Over the last couple of years the HPE faculty has expanded by offering all year elective subjects for Year 9 students. We currently offer three such electives - Advanced Physical Education, Health and Wellbeing, Outdoor and Adventure Education. An opportunity we have within these subjects is to expose students to real life learning experiences through connection with local experts. 

The Outdoor and Adventure Education students recently learned how to fillet and cook a fish they had caught themselves. The students learned how to cast a line, bait a hook, and reel in a fish. Once they had caught a fish, they were shown how to clean it and cook it. The students were surprised at how easy it was to fillet a fish, and they enjoyed eating the fish they had caught themselves. The outdoor and adventure education program is designed to teach students about the natural world and how to interact with it in a sustainable way. The program also helps students develop important skills, such as teamwork, leadership, and problem-solving. 

The Advanced Physical Education students experienced an interactive lecture from a local sports spychologist who discussed the importance of mental toughness in sports. She spoke about the different factors that contribute to mental toughness, such as self-confidence, goal setting, and coping with adversity. She also provided practical tips on how the students could manage their own mental state. The students were challenged to apply these strategies in a simulated high pressure performance environment of competitive card house building. 

The Health and Wellbeing students will experience a high ropes challenge later this term. This challenge requires the students to put into action the strategies they have learned to control their attention, motivation and anxiousness. 

The teachers involved enjoy providing these opportunities to the students and enhancing learning for real world application.

 Shane Roberts
Head of Department (Health and Physical Education)