of the content in the syllabus. The Movement Skill and Performance strand has a summary page for K-6 and details the catholic perspective of that topic in general terms.
As stated in the Catholic Church document Gravissimum Educationis (Declaration on Christian Education) v. 3.
'Since parents have given children their life, they are bound by the most serious obligation to educate their offspring and therefore must be recognized as the primary and principal educators'
This reference is just one example highlighting the importance of the partnership between schools and parents/caregivers. The nature of the content in the PDHPE syllabus is one which should encourage a dialogue with parents/caregivers, so that their wishes should be respected with regards to students and the teaching of sensitive areas in class. It would be advised that schools work with the student's parents/caregivers to inform them of the content being taught in PDHPE. This resource could be used by teachers to work in partnership with the parents/caregivers to help them understand the Catholic perspective of different topics, in the hope that the parents/caregivers could also teach and guide their children in a life giving way.
Unless otherwise indicated, photos on this site are from Pixabay (https://pixabay.com) which as they state in their terms would be appreciated.
"You are free to adapt and use them for commercial purposes without attributing the original author or source. Although not required, a link back to Pixabay is appreciated." (ref: from https://pixabay.com/en/service/terms/)
The material present on this site has been approved by a Diocesan Censor. By Canon 830 §3, having “put aside all preferences of persons and looking only to the teaching of the Church concerning faith and morals, as declared by its magisterium,” (Can 830, §2), the website as of 19 August 2018 is free from doctrinal or moral error. Fr Wim Hoekstra. BTheol, LSS. Censor Deputus. As additional material is added, it too will be subject to the approval of a Catholic Church Censor.