We asked our parent community the following questions:
Parents were asked to consider their priorities in seven key learning areas within the Health & PE curriculum and to indicate whether each of the areas were essential, important or not important. They were then asked to comment on our present health education programme and on any other health-related topics that should be covered at the school.
Our Analysis
In order, three key areas that were identified as essential or important:
Mental health education 100% (90.4% essential +9.6% important)
Body care and physical safety 100% (87.7% essential +12.3% important)
Physical activity 100% (61.6% essential + 38.4% important)
These three key areas have all been identified as our priorities in previous community consultations over several years.
The next four areas identified as essential or important were rated in the following order:
Food and nutrition 93.2% (46.6% essential + 46.6% important)
Outdoor education incl. camp 91.8% (41.1% essential + 50.7% important)
Sports studies 90.4% (39.7% essential + 50.7% important)
Sexuality education - Changes at Puberty 87.7% (49.3% essential + 38.4% important)
Our Health & PE Statement
Our staff endorse these health priorities. This year we will look at either unpacking the Ministry of Education resource Mental Health Education - A Guide for Teachers, Leaders, and School Boards or look for other mental health programmes i.e. The Sir John Kirwan Foundation - Mitey - Mental Health Education in Schools. At our Teacher Only Day on 29 January 2024, Andrew Mewett, Learning Support Co-ordinator from the Ministry of Education provided staff with professional development on students with ADHD. Teachers are trained in using mindfulness from the Pause, Breath, Smile training already done.
There were some comments in the survey about supporting students to deal with bullying. As a first step, we will continue with our Positive Behaviour for Learning programme (PB4L), actively teaching and supporting students to make good choices around behaviour. This programme will be extended to include such topics as coping with feelings – disappointment and anger management, what makes a good friend, dealing with peer pressure, team building skills, making informed choices, cyber safety and bullying prevention.
We will continue with our emphasis on body care and physical safety education. This includes pedal-ready road safety, sun safety, water safety, fire safety, personal hygiene, first aid and Keeping Ourselves Safe. We have regular visits from our Public Health nurse to our staff. For many, this puts a face to a name and provides an opportunity for discussion and to bounce ideas. Where there are individual concerns, parental contact directly with the Public Health nurse is encouraged.
As a school, we employ a sports coordinator 20 hours a week. This role has meant that our students have plenty of opportunities to experience new sports and access a wide range of events from the Wellington Round the Bays fun run to Touch Rugby to the Tough Guy and Gal challenge. We will continue our school-wide emphasis on regular physical activity and continue to ensure that students have the opportunity to develop skills within a range of sports, swimming and team games. There will be a renewed emphasis on upskilling staff where needs have been identified and an emphasis on students developing their fitness.
In the survey, there were a few people concerned about the term “Sexuality Education”. We will take this feedback opportunity to set people’s minds at ease as to what we cover in our programmes and how robust our consultation process is - complete with parent meetings prior.
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