Health and Physical Education

Why is this happening?

Engagement with the variety of physical education programmes the school endorses and teaches, through outside and community trainers provides opportunities to develop sport specific skills, represent their school and the region across a wide range of sports, and develop valuable teamwork and self management skills.

St. Patrick’s Health and PE curriculum encourages our learners to strengthen not only their physical skills, but their critical thinking and other key competencies such as relating to others and participation.

General fitness, movement skills and a proactive attitude to their own health are explicitly taught, encouraged and challenged. Learners are provided a ‘challenge by choice’ context to develop their physical, social and emotional well-being.

Learning within our Health curriculum encourages growth to the well-being of students from St. Patrick’s beyond the classroom.

Health activities also link closely - alongside PE - with the vision and values of the school, and integrate easily with our religious learning.

They allow the school to develop relationships with outside organisations such as the Police, St. John, Life Education.

What does this mean?

To factor in more physical activity; to encourage a deeper understanding of personal health, fitness, nutrition and wellbeing; to develop positive attitudes and values;
St Patrick’s Health & PE curriculum gives opportunities for all children to develop their physical and mental skills with a no/low cost, non-threatening approach.
The PE programme provides opportunities for learners to achieve and celebrate success in an environment that is not fully reliant or focused on academic achievement, within a range of opportunities - from a ‘balance is better’ participation approach, to those with a more

competitive nature.

Our Health curriculum is based on the Hauroa philosophy of wellbeing, in which the four walls of the whare support one's wellbeing. The walls being:

Taha tinana (the physical dimension) Physical wellbeing as well as the physical body, its growth, development, and ability to move, and ways of caring for it.

Taha hinengaro (the mental dimension) Mental and emotional wellbeing including coherent thinking processes, acknowledging and expressing thoughts and feelings, and responding constructively.

Taha whānau (the family dimension) Social wellbeing exploring family relationships, friendships, and other interpersonal relationships; feelings of belonging, compassion, and caring; and social support.

Taha wairua (the spiritual dimension) Spiritual wellbeing and the values and beliefs that determine the way people live, the search for meaning and purpose in life, and personal identity and self-awareness.

Next steps

Further develop the resources available to teachers and learners. Utilise a schoolwide PE and Health Curriculum to ensure clear progressions through classes/year groups and to ensure all curriculum content is covered over a two year period, while reflecting our special character in our Health learning.

Timetable our learning contexts to align with outside providers, allowing us to grow the understandings gained in these sessions within the classroom context, and not 'on top of' current learning programmes.

In February 2024 two staff members have joined the Physical Education and Health Community of Practice. This is a focus group made up of curriculum leads, principals and senior leadership members undergoing training, sharing ideas and resources and collaboratively problem solving the issues faced in this curriculum area. This group meets at least once a team, facilitated by Sport Canterbury, with our staff members 'bringing back' new learning and understandings to all staff, and creating an online resource for all teachers.

Thanks to our PTA we are well resourced with playground and sports equipment, allowing for a range of activities during breaks and within class learning.

Other Next Steps:

Consider replacing our school team uniforms, such as our basketball singlets and rugby/league uniforms.

Further develop our PAL leaders through Whanau games, Clubs and Tuakana Teina activities.

A working group to create a nutrition and healthy eating plan schoolwide. The Sports Committee will be leading this with teacher support.

Junior Syndicate

Eden and Bethlehem

So far this year students have been practising their running, jumping and throwing skills in team relays. Key learning for this term is not just about developing motor skills but also learning how to follow instructions and being a good team mate. We have also have been ending our PE sessions with an informal game of soccer which the children have loved.

Samaria

We have been enjoying this fabulous weather and taking advantage of every sunny Thursday. Samaria have mastered their long jump, shot put, sprints and hurdle skills.

In Nazareth we have been learning small ball skills and we have been learning new games and skills through our cultural days. We have also been lucky as a school to have the basketball teams come and do extra training sessions with us. The children love it when we have visitors join our school to teach us new skills.

Sri Lankan Games

Learning some cultural games

Small ball skills

Learning some hand and eye coordination

Basketball

We have some awesome basketball players come and share some skills with us!

Zion

P.E. is lots of fun every Monday. The Zion students particularly enjoy playing soccer, netball, octoball, and having a go with the skipping ropes.

Senior Syndicate

Our Senior Syndicate PE and Health curriculum provides our students opportunities to participate in sporting and leadership activities. Our focus this year was firstly swimming confidence and skills, followed by the Run, Jump, Throw programme. Health achievement objectives have been based in students developing their understanding of their growth and development needs, becoming increasingly aware of their emotional, physical, spiritual and mental wellbeing. Learning opportunities are included in our classroom programmes, such as St Patrick's Wonderfully Made in God’s Image Relationship and Sexuality programme, and by utilising outside providers, such as Life education.

Rugby Development Officer training session

Year 5 - 8 Rugby League Trevor Kilkelly Trophy

Galilee learning rugby skills.

PE in Galilee.

2023-2024

Junior Syndicate

Eden and Bethlehem complete Physical Education and Brain Breaks together whether it be in the hall or outside. Students have completed a range of ball skills, obstacle courses, and relays. Majority of students give it their absolute all and show an eagerness to learn and do more!

Bounce/catch

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Throw/catch

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Our new game

Term 1 has seen Samaria learn a range of big ball skills. They are now excellent at catching and throwing. They have also learnt a new made up game. Where they put these new skills into action.

In Nazareth we have been working on big ball, skills, team work and following the rules of a game.

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Vas Kovalski - Be Bright, Eat Right

In only an hour this educational magic show was jam packed with learning about healthy eating. It started by teaching the children about the food groups. Next, they took a look at vitamins and minerals which are important for young children to help them grow, develop and be healthy. Then, magical multiplying bottles appear, this lead into teaching the students how to read labels on drinks and the problems caused by too much sugar. By this time in the show all the students were fully participating. Time to find out why drinking water is so important. He showed the students that water is not a simple liquid and it’s full of magic. Following this, the importance of breakfast, through magic he explained that eating breakfast actually makes school easier as it provides them with better focus and response times in class. Lastly, the show ended by explaining to the students how to make better snacking habits.

Life Education

Samaria have been learning about healthly eating for heathly bodies.

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Life Education work closely with our staff to develop programmes to best meet the needs of our students.

Senior Syndicate

11 of our Senior Students went to the Rec Centre for a PAL's (Physical Activity Leaders) workshop run by Sport Canterbury. They learnt about leadership and how to adjust games to suit the needs of multiple children. We chose our Whanau Group Leaders to attend so they could use these skills to run Whanau Games and show leadership within the playground. The course was well received and the children thoroughly enjoyed it!

PE in the Senior Syndicate

Movement skills, game 'sense', strategising and positive attitudes and values are at the forefront of our Senior PE and Health curriculum. Students design, participate and evaluate learning through movement, while also participating in individual and team sports and opportunities.

LIFE EDUCATION

A regular and useful resource for the development of life skills for our learners is the annual visit to the school of the Life Education caravan and its teacher.

The classes across the school choose from a range of themes offered by the Life Education teacher. These have relevance to the lives of our students. The lessons, usually held over two or three hour long sessions, allow our learners to apply their reasoning to the values and skills applicable to the chosen topic. The lessons are totally interactive and accompanied by audio-visual lesson materials.

Lessons are helped by the enthusiasm of the teacher and the able support of her "off-sider' Harold, who is reputed to have the oldest jokes ever told on the West Coast.

Special Character
Appreciation of everyone’s uniqueness and ability as God’s creation. Respect shown for each other and the equipment the school (and outside support coaches) provide. Students are encouraged and taught to give positive encouragement and credit where deserved. Tuakana Teina (‘Buddy System’) to have juniors and seniors working together and learning from each other. Our school values are reflected by all people and systems involved. St Patrick’s encourages a spiritual, mental, emotional and physical wellbeing focus.

Priority Learners
All students are given the opportunity to participate and are supported at a level suitable to their abilities. Non-participants in sport are encouraged to engage in all PE programmes.

Te Tiriti o Waitangi
Teaching Te whare tapa wha - Hauora and well being for the ‘whole’ child. Focus across the school on the whole person - all aspects including physical, spiritual, emotional and social for hauora (well being). Te reo Māori is integrated in PE and Health learning opportunities. Incorporate Ngā Taonga Tākaro (traditional Māori games) in our learning experiences, (ie invasion games module based on Ki o Rahi).