HPE at Pullenvale
The Health and Physical Education program offered at Pullenvale State School aligns itself closely with the National Curriculum. The HPE Curriculum branches itself into two different strands, with each strand containing its own sub-strands. At Pullenvale, students have access to learning about Personal, Social and Community Health through means of: being healthy, safe and active, communicating and interacting for health and wellbeing and contributing to healthy and active communities. Students also learn about Movement and Physical Activity through: moving their body, understanding movement and learning through movement.
In the lower school (P – 3) we have a strong focus on developing hand-eye coordination and enhancing spatial awareness through various gross motor activities and skills, whilst also valuing social development through small sided games and activities designed to enhance discussion around teamwork.
The upper school (4 – 6) focuses more on skill development specific to certain sports and preparation for the 'Big 3' carnivals – these are inclusive of Cross Country, Athletics and Swimming. The most important aspect of the program is maximising student engagement and participation in a supportive environment, ensuring that students begin to develop lifelong healthy relationships and habits where health and physical wellbeing is concerned.
Occasionally, sporting organisations and their development officers will run programs that normally focus on specific skill development and understanding of the game within their organisation. In the past we've had QLD Cricket, QLD Reds Rugby, AFL Queensland, Netball QLD, Tennis Australia and the NRL visit us.
Throughout the year these various organisations offer school clinics, which run either during lunch breaks or after school. Mostly these clinics run over a number of weeks which is a great way to get a taste for that particular sport. Some of the programs run in the past have included Rookies to Reds, NAB AFL Auskick, Play NRL and Milo in2cricket.
Pullenvale's sporting program has three major carnivals (cross country, athletics & swimming) throughout the year where our 4 houses, Bainbridge, Herron, Jagera and Walker battle it out to have bragging rights for the next 12 months. These carnivals allow students to not only show what they've got on the track or in the pool but also provides a great opportunity for leaders to put their best foot forward by leading war cry's and assisting the younger students.