A Focus on Physical Education

It has been an amazing start to the year and the events have already begun, more about those later.

Foundation Students

Students have made a great start in PE – they are busy playing simple games that require them to move their bodies in different ways. They are enthusiastic learners and are enjoying playing simple games to help practise following rules and instructions.

Year 1&2 Students

The Year 1s and 2s are also playing simple games and moving their bodies in a variety of ways. They have been discussing how they can move safely around the space – even when the size of the space changes. Below are photos of Year 1 students working on the skill of balance.

Year 3&4 Students

Students have begun practising their long distance running in preparation for the upcoming Cross-country trials, which will be held later this term. Students have had a chance to learn/remember the course by walking around it as well as completing a solo lap. Through different orienteering courses (pictured below), students have engaged in further endurance exercise while trying to find ‘hidden’ markers around the school.

Year 5&6 Students

Students began the year competing in a variety of teamwork activities. They worked together in small groups to complete different tasks and discussed the importance of communication within the group. The Year 5 students will also be given the opportunity to practise for the cross-country over the coming weeks, if they haven’t already started.

Sports Report

Swimming Carnivals

The start of the year has seen a lot of hot days and where better to spend these days than at the pool. Fortunately for some Year 4 – 6 students, that is exactly what they got to do. On one of the gloriously sunny days, 27 students represented Fairfield Primary School at the Northcote District Swimming Carnival, at the newly redeveloped Northcote Aquatic and Recreation Centre. Thankfully, the walk to the pool did not affect their performance with all swimmers showing off their incredible talent – an incredible 23 swimmers finishing either 1st, 2nd, or 3rd in their races.

By placing in their races, these 23 swimmers qualified for the Darebin Division Carnival, which was held on another wonderfully warm day a week later, once again at the Northcote pool. The Fairfield swimmers were not daunted by the increase in competition or hampered by the hot conditions. An incredible 20 students qualified for the Northern Region Carnival which will be held next week at WaterMarc Aquatic Centre… where the weather will not be an issue.

We wish all Region swimmers the best of luck, they are a talented group and I know there will be some great results at this event.

Cross Country

The end of term one will see students from Years 3 – 6 participate in the school’s first House event for 2024, Cross Country. Students have engaged in practice laps around the cross-country course in PE, however during a PE lesson in the coming weeks, each child will be given the chance to score House points with every lap they complete. Students who complete the maximum distance for their age group will be timed. These times are used to select students who will represent the school at the Northcote District Cross Country early in term two. Times when each class will be completing their trials will be sent to families and is on display outside the gym.

Interschool Sport

Finally, the Year 6 students have spent Friday mornings this term practising their chosen summer sport in preparation for this Wednesday’s Gala Day. We hope the students enjoy the experience and take away many positive memories, as well as skills and knowledge from this event.

Ride to School Day – Friday 22 March

Friday 22 March is National Ride2School Day and Fairfield Primary School would like to encourage as many students as possible to ride, scoot or skate to school on this day.

National Ride2School Day is a great opportunity to promote healthy habits and the benefits of being active.

Fairfield Primary School has two places for students to be able to securely store their bikes during the school day. The Langridge Street campus bike shed is located on the corner of Fairfield Rd and Langridge Street. On the Wingrove Street Campus bike racks are located along the side of the building and this gate is locked up during the school day.

For more information about the day and its benefits, visit the National Ride2School Day website (see below).

This site has great resources and ideas about exploring the rules of the road with your child, as well as how to do some bike maintenance.

We look forward to seeing the bike shed full of bikes and scooters on the day.

~ Geoff McShane, PE and Sports Teacher

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