SPORTS REPORT - Craig Brazel

Swimming Carnival

We would like to thank those parents that have provided feedback around the new format of our swimming carnival. We are carefully considering all of this as we continue to plan the big day.

We decided to pursue a more inclusive carnival this year for several reasons. Firstly, our data has shown us that in recent years, less than half of eligible students participate in the competitive events which take up the majority of the day. Time in the pool for non-competitive swimmers has always been allocated, but this is minimal. We also felt that some of the longer and more technical events did not have a high participation rate, and races with only two or three competitors were not uncommon.

Results from this carnival do not affect representative pathways. Another event will be held in early February for swimmers who would like to trial for our zone team. All traditional races will be included in this event. We hold this event early in the new year to give all of our serious swimmers a whole summer to prepare. This is especially important for our swimmers who are turning 8 in 2022 and can qualify for our zone team.

The last two years have been challenging for our students. Excursions, camps, and many sporting events have been taken away from them during the pandemic. They have had to endure disappointment after disappointment. The 2021 swimming carnival provides us with a unique opportunity to come together as a school to celebrate all the things that make St Agnes’ great. We want all of our students to enjoy themselves and to finish this challenging time on a high.

Whatever format our carnival takes this year, we will again seek out feedback from parents, staff, and most importantly students and this will influence the direction our future carnivals take. Please forward all feedback to craig.brazel@lism.catholic.edu.au

Zone Swimming Trials and Zone Swimming Carnival

Our 2022 sporting calendar has begun to fill up, and we will be diving into the action with our trials for our school swimming team being held at Wauchope Pool on Friday 11 February 2022. This event is for all students aged 8 and over who would like to represent St Agnes’ in the Hastings Zone Carnival. We will have a very short turn around for this next year, with the Zone Carnival being held on Tuesday 15 February at Macksville. Transport to both of these events will be by bus and will be organised by the school. We will send notes for this event home shortly.

Summer Sports Trials

Children who have put their name down for Tennis and Basketball will be receiving a communication shortly about their trials which will now be held in Lismore,  Tuesday 8 February 2022. We will also be asking students form Years 4 and 5 to express interest in trialling for Touch Football, Cricket, and Softball. A decision about when these trials will be held has still not been made at zone level.

House Leaders 2022

It has been wonderful to watch those Year 5 students who have nominated themselves for house leaders prepare this week. It is a very strong field and we know that whoever is elected will do a great job. We wish them all the best of luck!