This year at
Parnell District School we are looking to increase the participation of our
students and their parents in the
many and varied sports on offer throughout the year. Staffing, parental support
and adequate space / time remain the issues for selecting, training and
encouraging students in the sports PDS is able to participate in, and we hope
to address these with a new format.
We are
initially looking to get an idea of which students are interested in playing
sports this year. We are also seeking permission from parents for their
children to participate in these events and asking which parents are able to
assist with transport, coaching, managing and or supervising / judging events.
The options
for students Year 8 down to Year 1 vary. Dates for our ‘zone’ inter school
competitions (Years 5-6, & 7-8) accompany this newsletter and more details
/ updates / results will be posted on the ‘sports blog’ (on the PDS website). The
school organises its own swimming sports, athletics, and cross-country events along
with an inter house tabloid event. Years 1-3 will also receive timetabled
Health and Physical Education lessons with the sports coordinator, Mr Paine,
and outside contractors take introductory lessons for gymnastics, tennis,
hockey, football and rippa rugby for years 3-8. There are also several gym and
dance competitions throughout the year which years 3-8 are eligible for and a ski
team will be selected for the North Island Primary School Ski Champs.
This year we
hope to reduce paperwork by gaining permission from parents for all our off
site sporting events at once. If enough students are willing to participate in
events, and we have parental assistance, a team (or teams) will be entered. When
the number of students willing to participate is surplus, then trials will be
held. Students are selected for teams
based a number of factors (attitude, ability, attendance and organisation
predominantly). Teams of mixed ability and / or grading are also selected for
certain events. Students whose parents volunteer to assist may be given
preference over those more skilled, and students who behave inappropriately at
tournaments / trials may be excluded from competing altogether.
The sports
co-ordinator is assisted in organising events by the two sports teachers, Ms
Loveday (Y 5-6) and Mr Jugenheimer (Y 7-8). Parents are also expected to assist
in some way.
