Physical Education
Physical Education Department
About the Department:
The department aims to expose Orchidians to a variety of physical activities and equip them with relevant skills and knowledge to pursue an active and healthy lifestyle. The PE curriculum in Orchid Park Secondary School aims to develop motor skills and core values for students to learn from, participate in and enjoy a wide variety of physical activities and sports. With a broad range of physical competencies, every student is able to continue to participate and pursue physical activities and sports of their interest and ability. Be it for recreation, personal well-being, personal challenges or national honour, it is believed that continuous participation in physical activities and sports is a means to a better and more balanced adulthood.
The curriculum is divided into the following categories:
1) Games and Sports
- A range of gameplay experiences from territorial-invasion, net barrier and striking-fielding and other games encourages students’ safe and maximal participation, with modification to game rules to match and enhance their physical skills and cognitive understanding.
- The following Games and Sports are taught:
a) Net Barrier: Badminton and Volleyball
b) Territorial-Invasion: Basketball, Floorball, Handball, Netball and Soccer
c) Striking-Fielding: Softball
d) Track and Field events: Sprints, Baton Passing, Javelin and Shotput
2) Outdoor Education
- Physical activities that cultivate an attitude of care and appreciation for the environment, and thoughtful consideration of the risks and safety of self and others.
- The module includes:
a) Risk assessment through the introduction of dragon boating and kayaking
b) Knots-tying, orienteering, outdoor cooking and tent-pitching
c) Simple first aid, bandaging and introduction to usage of CPR and AED
3) Physical Health and Fitness
- Physical activities with understanding of the health benefits derived and how living active and healthy lives is connected with the world around them and the health of others.
- The components are :
a) RA gym programme that includes cardio training and the correct usage of free and fix weights
b) NAPFA test
Sports Carnival
This is a platform for students to demonstrate their skills and values honed during PE lessons, in a competitive format. These team competitions are held at an intra-school level where they participate with their classmates. Rules and competition formats are modified to ensure age-appropriateness of the activities. Students from various levels compete in different ball games (Sec 1 – Handball, Sec 2 – Basketball, Sec 3 – Floorball, Sec 4/5 – Volleyball) which they have learnt from their PE lessons respectively. For students who are not ready to compete in team sports, they have the option to participate in Tug of War, Mass Skipping and Darts-throwing. This student-led event also saw many of our students applying the knowledge of the games by serving as referees, where they build their confidence under intense pressure from their peer spectators.
Outdoor Education
Outdoor education is part of the National Outdoor Adventure Education Masterplan which MOE has put in place to strengthen the holistic development of all students. Secondary 1 students went for a level camp conducted at MOE Changi Coast Outdoor Adventure Learning Centre this year. The objective of the programme seeks to develop ruggedness, resilience, and build cohesion amongst the students as they work together in small teams to overcome various challenges. The students were grouped differently from their usual classes, and this enabled them to build friendships with others from the cohort and actively help one another achieve team goals through activities such as tent-pitching and outdoor cooking.