PE News....

Upcoming Sporting Dates

Division Cross Country - Friday 22nd May (for yr 3-6's qualifying on from our school cross country) - NOTE RECENT DATE CHANGE
Regional Cross Country- Tuesday 2nd June (for yr 4-6's qualifying on from our school cross country)
Palmers Gymnastics (Foundation)- Wednesday June 3rd, 10th, 17th
Palmers Gymnastics (Yr 2 & Yr 1)- Thursday June 4th, 11th, 18th

SSV State Swimming Championship

Two weeks ago, we had 11 school students, Fleur Muling, Sebastian Rodda, Josh Rodda, Eloise Rodda, Charlie Rodda, Madeline Bridge, Billie Fidler, Lucy Fidler, Harper Lockhart, Sienna Royden, and Jasmine Marshall compete at the state championships at the Melbourne aquatic centre.

Everyone competed and represented our school so well, and not only that, but they also cheered everyone on, even people from other schools in Bendigo. The encouraging was amazing throughout the day. The atmosphere was intense, and everyone was nervous before their races, but we all did so well.

By Eloise Rodda & Josh Rodda - Swim Captains

Cross Country Preparation in Term 2

Over the past couple of weeks, our cross-country students have been fortunate to have a special guest join our training sessions. Paul has brought a wealth of knowledge, and the tips, strategies, and experiences he has shared have been extremely valuable.

Paul worked with students on race planning, the importance of developing the ability to surge, how to effectively attack hills, and strategies for managing the tougher moments mid-race and finishing strongly when things begin to feel challenging. What we particularly appreciated was the focus on specificity- anyone can go for a run, but for students to begin to understand how to race has been extremely impactful.

We are very deliberate about who has exposure to our students, and Paul was an easy choice. He has a strong focus on developing the child first and allowing athletic performance to emerge as a by-product. He consistently delivers age-appropriate sessions that meet students where they are at.

He has a long resume and an impressive list of achievements, but none of that matters too much if the child isn’t at the heart of what you’re doing. Paul consistently keeps that focus front and centre in his work.

If your child has qualified for Divisional Cross Country, I would strongly encourage them to participate. It’s a fantastic opportunity to receive expert coaching at school, during school time at no cost- a real advantage for their development and confidence.

It was wonderful to see our students engaging so brilliantly and being respectful throughout. Their effort and attitude were outstanding.

We were also fortunate to have the support of Sarah Willis, who continues to be a tremendous contributor to our students throughout sessions.

I also want to highlight the quality of students we have at St Francis. After we thanked Paul as a group, a number of students independently approached him to personally thank him for his time. The respect and appreciation they demonstrated were outstanding.

Over the years, I’ve learned not to be surprised by the beautiful values and character our students consistently demonstrate. They continue to represent our school in the most positive way.

Trot around Tuesday

In addition to our running sessions at school, students have been invited to attend the Trot Around Tuesday at the atheltics track, where they can take part in either a 1km or 3km event and compete against athletes of all ages in Bendigo. It was terrific to see several St Francis students take part, and we hope to see more across the term.

We also had one of our cross-country captains, Lotti, lead the warm-up, doing a terrific job. She always brings energy and so much encouragement to those around her. Well done!

Karting Success

Jack Morrell Finishes Cadet 9 Career with a Home Track Victory!!!

On the weekend, Jack Morrell competed in his final race as a Cadet 9 driver at the Bendigo Kart Club, taking part in the State Level round of the Golden Power Series.

It was a challenging start to the weekend for Jack, with engine issues on Saturday morning followed by a crash in qualifying, which meant he was unable to set a time. Starting Heat 1 from the rear of the field, Jack was then caught in an unavoidable pile-up of karts, bringing his race to an early end.

In Heat 2, Jack showed great determination, driving from last place through to 8th and securing some valuable points. Unfortunately, Heat 3 was called off due to lightning strikes, meaning Jack would have to start the final from 13th position.

Despite the setbacks, Jack showed outstanding resilience and focus. In the final, he worked his way steadily through the field and took the lead on the second-last lap. After three previous attempts, Jack finally secured a win on home turf at Bendigo’s biggest race meet of the year.

It was a fantastic way to finish his time in Cadet 9. This week, Jack moves up to compete in Cadet 12s, racing against drivers aged 10 to 12.

Congratulations Jack on a brilliant result and an exciting next step in your karting journey.