What a privilege it has been for me to again be Teacher-in-Charge of our annual SWSP! Though it is a 10 day program, it probably takes about 10 weeks to plan and organise!  All student aquatic consent forms need to be sighted and checked, followed by the collection and signing of the Major Excursion Consent and Medical forms.   

Our students are then placed into swimming groups that will maximise the learning opportunities and outcomes for each student.  Each student’s daily 50 minute lesson is planned meticulously by our team of instructors to provide aquatic experiences that will allow each student to confidently progress from Stage 1 (non-swimmers/beginners) to Stage 2 (intermediate/developing) and finally to Stage 3 (competent and efficient) over the three years from Grade 3 to 5.    

After the holidays, each student will receive two Evidences of Learning to take home.  The first is a formal DECYP assessment card detailing their level of aquatic attainment.  This progress report includes the mandatory collection of attendance and absence information over the ten days as well as progress in both stroke development and water safety/survival skills.  Students who have not participated will receive this record of attainment card with their attendance/absence and participation details entered accordingly.  I would like to share with families that this year is the first year that the SWSP will be formally recognised and included in our Grade 3 – 5 HPE Australian Curriculum assessments.  Each child will receive this second assessment in the form of a rubric attached to their SWSP skills attainment card.    

I would like to acknowledge the team of SWSP instructors who have worked alongside me over the last ten days.  We welcomed the knowledge and skills of Mrs  Georgie Dudgeon, who, not only is a specialist SWSP instructor, but worked at St  Marys with me in the HPE team a few years ago.  It was wonderful to see her back at St Marys.  We also had the privilege of having Mrs  Elise Frost on the SWSP instructor team this year.  She provided our students with a range of wonderful learning opportunities to support the development of swimming strokes and water safety skills.  Finally, we welcomed the return of Mrs Dylis Fyle to the SWSP instructor team.  Her expertise and wealth of knowledge ensured the students in her groups were given every opportunity to shine!   Thank you all – it was indeed a pleasure working alongside you! 

There is just too much to detail regarding our students’ SWSP achievements.  Suffice to say, we have awarded a few of the prized “Golden Caps” to students who have demonstrated a degree of courage and progress above and beyond that normally observed.  After the holidays, families will be receiving notices about our Term 4 Grade 3 – 6 HPE Aquatic lessons and the Grade 3 – 6 Swimming Carnival.  In the meantime, please enjoy this selection of photos from our 2024 SWSP.