Midvale and Ashfield PS take first steps in the V Swans Leading Forward Program.
Tuesday, 29th November 2011
By Rikki Ryder
On Saturday May 14th, the Swan Districts Football Club inducted its first ever participants of the Chevron funded V Swans Leading Forward program.
This program has been modified from the successful Kicking Goals high school program started in the Pilbara at Hedland Senior High School, and like the high school program is aimed at improving the attendance and behavior of the participants at school and to also encourage the students to volunteer in activities in the community. Students from Ashfield and Midvale primary schools will be participating in the program during school in Terms 2 and 3 throughout 2011.
The participants were inducted at quarter time of the SDFC versus Subiaco FC league game, and this involved a presentation of their specially designed Leading Forward shirts and Swans Districts Football Club memberships from Chevron representatives and special guest Swan Districts Football Club District Chairman Leith Putland. The participants were encouraged to bring along the family to enjoy lunch in a special marquee and entry to the game provided. They then suited up in Subiaco gear to take on Upper Swan Junior Football Club in the little league game at half time before returning to the marquee to enjoy the rest of the league game and soak up the atmosphere.
The program has now moved to the classroom and school ovals and during their weekly workshops students will be taught about all aspects of AFL and the skills involved as well as other related topics such as sports media, journalism, drugs and alcohol in sport, injury prevention, nutrition and crime prevention. They will also test their fitness and football skills in practical sessions and be taught how to improve handballing, kicking and marking skills to name a few.
Incentives such as tours of the Fremantle Football Club facilities and WAFL Little League games are used throughout the program to provide extra motivation to the participants to ensure they are attending school and learning how to become leaders of the future.
Ashfield Primary School Principal Michael Kovalevs is sure that the program will reach its goal of boosting academic achievements and behavior, as well as helping the children learn more about Australian Rules football.
“By encouraging attendance, good behavior as well as educational achievement through the rewards system the children will be motivated too continually strive for academic improvement,” Mr Kovalevs said.
