Power Street
Doonside NSW 2767
Telephone 02 96222463 Fax No: 02 98315951
Education District: Mount Druitt
School Sport Area: Sydney West
School Sport Zone: Mount Druitt

SCHOOL DESCRIPTION

Doonside Technology High School is a coeducational comprehensive secondary school located in the western suburbs of Sydney. Education at the school is seen as a process of preparing the students for effective participation in society. The school has a population of 952 students and aims to provide the best opportunity for each student to develop academically, morally, socially and physically. Sport plays an important role at the school for both competitive teams and as a whole school group. The school was placed second out of 53 schools in the WJ Young Award for overall sporting achievements in the Sydney West Area. The school is the top achiever in the Mt Druitt Zone with 16 teams winning grade competitions, being placed 1^st in Cross Country and Athletics and 2^nd in Swimming. For their efforts the school was awarded the Mt Druitt Zone Patron’s Shield. A total of 106 students progressed to area and 10 to state levels. One student was a torch bearer for the Olympics and another for the Paralympics. Two students in 2000 received the Blacktown City Council Sports Person Award of the month due to outstanding performances at the Pacific School Games with three students receiving the Minister’s Encouragement Award for their contribution to secondary sport and for one specifically in athletics.

SPORTS ORGANISATION

Sports Program

Contact Tina Kreiss Sport Coordinator or Noel Kind Principal

Students from Years 8 to 11 compete in the Mt Druitt Zone Grade Sport Program on a Wednesday. Grade sport is offered in Terms 1, 2 and 3 with the sports changing each Term. A and B Grade competitions are run in Term 1 and 2 and B Grade or Mixed Open in Term 3. Grade sport is also available for Year 12 students. Sports offered at Grade level are:

Boys

Cricket, Basketball, Volleyball, Soccer, Touch, Oz Tag, Hockey (7 a side B grade only term 1), Softball, Netball, and Australian Rules (9 a side).

Girls

Volleyball, Netball, Oz Tag, Softball, Basketball, Hockey, Touch (B grade only in term 2), Soccer

Those students not doing grade sport are offered the following sports:

Recreational Sports – Bowling, Golf, Ice-Skating, Putt Putt, Squash.

House Sport – Softball, Mini Tennis, Touch, Soccer, Cricket, Volleyball, and Basketball. On rotation and depending on the staff expertise.

Recreational Sport or House Sport is conducted in Term 4 for Years 8-11. Sports offered are as follows:

Recreational Sports

Aerobics, Basketball, Bowling, Chess, Cricket, Ice Skating, Mini Tennis, Putt Putt, Rock Climbing, Soccer, Softball, Squash, Swimming, Tennis, Table Tennis/Badminton, Touch, Walking, Weights, Volleyball.

House Sport – Softball, Mini Tennis, Touch, Soccer, Cricket, Volleyball, and Basketball. On rotation and depending on the staff expertise.

An Integrated Sports Program is conducted for Year 7 students.

Students

Students select sport on the first Wednesday of each term. Those interested in grade go to the appropriate area, whilst other students go to a year area. Recreational Sport is offered to those who can afford it. House or School Sport is offered to the rest. However, no student is stopped due to finance and an agreement is always reached.

Most students do a range of sports however, if a student likes a sport then they are not stopped from doing it more than once. A student participating and happy is better than a truant.

When completing allocations to Recreational Sport those who have paid are allocated first. Those students who have returned notes but have not paid allocated next starting with Year 11 down to Year 8. These registrations are done on network with student registrars able to call up each student on a computer.

Year 12 is not required to do sport but may do so if they wish

Bus money is collected for grade sport on the away week - $3.00. Students involved in recreational sport pay $3.00 per week for buses plus the cost of the sport.

Staff

Staff volunteer to take grade sport. If no staff volunteer for a particular sport then individual staff are approached to assist. A personal approach is possible when the Sports Coordinator has a good knowledge of and relationship with staff. If no staff volunteer after this then students with qualifications referee or umpire competitions under the supervision of a staff member. All staff members are required to take a House Sport once a year.

Training is not provided but staff members are always supported.

OTHER SPORT INVOLVEMENT

Knockouts and Gala Days

Doonside Technology High School is involved in all Combined High Schools and Sydney West Area Knockouts. The school also competes in the Milo Cricket knockout and Aussie Home Loans Rugby League knockout. Approximately 150 students mainly Year 10 are involved in knockout teams and approximately 12% of staff as coaches and managers. Teams train at either lunchtime or after school under the supervision of a teacher. The school has performed extremely well in knockouts particularly in Cricket and Rugby League.

Occasionally the school participates in zone gala days eg netball but consider that grade sport is sufficient for the students.

Other Student Participation

Year 11 students are involved in carnivals as officials. They volunteer and are rostered similar to the teaching staff. Before each carnival they are briefed on their particular duties. Their help is much appreciated and always acknowledged.

A lunchtime competition is held in Term 4 in Hockey for juniors particularly Year 7 and 8. As a consequence the sport is popular but unfortunately the zone has cancelled it in zone competition for 2001

SUCCESS OF THE PROGRAM

Emphasis is placed on participation therefore the school field teams in all grade sports and at all Carnivals. It is seen as important that the teams are all in uniform, which helps to raise the profile of sport in the school. Students are keen to play Grade Sport and teams are always filled. This means that the school rarely ever forfeits a game in Grade Sport. The profile of sport is raised by regular appearances on assembly, reporting sports news in the weekly newsletter and Sports Assemblies where students are recognised for their participation in Zone, Area and knockout teams. Grade teams winners, zone blues; zone recognition certificates are awarded with citations being read out. The school involves high profile sports persons, in particular ex students, such as Michelle de Vries Olympic Swimmer, in the presentation of awards or invites well-known sporting identities.