Personal Development, Health and Physical Education (PDHPE)

Rationale

Personal Development, Health and Physical Education (PDHPE) at St Vincent’s College is concerned with the development of the whole person and to provide all students with the opportunity to experience learning opportunities in a wide variety of tasks and pursuits. PDHPE at St Vincent’s College assists students to make informed decisions about their lifestyles, which take into account the values of the family, culture and religion to which they may belong. It focuses strongly on the development of self-confidence, physical well-being, social and physical skills, decision-making and positive values and attitudes.

Students are encouraged to assume increasing responsibility for managing their own lifestyles and achieving optimum health. This involves students making choices about lifestyle behaviours, acting upon those decisions and to develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to lead healthy, responsible and productive lives. PDHPE is mindful of the differing needs and abilities of the students of the College. Programs and units are designed to cater to the individual differences of the students. Each student is encouraged to develop genuine individuality, whilst being sensitive to the rights of others. Gospel qualities of unselfishness, tolerance, compassion, politeness, courtesy, responsibility, sensitivity, respect and consideration for the rights, needs and feelings of others are fostered and encouraged at all times.

Aims

St Vincent’s College aims to foster the development of happy well-adjusted young women with experiences that enables them to develop to their maximum potential. The College will provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary for them to take their place in society. It will develop an awareness of personal and societal values and the ability to make informed and responsible decisions. St Vincent’s College will endeavour to promote the physical and emotional development of each individual and create an understanding of the functioning of the human body as well as the complex issues surrounding personal health and development. The PDHPE courses and programs support and maintain the College Vision and Mission and this includes the recognition of God’s unconditional love for all people and equality of each person and the Christian virtues of justice, integrity, respect and compassion.

Structure

The PDHPE Faculty provides the students of St Vincent’s College a program of study from year seven to year twelve. The mandatory course satisfies the three hundred indicative hours required for all students in year seven to year ten. In addition, students are provided the opportunity to undertake the two-unit PDHPE course in years eleven and twelve.

Students in Stages Four and Five participate in between three and four fifty-five minute lessons that cover the new PDHPE syllabus set by the Board of Studies NSW within the parameters set by the K-10 Curriculum Framework. Over the course of four years students undertake learning experiences that are based on the four strands of Self and relationships, Movement skill and performance, Individual and community health and Lifelong physical activity. Students who select the two-unit PDHPE course in Stage Six complete a preliminary and HSC course of study. The preliminary course comprises three core areas of study and two option sections. The HSC course comprises two core areas of study and two option sections.

The objective of PDHPE is to promote in each student the desire to strive for, achieve and maintain the optimum level of physical, social, emotional, and spiritual well-being. PDHPE develops the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to understand, value and lead healthy and fulfilling lifestyles.