Students smiling, positive play, encouraging empathy and mastering mindfulness has been the name of our GEM game this Term for Physical Education at Mernda Park. Through their activities, games and lessons, students have been taught, understood and explained what the values of Gratitude, Empathy and Mindfulness can do to assist them as Super Sportspeople.  Interschool Sport saw us fiercely compete in Teeball, Hot Shots Tennis and T20 Cricket.  Our Grade 5/6 students represented with pride on Lawn Bowls on the carpeted greens of Whittlesea.  Swimming was sensational with our largest team to represent Mernda Park in it's short history.  All swimmers did an amazing job to do the school proud.  Matilda Simcox was outstanding as she progressed to Division and then Regional level in her event.  A sizzling start to the summer season, term one done and dusted, a proud PE teacher at marvellous MPPS!

Amidst a brilliant beginning and a rapid lockdown, the enthusiasm and energy of our Mernda Park students in PE has not waivered.  Term 1 has been learning about what it means to be GEMS - Grateful, Empathetic, Mindful, Sportspeople.  So far we have covered Gratitude and Empathy - working on skills of being thankful and putting ourselves in other people's positions or shoes.  Students are continuing to develop their physical skills and well being aspect of their learning journey also.  A sizzling start to the Term everyone!

WE'RE BACK!!! What an sensational start to the year to reconnect with all of our students, staff and families at MPPS.  I am beyond excited for the year to begin and our Physical Education program to roll out.  This term we will be working on becoming GEMS in and outside of our PE classes.  The acronym GEMS focuses on the values of Gratitude, Empathy and Mindfulness while revisiting our Mernda Park Sportsperson  values of teamwork, attitude, respect and positivity.  We strive to teach our students the value of physical activity and the benefits on our health and well being as individuals and a community.  WELCOME TO TERM 1! 
Stay safe and well, Susie   

After what has been a challenging year for Victoria, our students in Grade 5/6 have eagerly selected their sports to participate against the Bridge Inn North District in Hot Shots Tennis, Cricket and Teeball.  Looking forward to getting back into sporting competition, Mernda Park is looking to develop our student skills in leadership and collaboration through our sporting program.  Beginning next week, we are looking forward to getting back to it.  Below are dates for our Summer Sport Rounds:

In addition to our weekly sport, students will have the opportunity to participate in additional gala events in Lawn Bowls and Softball this term.  The details are as follows:

Our District Swimming Carnival at Watermarc Banyule will take place in a couple of weeks Monday 15th February.  Students along with their family's permission will be able to enter and attend their chosen stroke against the Bridge Inn North District schools. We wish our selected students all the best and will post results after the event.

​Leading on from our last two weeks of Term 2, students will be continuing to focus on health and physical activity and the benefits on our health and well being.  During this challenging time, health and well being is so important for everyone and creating active opportunities as a regular outlet becomes of vital significance.  Students will be completing a 5 week challenge which they will record in their Remote Learning Books.  The first is to complete a daily exercise bout of 15 minutes where you measure and record steps, distance or type of moving (walk, jog, run.) The second is to see how their body adjusts and improves to the same body weight circuit over 5 weeks improving and developing strength and endurance.  Each LC will have a PE Rubric that they will work through, incorporating aspects of health, nutrition, skills practise and movement challenges.  Morning Motivation will still be happening on Monday and Friday mornings, and I cannot wait to see your work and activities throughout the term.  Keep safe and stay safe! We are all in this together!

Wow! What a term!  With such a crazy ending, we really did enjoy a crazy beginning and middle of the term also throughout our Physical Education and Interschool Sports programs. As students worked through their START UP program in PE, it was fantastic to see them embrace the 7 concepts that we would like to uphold as sportspeople: Sports, Teamwork, Attitude, Respect, Trial &Error, Understanding and Positivity. Through the Bridge Inn North District Sports Program, Mernda Park completed their Summer season in all 4 sports with a new structure.  They learned, trained and competed weekly in Volleyball, Hot Shots, Cricket and Teeball. Our 5/6 teams participated in Fully Loaded Softball and Lawn Bowls at our Gala Events, where MPPS was extremely proud to win their first Premier pennant in Lawn Bowls competition. We had our first swimmer through to Division this year also, with Matilda Simcox finishing first in her Butterfly and Breastroke races.  Finally, we finished with our Colour Run where students participated in their favourite colours to complete a timed obstacle course for the most number of laps.  Sensational start to the year Superstars!  Stay safe and look forward to Term 2!
​Susie ;)     

Amidst the cloud and gloom, students at Mernda Park Primary illuminated the oval with colours of the rainbow.  Each Learning Community participated in the spirit of the morning by completing our "Oval Obstacles"  to complete their personal best laps in a set time.  All students displayed amazing attitudes, excellent efforts and marvellous motivation to challenge themselves on the morning.  A big thank you to all of our school community who came to support our students at the event. 
GO MPPS!