Student voice

We do not teach sport because our students need to learn how to throw or kick a ball, we teach sport because it provides some of the most important life skills–endurance, discipline, resilience and humility to list a few.

Students who play a sport learn much about themselves as a person and what they really want out of life. It instructs them to be confident leaders and encourages them to be gracious in defeat. No matter if it is a team or individual sport, these life lessons become invaluable as they graduate from Toorak.

In Year 10 Health and Physical Education, we aim to foster lifelong health and fitness habits by offering experiences within the local community. These include indoor rock-climbing, stand up paddleboarding and kayaking, teaching our students about the importance of perseverance and determination.

The Year 10 students also undertake a Peer Teaching Unit, in which they are required to teach their fellow students skills related to a selected sport or activity. They develop their own lesson plan and take on the role of coach where they can teach and apply skills in a practical activity. These types of mentorship opportunities enable our students to practice being a leader - a skill that is transferable to other aspects of their life.

Competitive sport is part of the Toorak spirit as it runs through our health and physical education curriculum, co-curricular sporting program and our House system. Many students jump at the opportunity to be a leader in the sporting arena be it a coach, umpire/referee or team captain, our students thrive when they take on additional responsibility.

Whilst physical education and sport are important for the development of students’ physical capabilities such as fitness levels, coordination and skill level, they are just as important for developing the social and emotional skills to truly know themselves, to be able to interact positively with others and to be compassionate leaders.

STUDENT

VOICE

ANNA (HONG ANH) NGUYEN

YEAR 11

I struggled to thrive in a co-educational school as there were traditionalistic views in regards to how female students should behave and what they can do. Female students in my old school would often bury themselves in textbooks and study for mammoth hours as we were discouraged from participating in co-curricular activities, especially sports, that were considered to be “too manly”. However, at Toorak College, girls are able to thrive in all areas, both academically and personally. In this supportive environment I am able to participate more in team sports and go for leadership positions, as well as becoming a valuable trumpet player in multiple musical bands. I am so fulfilled from the great opportunities that I have taken, as well as being able to achieve my ultimate goal to have a healthy balance in school.

KALLIOPI PSARRIS

YEAR 3

What an incredible place Toorak College is! Here, each student and every family is special and part of a wonderful community that is working together to achieve great things. This culture creates the right environment to thrive in whatever we have passion for. Like in maths when Mrs Anderson made the step-by-step process of vertical multiplications seem fun. I’ve enjoyed it so much! There are so many things that make me happy at school. All the support from the teachers and the happiness they spread around us is just contagious. I love Toorak!