Personal Development, Health and Physical Education

The Personal Development, Health and Physical Education Faculty at San Clemente is a dynamic department that develops our student’s capacity to enhance personal health and wellbeing from a Catholic perspective. Our department fosters an enjoyment of an active lifestyle, maximises movement potential, encourages teamwork and nurtures the attitudes that will empower students to advocate a healthy lifestyle. We are committed to providing students with a well-rounded, balanced education, focussing on academic, physical, social, spiritual and recreation needs.  Our units of work centre on encouraging and enabling students to make informed decisions related to health, physical activity, lifestyle and life planning.

Mandatory PDHPE

The PDHPE faculty provides a varied scope and sequence of learning experiences in the 7-10 PDHPE program. The faculty continually reflects and refines our teaching practise to enhance the outcomes of the course and integrate technology more efficiently into programs. In the junior years the practical component of PDHPE emphasises basic movement skills, fitness, physical activity, game skills, participation and teamwork. In the theoretical component, students develop the capacity to approach decision-making in an informed and thoughtful manner through the development of personal awareness, interpersonal relationships communication and drug education.

Electives

Physical Activity and Sports Studies (PASS) 

This subject caters for those students who excel in sport and/or who are interested in their own fitness and health. Some of the topics include: Australian Sporting Identity, Body Systems, Coaching, Enhancing Performance, Fundamental Movement Skills, Nutrition and Physical Activity, Issues in Physical Activity, Opportunities and Pathways in Sport, Outdoor Recreation, Physical Fitness and Technology in Sport. We make great use of our community resources utilising Mayfield Pool, Balance Gym, Ten Pin Bowling, Forum Gymnasium (Newcastle University), Broadmeadow Basketball Stadium and our nearby beaches. Activities offered include swimming, beach activities and surf awareness, fitness activities, tennis, indoor sports and a variety of traditional sporting activities.

Child studies

Child Studies explores the broad range of social, environmental, genetic and cultural factors that influence pre-natal development and a child’s sense of wellbeing and belonging between 0 and 8 years of age. There is content in Child Studies that builds on that of the PDHPE syllabus.

Some modules studied within this elective include:

• Preparing for parenthood
• Newborn care
• Play and the developing child
• Food and nutrition in childhood &
• The diverse needs of children

This elective will assist students to understand the impact of the child’s environment and the role that the child and others can take in the active construction of this environment. Students will learn to identify, create and evaluate solutions to enhance child wellbeing. Students will be able to empathise for children, their parents, caregivers and those that have the potential to influence the learning environments. Child Studies provides a foundation for a wide range of study options in and beyond school and also a range of vocational pathways that support and enhance the wellbeing of children.

PDHPE Leader of Learning

Mick Byrne

Email Mick