The Personal Development, Health and Physical Education (PDHPE) Key Learning Area (KLA) at St Joseph’s Catholic High School is a dynamic area that develops our students capacity to enhance personal health and wellbeing from a Catholic perspective. We focus on fostering an enjoyment of an active lifestyle, maximising movement potential and nurturing the attitudes that will empower students to advocate for a healthy lifestyle. Programs centre on encouraging and enabling students to make informed decisions related to health, physical activity, lifestyle and life planning.
Mandatory PDHPE
The PDHPE KLA provides a varied scope and sequence of learning experiences in the 7-10 PDHPE program to our junior students. In the junior years, the practical component of PDHPE emphasises basic movement skills, fitness, physical activity, game skills, participation and teamwork. In the theoretical component, students develop the capacity to approach decision-making in an informed and thoughtful manner through the development of personal awareness, interpersonal relationships, communication and drug education.
Electives
Stage 5 elective courses
Physical Activity and Sports Studies (PASS) – caters for those students who excel in sport and/or who are interested in their own fitness and health. Some of the topics include: Australian Sporting Identity, Body Systems, Coaching, Dance, Enhancing Performance, Fundamental Movement Skills, Nutrition and Physical Activity, Issues in Physical Activity, Opportunities and Pathways in Sport, Outdoor Recreation, Physical Fitness and Technology in Sport. Physical activities offered include abseiling, canoeing, fitness activities, mountain-bike riding, rock climbing and surfing.
Early Childhood Studies (ECS) – aims to develop the knowledge, understanding and skills to positively influence the wellbeing and development of children in the critical early years in a range of settings and contexts. Modules are designed to provide flexibility and meet the needs and interests of the students. Modules include preparing for parenthood, conception to birth, family interactions, newborn care, growth and development, play and the developing child, food and nutrition in childhood, media and technology in childhood, the diverse needs of children, childcare services and career opportunities. Practical components include real life baby experience, working in a child care centre and the development of a child’s reading book.
Stage 6 elective courses
In Year 11 and 12, courses are offered to those students with an interest in current personal and community issues surrounding health and physical activity in Australia. The senior courses include Personal Development, Health and Physical Activity (PDHPE), Community and Family Studies (CFS), Sport, Lifestyle and Recreation (SLR) and Exploring Early Childhood (EEC). These courses provide senior students with the opportunity to expand their knowledge and understanding of active, healthy lifestyles and improving personal and community health. Senior PDHPE is a challenging subject that concentrates on the theoretical aspect of health and physical activity.
CFS focuses on knowledge and understanding of community groups, and parenting and caring. SLR is a course similar to the junior mandatory PDHPE with both practical experience and theory-based activities. EEC explores issues related to children aged between 0 to 5 years of age. PDHPE and CFS contribute to students’ Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR), while SLR and EEC are Content Endorsed course which contributes to a students HSC. All senior PDHPE courses are popular with the student body and will continue to flourish as our junior PASS students graduate into the senior school.