Harmony Day celebrated at Sydney Sporting Schools
Sydney FC Community Football Manager and Rockdale City Suns FC player manager Paul Reid was in the thick of things when he visited Kogarah Intensive English Centre and delivered engaging fun games relating to football.
Each year, schools are invited to apply for funding from a government grant namely, the Sporting Schools. Sporting School is an Australian Government initiative which helps schools to increase the participation in community sport with a strong focus on schools.
Paul Reid, Sydney FC Community Football Manager visited Kogarah Intensive English a few times over the last few years to experience teaching this very diverse group of students from all over the world. Intensive English Centres (IECs) and the Intensive English High School (IEHS) provide intensive English as a Second Language (ESL) tuition to recently arrived, high school aged students whose first language is not English. In addition to ESL tuition, the IECs and the IEHS provide orientation, settlement and welfare programs to prepare students for learning in a NSW government high school and to participate in Australian society.
Maria Moschatos Head Teacher of Kogarah Intensive English Centre believes programs such as these assist newly arrived students to adjust to their new country by helping them to understand the benefits of sport and the role sport plays in the Australian culture.
Jeremy Ng, PD/H/PE teacher and Sport Coordinator at Kogarah Intensive English Centre who is also a Football NSW photographer was extremely appreciative to have, the valuable experience that Paul provided that Sporting Schools have allowed access for his students.
During the four week program Paul delivered an engaging and progressive program with emphasis on inclusion and also the skills of football.
Games are designed to target many gross and fine motor skills that are transferable to other sports. The program also allowed students to learn about goal setting and learn skills that will be valuable in their lives.
