What’s happening in PDHPE?
An exciting new learning opportunity for Year 11 students in 2025
The PDHPE staff are busily preparing for the introduction of a new course in 2025, called Health and Movement Science. This course replaces what is currently known as PDHPE for students in year 11 and 12. Students in year 10 this year will be the first cohort to study this course in 2025 and would’ve heard more about this at their subject selection evening. We look forward to sharing with you more about this in the future.
Year 11 PDHPE Excursion to BEST
Year 11 PDHPE students were fortunate to be one of the first schools to visit the Blacktown Exercise Science and Technology Hub. This is a brand new, state of the art, multi-million dollar facility at Eastern Creek and a joint venture between Blacktown Council and the Australian Catholic University.
As part of their course work studying biomechanical concepts such as motion, force, fluid mechanics and how the body's energy systems create movement, students participated in a variety of workshops which provided them the opportunity to deepen their understanding of these concepts as well as physiology, the components of fitness and recovery.
We are excited to continue this partnership for our students studying Health and Movement Science in 2025.
Please enjoy this reflection below by some of our year 11 PDHPE students:
On Tuesday 4th June, we visited the BEST Hub (Blacktown Exercise Sports and Technology Hub) for our year 11 PDHPE excursion. The day was a blast! We all had a great day, although I think we can all say that we were a little sore the next day. The BEST excursion was filled with lots of different practical activities and workshops to help us better understand the content in Core 2: Body in Motion - which we are learning in class. The day began in the biomechanics lab where we learnt about motion and balance. We were given the opportunity to engage in practical activities such as counter-movement jumps and balance skills on force plates which helped us gain a better understanding of gravity and the forces in play when jumping. We were also shown a 3D motion analysis of the way in which the muscles work when running - which was very interesting! After this, we entered the physiological lab where a few of us volunteered to have a go at the resistance bike (30 seconds of intense bike riding with weights) known as the wingate test. As exhausting as this was, everyone was encouraging and supportive, and not only did it bring us all together, but it also helped us learn about ATP and anaerobic exercise. Whilst in the lab, we observed one of our friends attempt a VO2 max test which helped us understand how oxygen levels increase when exercising. We also gained a better understanding of lactate levels and the lactate threshold, through a practical activity of one’s finger being pricked and the blood being measured after 2 minutes of exercise, helping us to further understand how exercise increases lactate levels. Finally, we went outside and engaged in a few practical exercises (countermovement jump test, isometric mid-thigh strength test, sprint test, 5.0.5 and the BRONCO) to test our jump height, strength, speed and endurance. Overall, the day was lots of fun and it was nice to see everyone encouraging each other. We learnt a lot from this excursion and I hope that the years below us also get given this opportunity in the future!
- Raphaella Thimiopoulos- Wilson
The B.E.S.T excursion was a fresh and insightful experience that year 11 PDHPE got to enjoy. This was a fun experience that I recommend continuing for future cohorts of students studying Health and Movement Science. This excursion allowed us to experience first-hand what we are currently learning about in class. We could participate in a range of activities that tested our strength, agility, speed and power. This included activities such as a vertical jump test, broncos, isometric hip thrust, the VO2 Max Testing and much more. Based on these activities we participated in we gained so much knowledge that we can now apply to our current assessment task. We learnt the effects of exercise first-hand and since I found myself getting tired after exercise, I knew why and the process of how I got tired which will be greatly useful in how I complete my assessment task. Overall this day was an unforgettable experience and I was able to take a lot out of it that I most likely wouldn’t have known without this excursion.
- Leila Crisafulli-Kefu
Year 11 Community and Family Studies excursion
Amazing race treasure hunt around the Sydney CBD
Real world learning is key to creating young people who can think critically, communicate effectively and solve problems and this excursion for year 11 CAFS students provided the opportunity for students to develop and foster these skills.
Students were given the chance to put together their own groups for the day, encouraging teamwork and collaboration. All they knew was the meeting point and time, and from here, each group set off to complete a series of activities and challenges, meeting up at 60-90min intervals. This also required students to plan accordingly (check train times for example to ensure they would arrive at the correct destination and on time), be organised and promote independence. In particular, students had to reflect on concepts such as roles in groups, leadership and factors that influence these concepts, allowing them to apply the concepts that we had been studying in class.
Please enjoy these reflections below from some students:
Throughout the excursion, everybody acquired life skills from the tasks assigned by the teachers of Community and Family Studies. We applied personal management skills and worked together collaboratively to complete various tasks, simultaneously, having fun exploring the city together.
- Josh, Jeralin and Mary Grace
Our CAFS excursion was an outstanding experience that not only tested our skills but also brought us closer as a group. The excursion presented us with opportunities to apply the learning skills we have acquired in CAFS, such as decision making and leadership, in a real world scenario. We navigated through the city in our small groups, meeting at designated points every hour to regroup with our teachers and other groups.
One of the most significant points from this excursion was the development of self management skills, particularly in regards to time management with using our resources like buses and trains. We had to prioritise tasks and allocate our time effectively to ensure we completed all the assigned activities. The experience will undoubtedly benefit us in future scenarios where we need to manage our time efficiently. The excursion also allowed us to practise effective communication skills. We worked together to complete tasks, share ideas, talk to members of the public and negotiate with each other. These skills are essential in any situation, and we believe we have made significant progress in this area.
One of the most memorable activities was when we were tasked with finding the most expensive item at David Jones. We saw high end pop up stores like Dior, which added an element of excitement and challenge to the task. This activity not only tested our problem solving skills but also provided us with a unique opportunity for learning (and the most expensive items were all ugly)! Overall, we believe this excursion was a valuable learning experience that helped us grow as individuals and as a group. It has equipped us with the skills and confidence to tackle future challenges and work together effectively.
- Jayda Amabile , Lizzy Kwiatowski, Isabella Elias, Vesna Kenny and Emma Attard
The CAFS excursion served as not only valuable learning, but also a beneficial opportunity to apply our learning in a practical aspect. By learning about resource management in class and being able to utilise it through the excursion; it allowed us to not only witness the real world application of our knowledge but also deepen our understanding through hands-on experience. This excursion fostered a sense of unity amongst peers due to shared experiences and collaboration which further strengthened our understanding and enjoyment of the activities. Overall, this excursion provided an immersive and enjoyable experience.
- Christabel Gobrial
The CAFS excursion provided us with a chance to put our learning into practice. We thoroughly enjoyed the activities organised by Mrs. Brogan. These activities challenged us to work as a team, communicate effectively, plan, and manage our time wisely. During the excursion, we encountered obstacles that highlighted the importance of communication and utilising available resources to achieve our group goals.
- Makoi Malual
Year 12 PDHPE Excursion to the Australian College of Physical Education
On Wednesday the 6th of June, Year 12 students in PD/H/PE attended an excursion at the Australian College of Physical Education (ACPE) at Sydney’s Olympic Park. The focus of the excursion was Factors Affecting Performance, which coincides with our HSC studies. This excursion provided us students with the opportunity to participate in practical workshops where we could apply our knowledge from class and also deepen our level of understanding.
In workshop 1, students learnt about energy systems and their use in a sporting context. We then also took part in a range of testing. Some of the testing included 20 metre Sprint, Vertical Jump & Coordination testing for the ATP-PC System, Wingate Bike Protocol testing for the Glycolytic System, and a BONUS - VO2 Max Test (Treadmill) worth $500 for one of our athletes, which Amponsah Antwi took part in. In workshop 2, students learnt about the principles of training in ACPE's performance gym. Students experienced and analysed how the principles of training can be applied to both aerobic and resistance training.
The excursion at ACPE was an invaluable initiative that should continue in the future due to ACPE having practical laboratories where students were able to deepen their level of understanding and apply their knowledge, which would not otherwise be possible at this level. Being immersed in practical activities that coincide with the coursework for year 12 PDHPE had a unique ability to bridge the gap between academic concepts and our practical applications.
Luke Binny and Raine Tui
Year 12 PDHPE students
I would also like to acknowledge and praise the way in which our year 11 and 12 students represented our College at each of these excursions. Your maturity, respect and willingness to immerse yourself in these learning opportunities was evident and a true representation of what it means to be a St Andrews student.
Mrs Kayla Brogan
Leader of Learning - PDHPE