We have physical activity programs for children from Kindergarten to Year 6, with a focus on fundamental movement skills.
Sport and physical activity is a valued and accepted part of our school's curriculum, contributing to the development of the whole child. It provides a vehicle for social, physical, emotional and moral learning and is an important expression of our culture.
The participation, enjoyment and skill development of our students is the corner-stone of the school sport/ physical activity program. All our students take part in this program.
There are also opportunities to represent our school at inter-school sports competitions. As a NSW public school we benefit from the opportunities for shared activities and competitions with other schools, coordinated by school sport associations. See the School Sport Unit website for details.
The school holds carnivals in swimming, athletics and cross country. The children who are successful at a school level go on to compete in the Upper Hunter Zone carnivals in these sports. We are proud to boast that many of our children then go on to compete at Regional level, with much success in recent years. Children are also given the opportunity to try out for zone teams in many PSSA sports. We have had children advance to Regional and State level in many areas of sport.
A variety of school sporting teams are entered in the PSSA knock-out competitions each year. Teams are entered in netball, basketball, rugby league tennis, touch football and cricket. Children also have the opportunity to participate in gala days in netball, basketball, touch football and austag. Weekly sport in the primary grades consists of preparation for these days and the teaching of skills involved in these sports. Infants sport consists of gross motor activities and the teaching of the ‘fundamental movement skills', which prepares them for joining sporting teams in the older grades.
The children at our school with disabilities have the opportunity to participate at state level in both swimming and athletics.
Intensive Swimming
During summer DPS provides a comprehensive Intensive Swimming Program. All students who are non swimmers are instructed at their own level, by Auswim trained instructors.