Wesley Leaders Shine

By Mr Geoff Kay, Head of Middle School, Wesley College
There’s nobody quite like a young elite sportsperson when it comes to making a connection with students and providing a role model.
That’s the underlying belief behind the Sports Challenge program that has been operating very effectively at Wesley for the past few years and was stepped up in 2004.
Head of Middle School, Geoff Kay, said Wesley had involved its Year 8s in the program over the past few years and in 2004 included the Year 5s.
“These are our biggest intake years.” Mr Kay said. “The pre-testing process gives teachers information to work with immediately and helps them get to know the boys. After the pre-testing, the Sports Challenge mentors come in for three afternoons during the year to enhance the students’ life skills.
“The cutting edge Sports Challenge Leadership Program is made available to all our boys from these year levels. The program is a mixture of hands on mentoring through class sessions and problem solving, backed up by a link to their Sports Challenge mentor via ‘e-pals’
The boys also keep a journal about their goals, activities and progress throughout the program.
“We find the mentors are cheerful and caring of the students and their work complements the sorts of values we teach through the Health and Physical Education program,” Mr Kay said. “As young, motivated, fresh-faced people who have set and achieved their own goals, they are well received by the students.”
Mr Kay said the feedback from Sports Challenge about the boys’ participation had been very positive and the boys themselves had consistently responded well. On that basis, the program would continue for the foreseeable future.