PDHPE Faculty 

The PDHPE Faculty have had a fantastic Term 3 which brought a variety of new and exciting opportunities for the staff and students.

We would firstly like to welcome Miss Sheppard into the faculty who has quickly settled into the school and is a welcomed addition to the Henry Kendall High School teaching staff. Miss Sheppard has experience in personal training and dance and her enthusiastic approach to teaching fits in well with the PDHPE Faculty.

After a 2-year hiatus (due to Covid-19), our annual Snow Excursion returned as 42 PASS students ventured to Jindabyne and Perisher to tackle the slopes on skis and snowboards. The excursion is primarily catered for beginners but provides ample opportunity to challenge even the most capable student. With an approximate 50/50 split of skiers and snowboards, the students were split into their lessons on Day 1 to begin the fundamentals of skiing and boarding. As expected, some students progressed faster than others, but all had their fair share of falls and challenges as they attempted to hone their skills. By the end of the first day, the students were exhausted but pleased with their progress. As we repeatedly say to the students, “you only have your first day once” as it is by-far the most challenging.

Day 2 presented its own unique challenges as we awoke to a blizzard that would eventually end with over 20cm of fresh snow. The extreme weather placed the lifts on hold as we bunkered down in the terminal waiting for the forecasted break in the storm. As the skies began to clear, the students were treated to what could only be described as perfect conditions. The sun was shining, the snow was soft and padded (to the delight of many sore students) and the students were able to begin building upon the progress they made the previous day. Many students had set themselves personal challenges ranging from: completing a beginner run without falling, getting off a chairlift without falling, progressing onto an intermediate run or even executing jumps and 180s. The commitment and perseverance shown by the students was excellent as they came to the realisation that progress will come if they commit to something and don’t give up. 

Day 3 provided excellent conditions (particularly in the early morning) as students challenged themselves on new, more difficult runs. Small groups were taken by their instructors up the Quad-Summit Chairlift so that students could challenge themselves on the intermediate runs of Side-Saddle and Zalis. Despite their initial doubts, the students were able to safely navigate the steep terrain and celebrate their accomplishments. 

I would personally like to thank the staff for assisting with the excursion and providing continued support and encouragement to the students. 

As we approach the end of Term 3, I would like to congratulate the Year 11 and 12 students for their consistent approach throughout the year. 

We would like to wish the Year 12 students the best of luck for their upcoming HSC and hope they achieve the results that reflect their efforts.

We hope that all students enjoy a well earned break and look forward to Term 4.

Michael Mellish

Relieving Head Teacher PDHPE