Physical Education Focus

Physical Education Report

This term the whole school is warming up at the start of each PE lesson by practising their skipping. The Foundation students have learnt how to choose the correct size skipping rope as well as practising how to skip forwards, backwards, walk/run and even catch the rope with their feet. At the other end of the school, the senior students are being challenged to perform different tricks such as straddles and crossovers. Students in Grades 3 – 6 have also been using long ropes to participate in group skipping.

Once the warm-ups are complete, the focus of lessons this term is on striking skills and sports. 

Foundation – Grade 2 Students

Students have been practising the fundamental motor skills of one hand and two hand striking. Using both plastic and standard tennis racquets, they explored ball control skills as well as how to perform a drop serve and what is a rally. Students are currently using cricket bats to practise their two hand striking skills.

Grades 3&4 Students

Students have also been practising two handed striking while playing T-ball. While playing Rounders and T-ball they have explored fielding concepts and strategies as well as the rules and decision making associated with running bases. Currently, students are practising one handed strike and will focus on controlling their hits while serving and rallying, as well as playing some minor tennis games. Yarra Hockey Club also delivered an introductory lesson to our students earlier in the term.

Grade 5 Students

Grade 5 students are busy learning some of the sports that they can play as part of the Summer interschool sports program next year. So far, they have played Rounders and are learning the rules and game of Softball Fully Loaded. Next, they will focus on the skills and rules used in Cricket Blast.

Grade 6 Students

Grade 6 students began this term playing Ultimate Frisbee. It was amazing to see their teamwork skills and strategic knowledge on display, as well as their understanding of fair play and sportsmanship as Ultimate Frisbee is officiated by the players themselves. Grade 6s are currently refining their striking skills by participating in Badminton games, again watching how they coordinate and self-govern these games is wonderful to watch.

Sports Report

It has been a big year as always full of sporting events. For many of these events students have lent out different FPS tops. Recently I have discovered that we are missing a number of these tops and ask that you please check and see if you have any of these at home. If you do, please return them to the office, thank you.

This year we were fortunate enough to welcome back Peter from Disability Sport and Recreation to run a five-week program of Wheelchair sports for our Grade 5 students. Wheelchair sports is an engaging and interactive program that promotes diversity, acceptance, and disability, placing a primary focus on inclusion. It is also a unique way for students to be active and play some Wheelchair Basketball and Wheelchair Rugby. It was brilliant to see how enthusiastic and excited the year 5s were every Friday morning to participate in this program.   

Even though the year may be winding down in some areas, in Sport we will be finishing off strong with two wonderful School Sporting events, the Foundation – Year 2 Sports Day and the Grade 3 – 6 House Swimming Carnival.

House Swimming Carnival

The Grade 3-6 House Swimming Carnival will be held on Wednesday 3rd December at Coburg Olympic Pool. Swimming races will take place in both the 50m and 20m pools and students score House points for each event they participate in. 

To ensure we are catering for all abilities, and to ensure fairness in the 20m events, this year we will be trialling running races in the 20m pool. All students that want to participate in the 20m events will now have the option of being involved in:

• 20m swimming races where competitors will be required to swim the full distance, stopping is allowed
• Or running races, where students run across the pool. Instead of Freestyle. students will run forwards. Instead of backstroke they must run backwards, and instead of breaststroke they must run sideways (sidestep). 

This day is only possible with the support of family helpers who volunteer and assist with the running of the day. If you are able to help on the day please sign up using this link, House swimming helpers. Thank you in advance for supporting this event.

Junior Sports Day

The Foundation – Year 2 Sports Day will take place on Friday 12th December. The first two lessons of the day will be run by the Grade 6 students who will have a range of different activities and games for the younger students to play on the oval and Basketball/Netball court. Junior students will stay with their class and rotate around these activities spending about 10 minutes at each. 

After recess students will have the opportunity to run a 50m race across the oval. Each student who participates will score a point for their house.

Finally, I would like to mention that the Northcote District Teams Triathlon (grades 4 – 6) has traditionally been held in term four. Sadly, this year's event was unable to proceed as the Darebin Council grounds team rejected the request (bikes were prohibited to be ridden on the grass at McDonnell Park). We have discussed this issue with the person in charge of the ground bookings and are hopeful that we will be able to obtain approval for next year's event. Apologies to all those students who would have liked to attend and missed out this year, hopefully it will be back on the calendar in 2026.

~ Geoff McShane, Physical Education & Sports Teacher