At Maris Stella the Physical Education Programme complements the Extra Mural Activities that are offered to the girls. Our Physical Education Programme also aims to encourage and promote a healthy and active lifestyle that our girls will see as important and buy into as a lifestyle.

FOUNDATION PHASE (Pre school – Grade 3)

Coming into this Phase the leaner enters with many emerging motor control, body awareness and perceptual motor abilities that need further development.

In the Pre School activities are done to develop large muscle co-ordination, dynamic balance whilst moving and when stationary, hand-eye co-ordination and eye-foot co-ordination.

To develop these the girls become water-safe and start learning to swim. This takes place in the 1st and 4th terms. In the 3rd and 4th terms the focus is on agility development through simple field games, apparatus work and basic mat work leading up to tumbling.

Grades 1 to Grade 3 develop these skills further and progress on to stroke development and dives from the side of the pool. Tumbling is further developed onto basic gymnastic moves. The girls are introduced to basic hockey and netball skills and basic athletic skills ie: long jump and high jump and relays.

INTERMEDIATE PHASE (Grade 4 – Grade 6)

Building on from the skills acquired in the Foundation Phase, now develop a greater body awareness and improved body control with confidence and competence. The mastery of these skills now become more important as they form the basis for participation in general movement activities and sport. Social skills become more important as the interest in team activities develop to include co-operation and leadership.

• In the 1st term the girls try to master the four swimming strokes and correct racing dive and relay take overs. They are introduced to the tumble tirn.
• 2nd term the focus is to learn the skills necessary for hockey, netball and athletics
• 3rd term the focus is on completing any skills not covered in term 2 and then moving onto tumbling and gymnastics. If there is time the girls are introduced to the basic rules and skills of softball.
• 4th term the girls are exposed to life- saving, synchronized swimming and 1m jumping and diving for those capable.
  

• Focus on swimming training including:
• Basic stroke correction
• Fitness training
• Tumble turns and racing starts
• Water safety rules
• Aqua sports (Waterpolo)

• Focus on ball sports:
• Emphasis is placed on Netball and Hockey in which specific skills are taught.  Agility and hand-eye co-ordination are focused on.

• Focus on Athletics training:
• Field events
• Race starts
• Basic fitness

• Focus on aquatics including:
• Diving
• Synchronized swimming
• Aqua sports