From the 

Head of Junior School

Sport

Sport is an integral part of life at Kinross Wolaroi Junior School. We offer a range of sports and activities to meet the needs of your child, whatever their level of sporting engagement. The experiences provided by physical activity have a key role in providing skills, values, and attitudes fundamental for a healthy lifestyle. 

At Kinross Wolaroi Junior School students are encouraged to be physically active and to develop both fine and gross motor skills, so participation in games and outdoor pursuits becomes an enjoyable and lifelong habit. Participation in team sports, healthy competition and skills development are essential elements in the development of well-balanced young people. A strong sense of sportsmanship and fair play is fostered amongst the whole School community as all students participate in sport. Sport can be a fun and exciting part of school life, and we aim to develop in our students a love of movement that will sustain their health and friendships throughout their lives.

Aside from the physical benefits of school sports, there’s a variety of emotional benefits, many of which can positively impact a child’s performance in school. According to Aspen Project Play, emotional characteristics such as attitude, attention, and concentration are superior among children who play school sports, along with an aptitude for following rules and showing respect for others.

The social implications of school sports are significant for children, primarily due to the sense of belonging it provides. Being a member of a team provides the opportunity to develop leadership and cooperation skills, and shared experiences, including those that encompass feelings of both success and loss, contribute to learning respect and bonding with others. 

Participating in Sport at Kinross Wolaroi Junior School

Students at Kinross Wolaroi Junior School participate in sporting competitions hosted through organisations within the local Orange community. Through participation in these competitions students develop their skill levels, fitness, game sense, sportsmanship, teamwork, and friendships. Each semester there are several competitive and non-competitive sports on offer to cater for a wide range of skill levels and sporting interests. Students are asked to nominate a preferred sport at the end of Term 3 for the summer season and at the end of Term 4/beginning of Term 1 for the winter season. 

Over the last 12 months the Junior School has reflected on the sports we offer, working to find a balance between sport at Kinross Wolaroi and sports on offer in the community. Between competitive sports and skill development. At all times we value working with parents to best understand where your child’s sporting passions lie and how we can support them.

For some students sport is very much about what is on offer at Kinross Wolaroi. This may be swimming squads, competitive cricket, touch football or basketball in summer. For others they may like to try a variety of sports over the summer season, developing their striking and catching skills before they partake in competitions in later seasons. Some students want more opportunities to develop their skills and stamina through participating in fitness before School. For other students the Junior School may not offer their sport, such as dance, gymnastics or even polocrosse and ten pin bowling. In these instances, at this age, taking up these opportunities through the community best suits their needs. What is important is children are regularly participating in sport. 

Over the winter season we have spent considerable time looking at our offering and how we can find a balance between participation in the School's sport and involvement in community sport. We have looked to tailor our training so students who wish to play hockey with Kinross Wolaroi and rugby with a local club can do so. We have introduced rugby skills as an option for those students who want to know more about the game but do not feel ready yet to engage in competitions. In 2023 we are looking to streamline our netball and soccer teams to provide further skill development and graded teams. 

We are continuing to grow our sport offering and tailor what we provide for our students. As a School we know there are a wide variety of sports students like to participate in. This is evident each fortnight when we report on our students making their mark. We welcome conversations with families to understand what sports children are engaging in and how we can find a balance between participating in sport at School and in the wider community. 

Kinross Wolaroi Students making their Mark 

At Kinross Wolaroi we value and strive for academic rigour. Students have a myriad of opportunities to engage in enriching learning experiences, which in some instances the School provides or facilitates.  Please share with us your child’s interest, passions, and achievements by emailing junioroffice@kws.nsw.edu.au.

Thomas Karrasch has been out taking advantage of the cold weather, taking things to the next level in mogul racing in the under 11 NSW freestyle category. He completed against kids slightly older and kids that live in Jindabyne who do full time skiing. The race involved two runs, where there is a jump at the top and the bottom and bumps in between and it is not only about the time taken but also the difficulty of the jumps. Thomas did jumps that were over and above what even kids a few years older do. He is to be congratulated on fishing first.

Thomas had the opportunity to be coached by the head Australian mogul coach who coached the Olympians.

Tom Hughes is a student who enjoys his rugby. Tom plays for Central West Rugby. Over the June long weekend, he played in the State Championships and has the Country Championships coming up in Coffs Harbour in September. We look forward to hearing about Tom’s experiences at his next big championships.

Tom clearly likes to run which has no doubt contributed to his success on the rugby field. He was a member of our HICES team completing in six events where he won his heats in the 100m and 200m and finished fourth in the relay.

Over the weekend Aston Lett and Harry Price in Year 5, participated in, and won their U12 Central West AFL grand final against Dubbo. The game saw Orange Tigers hold off a strong Dubbo with a tight score line of 29-15.  It was the boys first season playing AFL. 

Mrs Denise Hayward  

Head of the Junior School