Thornlie school wins physical education award

13/12/93

Yale Primary School in Thornlie has won the 1993 award for the Western Australian primary school with the most outstanding physical education program.

Education Minister Norman Moore today visited the school to present the prize in the WA Primary Schools Physical Education Program Awards.

Mr Moore said Yale had shown great commitment to physical education and sport throughout the year, and had developed a balanced and comprehensive program of daily fitness, skills development and sport sessions.

"The school's positive attitude toward physical activity has been reflected in the children's high involvement in community sport," the Minister said.

"The teachers involved have provided an exceptionally well-structured and co-ordinated program and hopefully this will be inspirational to other schools."

Yale Primary School won sport equipment worth $500 from Slater Gartrell Sports and a $200 trophy from Leisure WA.

Mr Moore said Subiaco Primary School had won a special award for school-community links and Castlereagh School won an award for its program for children with special needs.

Special commendation awards would be presented to primary schools at Mullaloo Beach, Mingenew, Pannawonica, Exmouth, Waroona, South Lake, Carnarvon School of the Air, and East Victoria Park Education Support Centre.  All other schools which entered the awards would receive a certificate of merit.

The Minister said physical education and sports programs should be fundamental to the school curriculum and he would like to see every school devote at least two hours a week to physical activity.

Earlier this year, Mr Moore established a review of physical education and sport in schools and the review's report was due before the end of the year.

The Primary Schools Physical Education Awards were introduced to highlight the importance of physical education and sport in the school curriculum and to encourage schools to develop quality programs and events.

"The 40 nominations received this year were of excellent standard, describing in detail the amount of work schools are prepared to put into this important area of education," the Minister said.

Media contact:  Ross Storey 222 9595 / 321 1444