Phys Ed in Term 1

There has been a focus across the school from F-6 on running and locomotor skills. Locomotor skills help us to move from one spot to another. Students have been specifically working on running in order to get ready for Cross Country in Week 10.

Foundation, Year 1 and Year 2 have been working on moving in shared space, giving and maintaining personal space for safety and investigating the use of different locomotor skills including running, walking, jumping, skipping, hopping, side stepping and dodging. Some of these skills also require balance as you need to pause and change direction. 

Year 3 and 4 have been investigating the same locomotor skills and applying these in small groups whilst learning the routines of station work. Each station is set up to practise a specific locomotor skill with various equipment. Students are required to ensure that the routines of movement are followed so that everyone can safely practise the skills and learn. Teams have been able to demonstrate our school values of safety, respect and cooperation when following the routines of each station.

Years 5 and 6 have been applying locomotor skills in fitness sessions and adhering to the routines for safe movement and use of equipment. They have also been working on goal-setting and working on a growth mindset so they can improve their active skills and develop as a learner in PE so they can hopefully continue to use these skills for life.

All students from F-6 have been developing their running skills as they practice for St Patrick’s Cross Country in Week 10. Many students have taken the opportunity to come to Active Club on Wednesday and Thursday mornings before school to improve their running. 

Swimming Carnival 

On Wednesday 24th of February 2021 Sneha, Sophie, Lillian, Shaylyn, Max, Archer, Alex and Kane went to the School Swimming Carnival. It was a thrilling day filled with lots of fun, even though the water was freezing cold! The event was held at the Pakenham outdoor pool, behind the Pakenham Library. At 9:00am we left school and walked to the pool with Mrs Blackwood and Mrs Viney. When we got to the pool we saw Mrs Breeden. After that we set up our area. Then we put our towels and mats down. We estimate there were about nine or ten schools including us. We had to wait a while for the relay races to finish and then we could start lining up for the freestyle, we waited approximately thirty minutes for the boys in other schools and then for the girls in different schools races to be finished then our races to be held. When we were waiting we got more and more nervous to get into the water. When it was our turn we had to dive in for freestyle and it wasn’t as cold as last time. When we got out we could not feel our legs as we were so cold! When we were supporting our school teammates we had a little snack break. After the freestyle was finished all the backstroke participants were called up to the shelter to be allocated into their lanes. We cheered on our school as we were getting ready for our next stroke- Breaststroke. When we were called up for breaststroke we bumped into so many friends from other schools. The last stroke in the swimming carnival was butterfly which no-one from our school did. During that event we got ready to go back to school. By the time we got back to school it was around  2:20pm. Then we did some more work and our swimming day trip was over. It was an amazing experience representing our school. 

By Sophie and Sneha 

Cross Country 2021

St Patrick’s Cross Country Event will be held on Monday March 29th

All students from Foundation to Year 6 are expected to participate. Students have been developing their running skills during PE lessons throughout the term. Whilst there is the opportunity to represent St Pat’s at the next level of competition (Pakenham District) not everyone has the ability to achieve this level. Students have been encouraged to work on improving their individual skills and shifting their mindset to achieve success. This will look different for all students, but some of the things we have spoken about include:

• using a walk/run model
• run with someone of equal ability to encourage each other
• set mini goals (eg: run to the next tree)
• count steps between points on the track
• use a personal tracker to time
• recall your past personal achievements in the lead up to the event and try to meet or exceed them

Years 3-6 will run during the morning block from 9am-11am.

As Years 3-6 will be running outside the school grounds (using pathways around the perimeter of the school block) they will be required to respond to the permission note on Operoo. Any student who does not respond by the due date will still be participating but completing a course of similar length within the school grounds. Students in Years 4, 5 & 6 will NOT be running in level groups but in age/gender groups as this aligns with the next level of competition. Year 3 students WILL run as a level and in gender groups.

Years F-2 will run after recess from 11:30am-12:50pm.

These students will not require permission to run as they will be running inside the school grounds.They have also been developing their running skills during PE lessons.