Torch - Spring 2015

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| SPRING 2015 • TORCH 9
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Faculty in Havergal’s Health & Physical Education (H&PE)
department want students to know that they do not need to be
all-star athletes to excel in their program, but they do need to be
motivated to become physically literate. Teachers design their classes
to be inclusive and to limit competition in order for students to learn
how to set and monitor their health and fitness goals and to gain the
confidence to try a variety of sports, regardless of their fitness levels.
In the Junior School, students are introduced to a variety of skills
that are appropriate for their age and stage of development in order
to help them become stronger and develop more confidence. By the
Middle School, students are expected to have a solid foundation of
fitness, sports and play in their skill set. “Our students love Physical
Education because they value variety and inclusive fun,” says Kari
Macer, the Upper School’s Head of H&PE.
“We use the Teaching Games for Understanding model that packages
sports into families: invasion territory games, net wall games,
striking and fielding games, target games and body management
activities,” Kari explains. “Once you know how to play one game in a
family, with a few tweaks you can easily learn to play another game.
For example, if you know how to play soccer, you will know how to
play ultimate frisbee or football using the same concepts.”
From Junior Kindergarten to Grade 10, H&PE is a compulsory
course for all Havergal students. Kari says she is concerned that
students who decide not to continue taking H&PE after Grade 10
will not benefit from the very important life skills taught through
the program. “Students who are physically active have reduced social
anxiety and improved self-confidence,” Kari says. “They are less
likely to smoke or abuse drugs and alcohol, and they are less likely to
engage in risky sexual behaviours. They are more focused and better
prepared to learn and have a better self-image.”
In an effort to boost interest in H&PE in Grades 11 and 12, the
department offers focused courses that appeal to the interests of
a variety of students, including Aquatics, Dance, Fitness, Outdoor
Education and Racquet Sports. The department also offers a general
H&PE course for those who enjoy participating in a wide variety of
activities.
“Being active is not just about rolling out the ball and playing. It’s
about becoming a thinking athlete,” Kari says. “We want our students
to understand strategy and concepts and to make connections
between the skills they learn so that they can be successful in all
aspects of their lives.”
Our H&PE teachers are excellent role models for our students as
each of them has a unique set of skills in sports and fitness. “Every
member of our team has different strengths and expertise by way of
their backgrounds and interests, which appeals to different students
and their passions,” says Karen Whitfield, Upper School H&PE
teacher. Among Junior School teachers, expertise ranges from field
hockey and ice hockey to gymnastics, wrestling, basketball, cross
country and track and field. In the Upper School, faculty expertise
includes team-building, fitness, health sciences, dance, aquatics,
racquet sports and outdoor education. In addition to their teaching
responsibilities, each H&PE faculty member coaches a variety of
teams in the school’s co-curricular Athletics program.
“I am lucky to work with professionals who, like me, take their roles
as health and physical education educators seriously,” says Jeany Ellis,
Upper School H&PE teacher. “We can teach to our strengths and
passions and offer our best to our students.”
With a dynamic team of talented and dedicated teachers, coupled with
Havergal’s outstanding facilities (which include a superb 25-metre
pool, a double and two single gyms, a climbing wall, a Fitness
Centre, three sports fields and six tennis courts), our students have
the opportunity to get the most out of the H&PE program at
Havergal. Working together, this team strives to develop physically
literate students who continue to pursue health and fitness
throughout their lives.
Being active is not
just about rolling out
the ball and playing.
It’s about becoming a
thinking athlete.
Developing Physically Literate Students
By Susan Pink, Communications Associate
Havergal Profile