Curriculum Overview at Vermont Primary School
Physical Education plays an integral part in the school curriculum and provides an opportunity for students to develop their physical health and wellbeing.
In addition, it aims to:
- Provide equal opportunities in sport for all children.
- Ensure as many children as possible are involved in sport.
- Provide an environment that encourages maximum participation.
- Encourage children to work as part of a team.
- Teach children the benefits of sport and keeping healthy, and
- Provide positive experiences that will lead to lifelong participation in physical activity.
It begins in the Foundation Year, where the curriculum provides the basis for developing knowledge, understanding and skills for students to lead healthy, safe and active lives. The content gives students opportunities to learn about their strengths and simple actions they can take to keep themselves and their peers healthy and safe. The curriculum also enables students to develop and practice fundamental movement skills through active play and structured movement activities.
Components of the Vermont Primary School Foundation Physical Education Program
- Fundamental Motor Skills development: Ball bouncing, catching, kicking, throwing, striking & dodging.
- Perceptual Motor Program
- Gymnastics
- Dance
- Modified games
Components of the Vermont Primary School Year 1 and Year 2 Physical Education Program
As above and includes:
- Athletics
- Aquatics
Swimming Program – Year 1 and Year 2
This is a 5-day intensive swimming program, incorporating one 40-minute lesson per day. The ‘Swim and Survive’ program will be taught by nationally qualified swim teachers from the Nunawading Swimming Club.
As the years progress, our students are exposed to a variety of different experiences.
Components of the Vermont Primary School Year 3 to Year 6 Physical Education Program
Athletics
During Term 1, students will focus predominantly on athletics. They will develop skills and techniques in sprinting, relays, hurdles, discus, shot put and high jump. They will also participate in basic fitness testing, including the agility test and vertical jump.
Invasion Games
An invasion game has two teams of 5 or more players. The aim of an invasion game is to score more than the opposition, either by propelling a ball through a goal area or target or by running the ball over an end zone. This is done by throwing, striking or kicking the ball.
Examples of invasion games include AFL, basketball, hockey, netball, soccer and touch rugby.
Net / Wall Games
A net / wall game is commonly played with singles or doubles, with the opponents divided by a net (for example, tennis).
The aim of a net/wall game is to score more than the opposition by striking the ball over a net or into a wall, then getting it to bounce away from the opponent so that the ball cannot be returned.
Examples of net/wall games include tennis, table tennis, badminton and volleyball.
Striking / fielding games
A striking/fielding game involves a batting team and a fielding team. The aim of the batting team is to score as many runs as possible. The fielding team aims to minimise the runs or get the batting team out in a variety of ways (for example, catching the ball on the full). Each team bats for the same number of innings.
Examples of striking / fielding games include cricket, rounders and softball.
Sport Education – Year 3 to 6 Sport
In addition to Physical Education, Year 5 and Year 6 students will also participate in a weekly 60-minute session of Sport Education. Sport Education will focus on the development of sport skills and provide students with an understanding of rules, strategies and tactics of various sports and an appreciation of codes of behaviour.
School Sport Victoria Competition Pathway and Progressions
The School Sport Victoria pathway for Vermont Primary School is:
School (Vermont PS) → District (Nunawading) → Division (Whitehorse) → Region (Eastern) → State (Victoria)
Progression through the SSV Competition Pathway applies to the House Swimming, Athletics and Cross-Country Carnivals and Interschool Winter and Summer Sport. School teams and individual events must compete at each level of competition to reach the State Championships.
Vermont PS House Carnivals
Swimming Trials
Swimming Trials are held in February. Students will have the opportunity to compete in the individual 50m freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly events.
Athletics
The House Athletics Carnival will be held in March. Students will participate in the 100m sprint, 200m sprint, 800m, high jump, long jump, triple jump, shot put and discus events. The 1500m and hurdle events will be conducted at school during Friday Sport.
Cross Country
The House Cross Country Carnival is held on the Vermont Reserve in March.
Nunawading District Interschool Winter and Summer Sport
All Year 5 and 6 students will have the opportunity to participate in the Nunawading District Interschool Winter and Summer Sport program. The sports available include AFL, basketball, cricket, lawn bowls, netball, rounders, soccer, softball, t-ball, tennis, ultimate frisbee and volleyball.
Winter Sport is held in June and Summer Sport is held in August and September.
Bike Education
During Term 4, Year 6 students participate in a 6-week Bike Education Program. The program will focus on developing cycling ability, increasing cycling confidence and providing practice for real-life road riding. The sessions will be held within the school grounds and on the Vermont Reserve during Friday Sport.
Bike Hike
As a culmination to the Bike Ed. Program, Year 6 students will participate in a Bike Hike. The route to the selected destination will mainly follow bike paths and there will be no on-road riding. Teachers and parent volunteers accompany the children and support vehicles follow the group.
Hooptime
The Year 3 to 6 students also represent Vermont Primary School at the Hooptime Basketball Competition run by Basketball Victoria. Students have the opportunity to be selected for the All Stars (experienced team) Future Stars (some experience and learners) and Rookies (no prior experience) teams. The program concludes at the end of each year with Regional Finals and a State Grand Final.