17 April 2013 | Tennis Tasmania

Profile of Raquel Innis-  P.E Teacher at Nixon Street Primary in Devonport. Nixon Street is a National Schools Partnership Program member with Tennis Tas and MLC Tennis Hot Shots.   Raquel serves up on her program experiences…..

1.        How long you have been teaching?

I have been teaching Physical Education for 6 years now.  Having started teaching in 2007 at a local High School where I was one of six PE teachers, I took a year off (in 2011) to pursue other career options overseas.  I am enjoying being back in Tasmania and experiencing the challenges of teaching in a Primary School as the solo PE teacher.

2.       What are your passions?

Obviously, one of my main passions is sport.  It goes with the job description.  However, the sport I have been involved with for the longest is Hockey, having played since the age of 7!  I also enjoy tennis, basketball, cycling and the occasional kick of the footy.  Away from the sporting field other passions I have include music, design and architecture.

 3.       How many students at Nixon street primary and which grades you delivered Hotshots to?

There are approx. 500 students at Nixon St and all students from Prep to Grade 6 participate in the Hotshots program.

4.       How you feel about the program?

I have really enjoyed the program from a teaching perspective and also seeing how engaged and excited the kids are to participate.  The equipment is compact, colourful and really easy to set up which means it is easy to adapt programs for various age groups or even set up a quick game or two at lunch time.  The resources our school have received are a great incentive to deliver the program to student and have provided countless ideas to vary activities and enable students to progress according to their ability level.

5.       How you feel about the incentives for students – free T-shirts, free equipment pack, $2 rebate and so on?

Kids love the idea of receiving a “freebie”!  They are so keen to sign up for a t-shirt and to wear it as often as possible to PE or Hotshots events we have at school.  It is also a really good way of promoting Tennis to the community and getting a greater number of students involved in such a good sport.  Our school would not be in a position to purchase the gear we have received as part of the Hotshots program so we are very fortunate to have been able to jump on board.  I am really excited to see how many students can help support this program to enable our school to get some more equipment from the rebate.

6.       How you feel about the possibility of attending an all expenses trip to the Aust Open Teachers Conference in 2014?

Super stoked! I guess most PE teaches like popular sports and the big screen events but to be in with a chance to experience the Australian Open, the atmosphere of such a large scale event, I can’t even imagine!  I have always wanted to go but never had the opportunity before so fingers crossed we can get our students signing up super fast!!