by Isla Huffadine

Physical Education and Health Department

Term 4 has been full of fun! Despite the usual disruptions associated with being the last term of the year, the PE department had some great learning activities for the students.

Year 7

The Year 7’s had the wonderful opportunity to be coached by our Year 12 PE class in a range of activities from bouldering games, cricket skills and tag games as part of the Year 12 coaching unit. This was great to learn from and to make such nice connections with the ‘big sisters’! As well as this, students have been enjoying their dance unit. There have been lots of fun dance activities for Year 7 students, such as choreographing and learning a Cook Island dance choreographed by Pesamino Tili, ‘Logo Te Pate’. Students were also treated to a fun trip to Clip ‘n’ Climb/Leap as an end of year fun activities afternoon. Miss Geary has thoroughly enjoyed teaching the Year 7s this year and seeing their confidence grow through many different physical challenges.

Year 8

In Year 8, students completed their multisport coaching and have been doing some general play with a small focus on balance. They had the opportunity to try some bouldering (low level climbing without ropes) at Resistance Climbing Gym, a relatively new venue in the city centre. It seems everyone had a good time with arms and hands sufficiently fatigued afterwards!

Image by: Isla Huffadine

Year 9

This term the focus was on striking and fielding and there were a number of activities that allowed students to look at hitting in different ways, as well as positioning themselves on a field and effectively fielding. Currently they have been learning the skills of golf with Golf pro Melanie Harper.

Image by: Isla Huffadine

Year 10

This term, the Year 10 students have had some free play, with the opportunity to consolidate the themes that have been covered over the year, such as social responsibility and working together. The Year 10 Camp at Tautuku is always a highlight for students, there was an article with some more detail about that in the November 19th Te Karaka Manu Newsletter.

Prior to camp the Year 10 students learnt how to apply the environmental care code whilst in the outdoors and the importance of caring for our environment when we are out there enjoying it.

Year 11

The Year 11 students focused on teamwork through playing the fabulous game of Handball. This unit of work was based on Hellison’s model of social responsibility and what it looks like, sounds like and feels like to be part of a great team. As the students worked to make the team environment better, they then reflected on how this made the game better. There was lots of focus on interpersonal skills, encouraging and supporting each other, and clearly communicating to each other whilst playing. It was fascinating to observe how the tournament environment became louder and more positive and correspondingly how the skills developed and the games improved. To finish off the year, the Year 11 classes learnt the fast paced game of ki-o-rahi, including the legend behind the game and the tikanga involved. Special thanks to Atawhai, Tash and Te Kahurangi for coming in and teaching the students.

Year 12

The Year 12 students demonstrated their leadership skills through coaching younger members of the school and community. This was a fantastic opportunity for our Year 12 students to demonstrate their coaching skills in a wide range of physical activities including Hip Hop dance, Ice skating, cricket, bouldering, netball, touch, hockey, and tag games. The students had to peer coach and coach younger students in the school. Some wonderful demonstrations of tuakana teina by the students.

Image by: Isla Huffadine

Year 13

The Year 13’s have been reflecting on continued participation in physical activity throughout the year and devising strategies for life-long well being. The girls were encouraged to think out of the box taking part in somewhat unconventional sports such as ninja warriors courses and quidditch to explore ideas around physical activity not being just traditional sport. Students reflected on how continued participation might look in the future taking into consideration future socio-cultural factors that would affect their level of activity in years to come.