The Health and Physical Education (HPE)Department offers a wide range of physical activities for students across all year levels. The department is staffed by five full time physical education teachers who provide a wide range of skills and experience. Specialist Futsal classes are also on offer providing students with opportunities to learn advance skills in this sport.
The focus of HPE lessons in the junior school is on participation in a wide variety of sporting contexts. Students are encouraged to participate in all lessons regardless of their skill level. Throughout each term students will do theory units based around Health, topics include: smoking, accident prevention, drug and alcohol prevention, physiology and anatomy.
A specialist subject in Futsal is also on offer for Years 9 and 10 students. This is an invitation only class and focuses on advanced skills associated with the sport of futsal. Students in this subject are also required to represent the school in various futsal competitions.
Year 7 and 8 HPE
Students in Year 7 and 8 will trial a range of sports to give them a taste of what is on offer during the schooling at Pioneer. Physical activities include:- Dancing, Volleyball, Touch, Soccer, Athletics, Basketball and Gymnastics.
Years 9 and 10 HPE - Semester 1
In Years 9 and 10 students have a choice of two subjects in first semester: HPE and HPI. These two subjects offer different physical experiences. HPE focuses on large ball sports with students choosing sports such as touch, volleyball, futsal, basketball and netball. HPI focuses on implement sports with students choosing sports such as hockey, tennis, badminton and sofcross.
Years 9 and 10 HPE - Semester 2
In second semester students have a choice of HPE and HPA. Once again these two subjects offer different physical experiences. HPE will provide students opportunities to play a variety of team sports whilst HPA has a focus on athletics.
Senior secondary curriculum
Students have a choice of three subjects once they enter the senior phase of their schooling. Students will make a choice of subjects based on their pathway towards future careers.
Senior physical education
Senior physical education is an authority subject and has the most amount of theory. Students will participate in Volleyball, Touch, Athletics and Futsal throughout the two year course. Theory units are integrated into the practical experiences.
Recreation Studies is the Authority-registered subject and is mainly practical based. There is a small amount of theory throughout the two year course. Practical experiences include individual sports (golf, archery) team sports and Outdoor Education.
Certificate II in community activities
The Certificate II in community activities is a TAFE course that is conducted through the school. Students choosing this subject will complete a series of competencies related to the fitness industry. At the end of the two year course students who have successfully completed all of the competencies will receive a nationally recognised Vocational Education and Training (VET) qualification.
Extra-curricular activities
Throughout the year Pioneer has a large number of sporting teams that play in inter-school competitions. Popular sports amongst the students are: Futsal, Touch, Volleyball, AFL, Netball and Soccer.
Students will also have many opportunities to trial for Mackay and District sports when they are available throughout the year.
The Future Stars program is an after-school training session offered to the elite athletes of the school. Students who have represented in their chosen sport are invited to attend these training sessions. This program provides students the opportunity the mix with like minded athletes and experience a variety of different training methods.