Year 9 students revised the rules and skills in the core GSV
sports and also participated in activities such Table Tennis
and Recreational AFL. The students also participated in a
Sport Education in Physical Education Programme (SEPEP)
unit, which aimed to provide insight into how to organise
a sports function. According to their interest, students
undertook a variety of different roles, including player,
coach, teammanager and match reporter. This year all
classes participated in the administration and running
of an Indoor Soccer competition, culminating in a round
robin competition played between two classes.
Physical Education lessons take on a collaborative approach
in Year 10. Two classes are timetabled on at the same time
and students can select which unit they participate within
each block. Once again this year, students in Year 10
engaged in a ‘self-directed’ fitness unit. Each student
selected a specific area of fitness in which they wished to
focus, and performed a pre-test. Students then planned
their own six week programme, with the aim to improve
the specific fitness component in post-tests. A highlight
for the Year 10, Unit 1 and 2 students was an excursion to
Bulleen Templestowe Youth Club (BTYC) Gymnastics where,
under the supervision of Gymnastics coaches, they were
able to observe basic biomechanical principles, such as
linear and angular motion.
In Year 11, Physical Education classes are replaced by a
Recreation programme. At the start of each semester, the
students select from a wide range of activities, with a view
to providing experiences for future leisure time pursuits.
Some of the activities undertaken this year included Yoga,
Indoor Rock-climbing, Ice-skating, Ten Pin Bowling, and
‘Bounce’Trampolining.
In Year 12, the students have worked diligently throughout
the year aiming to achieve their best in the final exam.
The students have participated in a number of practical
classes to clarify their learning of content covered in the
classroom. The students also attended excursions to
Exercise Research Australia in Thornbury on two occasions
to undertake laboratory testing and also for a revision
session, in preparation for the final exam.
Health Education
The Health Education Department continued to deliver
a programme tailored specifically for the Ruyton
community. Fostering self-esteem, resilience, knowledge
and responsibility for one’s own behaviour is a focus
throughout, and the curriculum is delivered using the harm
minimisation philosophy.
Communication and conflict resolution is studied from
Year 7 to 10. The girls build on their skills and complexity of
understanding throughout each year. The Year 9 cohort
gained a lot from listening to Ms Di McDonald, an expert
on executive stress management, who usually speaks to
adults in the corporate realm on resolving conflict. She
equipped the girls with some practical tools they could use
in their everyday interactions and they displayed a mature
and insightful understanding of multifaceted
communication issues.
Mr Paul Dillon, founder of Drug and Alcohol Research and
Training Australia, returned to Ruyton to deliver his three
year programme to the Years 10, 11 and 12 students. He gave
a presentation for the parent body entitled
Alcohol and
other drugs and young people.
His sessions gave the
girls many facts and practical advice so they could make
informed decisions about the consequences of their
behaviours and keep themselves and their friends safe
in a potentially uncontrolled party environment.
At Year 7 and 8 time is spent helping develop strength and
resilience in girls as well as providing them with the
knowledge to make good choices concerning their health.
Topics such as digital citizenship – keeping safe online,
sexual health - puberty, disability awareness, nutrition and
body awareness, team building and relaxation are explored
in detail.
At all year levels, each unit of study is introduced by a guest
speaker, who is an expert in his or her field, or by a play or
production, and this is then followed up in small groups
within the classroom for the remainder of the lessons. This
provides the opportunity to facilitate small group activities
and relevant discussions, and learning guided by the
teacher, in a safe and supportive environment.
Mrs Louisa Burbury,
Director of Sport
Annual Report 2013
16
