Newlands Soccer World Cup

Hola familias, 

Newlands Primary School is hosting its very own special Soccer World Cup tournament! 100 students from Year 2 to Year 6 are ready for this great event happening right here during our recess breaks over the next two weeks. It's our way of celebrating the incredible Australia and New Zealand Soccer World Cup!

Teams made up of kids from different grades, Year 2 to Year 6. Two weeks ago, all our participants got to meet their teammates and together, they got to choose a Spanish-speaking country name for their team. This isn't just about playing soccer, it's about making new friends and learning how to work as a team. Moreover, this mix of younger and older kids is helping us all show care and respect to each other.

Keeping things fair is the responsibility of our Sport Leaders and our ace referee, Bernard. They're the ones making sure everyone plays by the rules and shows great sportsmanship. We've got our Year 6 students stepping up as team captains, leading their teams on and off the field. They're showing us how to be good teammates and how to talk to the referees – all in a positive and respectful way. By playing together, we're also practicing our school values – caring for one another, getting creative by adjusting rules to make games more inclusive, and taking responsibility for their actions in the field.

But that's not all! As we're cheering for our teams, we're also learning about different Spanish-speaking countries. It's like a mini trip around the world! 

Now, onto the games! We've got two groups with 4 teams each. They'll play against each other, and the top two teams from each group will go head-to-head in the semi-finals. The final showdown will decide who takes home the World Cup trophy – and trust me, the winning team will get a surprise they'll remember forever!

It's been amazing to see how our school community has come together to cheer on our teams. Even those not playing are joining the fun by cheering on their friends and supporting the countries they've chosen to back.

As of now, Paraguay and Venezuela are showing their skills, but all the games have been a close call. To all our players, we're sending a huge good luck for the upcoming games!

Lastly, a massive shout-out to our fantastic staff who have lent their support and enthusiasm to make this incredible event happen!

Stay tuned!

Raul Berral - Health and PE Teacher