In the remote Western Australian Iron Ore town of Port Hedland, South Hedland Primary School, under the leadership of Principal Lee Pereira and Deputies Danielle Simcoe and Adeline Monaghan, are kicking goals on all fronts.
The Sports Challenge Australia’s (SCA) team led by, CEO Dr Garry Tester, Coordinator Lachy Denney, Senior Mentor Duena Gale and Jade Choong, have just returned from the school after a wonderful week of working with all staff and students.
The school’s new Charter, developed by Dr Tester and the staff in 2022, is now beginning to bear fruit across all values and behaviours. All families in the community have also received a credit card size version of the Charter, to reinforce the desired culture for the whole school community. Objective feedback has been excellent.
With the valued support of the Fortescue Metals Group in helping SCA with travel and accommodation, SCA has been able to have regular visits to South Hedland Primary School to build continuity, trust, and respect with all students, through our leading-edge programs to build both physical and mental health.
Again, this year, SCA has tested the whole school for fitness levels and each family will receive an individual report of their child’s results, along with activities to build fitness outside of the school gate.
Daily PE has now been implemented under the stewardship of PE specialist Jack Duggan; the school has made a 11% increase in fitness levels over the past 2 years. Fundamental movement skills are also being developed throughout the Junior School, with lesson plans provided by SCA.
Having such a remote location has not diminished any of the outcomes for the
school. Having a highly motivated Deputy Principal in Danielle Simcoe has allowed an excellent communication conduit between SCA and the school for resources, programs and objective data. As Lachy Denney, SCA coordinator explained, “It is uplifting for our coaches to come into a school which is highly motivated and organized and this rubs off onto the students, who always wants to do their best.”
