BP2 – ZESPÓŁ SZKÓŁ OGÓLNOKSZTAŁCĄCYCH NR 1, Chorzow, Poland

W CHORZOWIE

Chorzow / Poland

1. Who are we, in what environment do we act and what our sports facilities do we have.

We are state school which consists of two schools: lower-secondary school (students aged 13-15) and secondary school (students aged 16-19). There are approximately 350 students in our school, both boys and girls. In secondary school we have military classes and classes for disabled students. Both of them are unique on Polish scale. We act in industrial area so we mainly deal with workers’ environment. Our school is located in the city centre. It has small gym and small pitch outside the building. Very close to our school there is a stadium for athletes open for general public, indoor swimming pool, paddle, park with gym equipment in the fresh air and in winter there is an ice rink near here.

2. What do we do?

Because of the fact that we are state school we have obligatory PE classes compatible with core curriculum introduced by Ministry of Education of our country. However, we do much more things connected with sport than we are obliged to, especially when taking into account military classes.

• For military classes we prepared curriculum which exceeds beyond basic PE curriculum in our country. Many kinds of activities are included in our teaching programme: we have classes about topography, orienteering, orienteering running, shooting, tactics of the battlefield, first medical aid, self –defense, martial arts, survival, rock climbing, canoeing, rowing, sailing, water rescue, air soft gun, paintball, swimming, crossfit, bootcamp and sports gymnastics.
• For other classes we offer standard PE classes (volleyball, basketball, swimming, football, athletics) but these classes are extended to music classes, dancing classes, skiing, snowboarding, leisure training and recreation in the fresh air using venues owned by the city (ice rink, tennis courts, paddle)

PE ( recreation) for everyone: we activate less fit students, we promote equal treatment of boys and girls, students with civilization diseases, with disabilities – what

• makes all kids and teenagers equal taking into account access to attractive classes offer.
• According to us sport strengthen character, force participants to cooperate, work in a team, teaches fair play rules. What’s more it builds social competence and skills and shapes character and self-confidence.

1. Why do we do it?

Level of children’s and teenagers’ physical activity is decreasing; Survey shows that our children put on weight the fastest in Europe. We are convinced that PE lessons led in wise and modern way are a chance to reverse this dangerous phenomenon. To encourage the habit of regular sports activities and recreation in students is as important school task as teaching creative and critical thinking. School cannot be liable to
promote sports talents in only a few selected disciplines.
If PE lessons are monotonous and stressful, connected with continuous competition and braking record, they may discourage students from physical activity for the whole life. Our programme shows that PE can be a pleasure for everybody. We emphasize that physical education is not only about sport but also about healthy lifestyle and healthy nutrition. It is also a space to build social capital.

2. Our best practices.
   1. How do you diagnose your students’ needs?
   2. How do you adjust classes to your students’ needs and abilities?
   3. Ways to motivate and reward your students.
   4. Ways to stimulate your students’ physical activity.
   5. How do you cooperate with your local community?
   6. Searching for local sport role models/famous sportspeople
   7. New technology in sport and recreation in your institution.

1. bWe talk to students

At the beginning of the school year we present students offer of the obligatory and extracurricular clubs and activities and tell them about opportunities which are given by our school. We try to find out what students expect from the teachers, what classes they would like to take part in and choose together types of physical activities the most suitable for them. Due to such conversations students have possibilities to influence on the process of physical education and recreation. They identify with this process and have a real influence on what is happening during PE classes. They can participate in the process of evaluation, make necessary adjustments which raise quality of the classes. Such attitude leads to the situation when they choose physical activity in their adult life intentionally.

1. We adapt classes to abilities and interests of students.

In our school PE classes are both for students who are very fit and sporty, for whom sport is the most important element of their life (military classes) and for students from classes for the disabled, for whom PE is only one of many subjects in their timetable. The role of the teacher is to select such forms of physical activities to fulfill needs these two very different from each other groups. That’s why range of physical activities is so varied. Such a diverse attitude is rarely met in other schools but it is very helpful with reference to our students.