At Mernda Primary School, our HPE Team pride themselves on providing all our students with a comprehensive Health and Physical Education Program (HPE) that meets the achievement standards and content of the Personal, Social and Community Health and Movement and Physical Activity strands of the Victorian Curriculum . The program aims to develop Fundamental Motor Skills (FMS), locomotive patterns and fitness components including physically, mentally and socially, game play and tactical knowledge, understanding of body movements and patterns and the ability to learn through movement.
Through these concepts, students will be able to perform physical tasks for life, in addition to specific physical activities and skills for performance. Students will develop an understanding of themselves, and those around them through emotional intelligence, identity, leadership, resilience and communication.
In the Early Years, students develop technique and movements, and are exposed to wide range of sports and games to apply these skills. As students’ progress to the Senior Years, these concepts are applied with game sense and tactical knowledge using inquiry-based approaches such as Tactical Games for Understanding (TGfU) and Sports Education to engage and challenge student thinking and creativity.
Interschool Sport
Mernda Primary School is a member of the SSV Bridge Inn North District, and competes against schools in the Mernda/Doreen/Whittlesea area in inter school sport throughout the year. Year 6 students compete in weekly team “home and away” fixtured competition in Term One and Term Two each year. The following sports are offered:
Students also have the opportunity to represent Mernda Primary School in a range of other sports in a ‘gala day’ format including; Lawn Bowls, Softball, Hockey 7’s and Basketball. Students can progress through to Division (Whittlesea), Region (Northern Metropolitan) and State Finals in each of these sports.
Throughout the year, Mernda Primary School enters teams in state-wide competitions such as Hooptime (Basketball), Netball Victoria Schools Championship, NRL Schools Cup and Cricket Victoria Blast.
Intraschool Sport
During Term Three and Four students in Year 5 and 6 participate in a comprehensive Intraschool Sport program, aimed at developing students’ skill, game sense, teamwork, leadership and sportspersonship in a friendly, competitive environment. A range of sports are offered each week, which may include Rugby League (Tag), Softcrosse, Ultimate Frisbee, Badminton, and Lawn Bowls.
House Carnivals
Mernda Primary School offers students the opportunity to participate in a range of carnivals throughout the year in Swimming, Cross Country and Athletics. These are held as a House Competition with pathways to District, Division, Region, State and National Competition for successful students.
Students wear their school sporting uniform or house colours at these events to visually represent the school and their House with pride. At Mernda Primary School we hold values education in high regard, and we encourage our students to be gracious in success and to learn from disappointment while demonstrating and upholding the Mernda Primary School values through competition.
Bike Education
Students in Year 3 take part in a six week Bike Education program as part of their learning in Physical Education. This program consists of classroom and practical cycling activities undertaken within the school grounds. They are introduced to basic road safety, including identification of traffic signs and signals. Students also learn about appropriate footwear, clothing and helmets, whilst developing the following basic bike riding skills:
- Pre-ride bicycle check
- Correct riding position
- Riding in a straight line
- Scanning with eyes and ears for hazards
- Braking safely in an emergency and non-emergency situation
- Slow Riding and maneuvering around sharp turns
- Riding on different surfaces
After taking part in this program students are provided with a Level One (Cycling Skills and Simulations) certificate through the VicRoads Bike Education program.
Health Program
Working hand in hand with the Physical Education program the Health Curriculum is taught throughout the Health and Phys Ed program with emphasis on healthy living and personal hygiene. Students learn about what makes their body and mind healthy and how to make good lifestyle choices.
Health at Mernda Primary School is also supported in the classroom and in the STEAM program. Every year the Life Education van also visits the school to assist with the teaching and reinforcement of age appropriate health considerations and practices.