Health & Physical Education ______________________Page

from Virtus Yearbook 2014

Brennan Houghton ____________________________Page

In 2014 the Health and Physical Education department has again provided the students with the chance to experience a wide range of physical activity and learning experiences. We have strived to enhance the learning of the boys in an effort to not only improve educational outcomes but more importantly to ensure the boys are given the chance to explore important health topics and issues and inspire them to live a healthy life, long after they leave St Joseph’s.

In an effort to achieve the goals above, the department has developed several new courses and has started a re-structure of the way we teach our subject. The first of these changes was to plan for an increased focus on health, especially at the junior level. After much work we have successfully organised for Physical Education and

Health to be merged into one subject, so that the boys in Years 7 and 8 will be given the chance to take part in a comprehensive, year-long health unit. This subject will not only enable the boys to explore and learn about important health topics but it will be integrated with physical activity in an effort to ensure that we teach this subject in an authentic and interesting manner.

The second innovation was to increase the academic stringency at Year 10 by developing new subjects that are specifically designed to prepare students for VCE. Optimal Health, Sport Science and Action in the Outdoors will prepare students for VCE Health and Human Development, Physical Education and Outdoor and Environmental Studies. We have also created a new Certificate 111 in Sport and Recreation subject, focusing on sports coaching and fitness which will provide an alternative pathway for boys who are interested in a career in sport or fitness but are not able to cope with the academic rigour of the VCE. Our boys have again been given many opportunities to get out and experience the fantastic environments we have on our doorstep and around the state in Outdoor and Environmental Studies subjects this year. With our own surfboards, ocean kayaks, mountain bikes and snorkelling equipment, the boys have enjoyed getting out and challenging themselves in the outdoors. VET Sport and Recreation has continued with units 3 and 4 being taught for the first time. The students studying the new VET course took part in some great activities and travelled to some amazing camps this year including canoeing the Murray River and white water rafting on the Mitchell River.

After two years of fantastic service to the department, Nick Jones has decided to step down from the role of Health and Physical Education Coordinator, on behalf of everyone at the school I would like to thank him for the tremendous amounts of work he has done in his role and for being such an excellent leader. Lachlan Andrews has done a fantastic job as the AFL trainee this year and we wish him the best of luck as he starts his teaching degree next year. To finish I would like to say thankyou to all of the staff and students from the Physical Education Department, you are what makes our department such a successful one and I look further to more great work next year.