Regular physical activity is an important part of a student’s comprehensive, well-rounded education program and a means of positively affecting life-long health and well-being.
An effective physical education program fosters a lifetime commitment to physical activity as part of a healthy lifestyle.
Regular physical activity is associated with a healthier, longer life and a lower risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, and some cancers.
The benefits of physical activity may also:
- Improve self-esteem and feelings of well-being
- Increase fitness level
- Build and maintain bones, muscles, and joints
- Build endurance and muscle strength
- Enhance flexibility and posture
- Help manage weight
- Help control blood pressure
- Reduce feelings of depression and anxiety
The benefits of physical education go beyond fitness. Studies have found improvements in students’ academic performance and cognitive ability with regular time spent in physical activity. Physical activity and nutrition work together for better health. Being active increases the amount of calories burned. As people age their metabolism slows, so maintaining energy balance requires moving more and eating less.
Ursula Frayne Catholic College is proud of its physical education programs and sporting traditions and achievements.
Perceptual Motor Program
PMP (Perceptual Motor Program) is a school based program for early childhood children aged between 4 & 7. The foundation of PMP is the research-based understanding that children need to integrate language, memory, visual, listening, physical and social skills to be ready to learn at school. PMP is an early intervention program targeting fine and gross motor skills, attention and concentration, and general academic progress to accelerate learning and improve co-ordination, children’s classroom behaviour and their ability to focus on tasks. Children are given opportunities to develop through floor and equipment sessions which are offered to all Preparatory School students (Years K – 2). Equipment sessions usually involve a number of interesting and stimulating activity stations.
Parent Helpers and Volunteers are Essential to Successfully Deliver the PMP
Please contact the Sports Teacher on the Balmoral Street Campus if you would like to be a parent helper/volunteer for this program.
The Catholic Primary Sports Association (CPSA)
The College is a member of the Catholic Primary Sports Association (CPSA). The CPSA brings together 13 Catholic Primary schools in friendly competition for students in Years 3 to 6 across a number of disciplines including Swimming, Cross Country and Athletics, and summer and winter team sports.
The College also conducts faction carnivals for students in both the Preparatory and Junior schools. Students are assigned to one of the four factions:
- Buggy – Gold
- Rice – Blue
- Bosco – Green
- McAuley – Red
Students participate in regular timetabled Physical Education classes under the directions of the Physical Education Teacher.
The Health and Physical Education learning area focuses on a holistic concept of health. It recognises the physical, mental, emotional, social and spiritual dimensions of the health of the individual. It examines the impact of interactions between the individual, the family, the wider community and the environment on the health of populations. Students plan, act and reflect in order to develop the essential knowledge and understandings, attitudes, values and skills which promote health practices, encourage participation in regular, physical activity and support the maintenance of a healthy lifestyle. These are conceptualised and taught through an integrated approach to ensure that students achieve a healthy, active lifestyle, including a sense of well-being.
Studies in the Health and Physical Education learning area provide the potential for a better quality of life for all students, now and in the future.
The College boasts a modern well equipped gymnasium with international size courts, climbing wall and weights area. As an inner city school, land area is limited. However, the College has access to numerous sporting venues in the local area including swimming pools, ovals and tennis courts. Close proximity to the Swan River provides the added bonus for opportunities in sailing, wind surfing and kayaking.
Cluster Competitons
In addition to formal sporting competitions the Cluster groups within each Sub-school facilitate further opportunities for students to engage in individual and team pursuits from chess to basketball and quizzes to indoor soccer. Over time students and teams accumulate points for their Cluster with a trophy awarded to the winning Cluster at the end of the semester. The variety of activities ensures all students find their niche and contribute to the spirit and achievements of the Cluster.
Interschool Sport
Ursula Frayne Catholic College is a member of the Associated and Catholic Colleges (ACC) of Western Australia, which is an independent secondary schools sports association. The ACC has a membership of over 66 schools catering to more than 47,000 students.
Member schools compete during the year in participation carnivals, weekly summer and winter interschool sports, major carnivals in swimming, athletics and cross country and through selection in elite representative teams.
Member schools have the opportunity to compete in weekly summer and winter interschool team sports during term 1 and term 2. Currently there are four sub-associations conducting interschool sport. Ursula Frayne Catholic College participates in the Southern Associated Schools (SAS) and Southern Associated Schools Junior (SASJ) competitions.
Inter-zone finals are played in summer and winter inter-school sport at central venues between the Southern Associated Schools and the Northern Associated Schools for Year 11/12 students. Interzone finals are at the discretion of SAS & NAS schools.
Over the years students from Ursula Frayne Catholic College have achieved greatsuccess across a wide range of sporting endeavours, often achieving results well above expectations given the relatively small size of the College.
Para sporting carnivals are conducted in swimming, athletics, indoor soccer, ten pin bowling and a fun run/walk. The Para sports program is designed to provide students with a disability the opportunity to represent their school in ACC sport.
Check out the ACC website to see the latest news, fixtures and results.