Swimming Carnival @ STA

Swimming Carnival 2025

CHANGES - Please read carefully

Dear Parents and Carers,

This note is regarding our upcoming School Swimming Carnival. Please carefully read all of the attached information as there are changes from last year's carnival. 

WHEN: Monday 1st December (Week 8)

WHERE: Des Renford Aquatic Centre, Jersey Rd & Robey Street, Maroubra 

Transport

• Year 3 - 6 and a number of Year 1 & 2 students racing in 25m events will leave St Anthony’s at 9.00am sharp and return the students to school by 3.00pm. Kindy and Year 1 & 2 non 25m swimmers will depart at 11:00am.
• All students are expected to travel to the carnival by bus, however students may leave the carnival with their parents.
• Students must have their name marked off by their class teacher before leaving the carnival with their parents. 
• Students are not permitted to leave the carnival until all swim events have been completed. 

Grandstand and Poolside - please read carefully

• Students will be seated in the grandstand according to their house colours. House flags will be set-up to indicate seating areas and the indoor grandstand will be for students, teachers and parents.
• ONLY volunteers with an official role are permitted poolside. Parents and Carers are to sit up in the stand with the children. 
• Students will be dismissed from the grandstand at the end of the day.
• No parent is to collect their child without having their name marked off by the class teacher.
• Children are not permitted to play in the ‘Splash Park’ located outside.

Carnival Rules

• St Anthony’s reserves the right to conduct the school swimming carnival under the rules determined by the organisers. Failure to abide by these rules will lead to disqualification.
• All students in Years 3-6 will swim in a minimum of two events, but also have an option of swimming in three or all four events:

- Freestyle

- Breaststroke

- Butterfly

- Backstroke

• Year 3 - 6 will select their events at school so please ensure you have spoken with them regarding their choices. 
• Children in Kindergarten, Year 1 & Year 2 will take part in a display of swimming based on what they have learned in their swimming lessons the week prior - There will be parent/teacher helpers in the water in each lane. Children can choose to swim half the 25m pool if they wish.
• Any students in Year 2 who are 8 years old in 2025 are eligible to swim in the freestyle event if desired - must be able to swim 50m. 
• All students aged 8, 9 and 10 have the choice of swimming in a 25M or 50M event and they

do not have to swim the same distance in each stroke. 

• If a student wishes to be considered for the school representative swimming team that

participates at the SCS Swimming Championships carnival in 2026, they must participate in the 50M events in that stroke.

• All students aged 11, 12 and 13 have a choice to participate in 25m or 50m in each of the strokes but not both. 
• The swimming age is the age of your child on the 31 December 2025. *if your child is 7 but turning 8 by the end of the year, they are considered 8 years old. 
• Age champions will be based on the fastest 50m freestyle times in each gender and age group.
• House relay teams will be decided on the day of the carnival from freestyle times 
• Freestyle, breaststroke, butterfly and backstroke are all timed finals, so students will only swim once in their heat in all strokes
• Presentations - time permitting, ribbons will be presented at the end of each age group at the carnival. If time does not permit, ribbons will be presented at assembly

What to bring

• Students are to wear their swimming costume under their school sports uniform with their hat, sunscreen and sports shoes. Students can wear a clothing item in the colour of their sports house (blue, red or green) such as a t-shirt. 
• Students should bring a towel, swimming cap, goggles.Children should have their caps from last year, Kindergarten will be given a colour house cap prior to the carnival.
• Students must bring lunch, recess and snacks as there will be no canteen access at the carnival.
• Streamers, balloons or coloured zinc are NOT permitted at the pool as per venue request. 

Schedule

*Please note that some age groups & events will be run at the same time. Points and eligibility for the next level will remain at age level. The following is approximate timings and may change on the day of the carnival.

All events will be taking place in the indoor pool. There will be no events on the outdoor or Dome pool. 

 If you have any questions or suggestions please do not hesitate to contact me.

Is mise le meas,

Miss Bríd Claffey

Sport Teacher