One of the joys (and challenges) of the current COVID-19 constraints is that all Physical Education and Sport is having to be delivered on site at the moment. It is a joy because it has made our PE and Sport program so much more visible, and reminded our girls just how much physical activity goes on at Lowther Hall! I am so proud of the fact that our curriculum structure promotes compulsory physical education and/or sport from Kindergarten to Year 10, in classes that introduce students to specific skills such as ball handling and game tactics and through a sport program that exposes students to a variety of team and individual pursuits which they can participate in not only at school but on into the adult world. I have provided some data below about just how much sport and physical activity our girls have each fortnight (not including Dance, which is also enjoyed for a semester at each of Years 7 and 8).
Sometimes, because most of our Sport and Physical Education classes take place off site at specialist, purpose built facilities, there can be an incorrect perception that as a school we do not value sport as much as we value other things that are more visible. This is absolutely not the case, as is reflected in our Master Plan which forecasts the construction of a gymnasium with two indoor courts and other specialist sporting facilities, as the next major project to be undertaken at the School. Of course, in these times of financial constraint, the commencement of any building works will need to wait until the economic climate has stabilised. Nonetheless, I was delighted to be notified by the Moonee Valley City Council (MVCC) this week that the Master Plan (which we submitted for approval in 2018) has now progressed through to the stage where it can go on public exhibition for feedback in the next few weeks. This will allow the local council to hear from residents who are in support of the plan as well as to be alerted to any objections. I will be writing to parents who are residents of the City of Moonee Valley in the next week or so and encouraging you to write to MVCC in support of the plan if you would like to see the gymnasium go ahead once we are in the financial position to commence this project. I look forward to sharing more details about the plans for this project with the School Community in the coming weeks and months.
Minutes per fortnight of compulsory sport and PE within the curriculum:
Years 9 & 10: 270 (4 hours and 30 minutes)
Years 7 & 8: 405 (6 hours and 45 minutes)
Years 4, 5 & 6: 295 (4 hours and 55 minutes)
Years K to 3: 180 (3 hours)
Ms Elisabeth Rhodes
Principal