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We are fortunate in having a large amount and wide variety of sports equipment to allow for maximum participation and opportunity for practice to develop skills. Many skills are covered with the Phys.Ed. lessons - classes having, on average, one session per week, plus class fitness sessions. Our Years 1 & 2 students have 2 x 40 minute sessions Dancing, including bush dance, social dance and line dancing is done by some classes. The Years 4 to 7 are also involved in a one hour Sports session each week, rotating through various sports. The focus for Term One is swimming.
During Term Two the Years 6 and 7 are involved in interschool Sports including the Lightning Carnival. Choice of sports include netball, football, soccer and volleyball.
Athletics is the focus for Term Three with the activities during Phys.Ed and Sport being related to training for the track and field events. All children are encouraged to participate in the various events in the athletics inter-faction carnival. Fitness sessions focus on endurance running in preparation for the inter-faction and inter-school cross country run . At Winthrop all children belong to a School House (Faction). Our School Houses are Banksia, Tuart, Wattle and Casuarina.
Each class has a box of sports equipment to encourage the playing of games that help in the development of skills and fitness during recess and lunch breaks. A focus for this is skipping so each teaching block has been supplied with a class set of skipping ropes for fitness activities.
Co-operative and leadership skills are an integral part of the Physical Education programme and there are opportunities for the development of these skills.
School House Captains (Year 7 students) are elected each year by their peers and part of their duties is encouraging others to participate to the best of their ability. They are also involved in the setting out and packing up of sports equipment.
While competition is highly valued, as evidenced by our many achievements in competitive sport, the major focus is on enjoyment and participation, each student being given the opportunity and encouragement to participate fully and develop their skills in order to reach their full potential.
In 2008 we are hoping to introduce the Blue Earth Physical Activity programme. This programme is set up to promote physical activity among primary school children. It helps primary school teachers to deliver sports programmes that are enjoyable and that will maximise the chances of children continuing with physical activity long after they have left school.