Physical Education 

Edenhope/Balmoral Swimming Carnival

The day started off as any other, with all the Edenhope students turning up to homegroup to be signed off and to get dressed up in their costumes. After that, the students were told to go down to the buses. Bags were packed, younger students into the smaller bus and older students into the larger one, and we were on our way.

Along the way some music was played and students chatted, all around feeling a little unsure as to how the day would go ahead. Upon arrival the students saw that the pool was in the scrubbier area of town, with teams already sorted into tents. Everyone disembarked and made their way to the tent of their team. When looking around, there were some parents of the Balmoral students on the other side of the pool, and movement of the teachers from both schools to set up for the swimming as not all the areas were fully prepared for the day. Students chatted amongst themselves and others helped teachers with the setting up of the day. 

The day started with the rules. Members of each team that were swimming needed a cap of their house colour, so students found different, more efficient ways to put on their caps, and then the races started with students and teachers cheering from the sidelines. First was freestyle, then breaststroke, backstroke, butterfly and finally sidestroke for the official races. Following up was the houses versus each other and then the teachers versus students race, where there were the teachers, year 12 group, year 10-11 and some others. 

Next up the younger students turned up for the Splash Carnival where students swam down in the shallows and had smaller races across the pool.

Meanwhile there was a barbeque throughout the carnival and races with sausages, hamburgers, drinks and icy poles. 

For the final events, there was a Splash Carnival for the older students with activities like grouped ball grabbing, Gretna Green and tube races.

After these activities, the results of age champions and the winning house colour were announced. Students were then advised to pack up their belongings as the buses were needing to get moving soon. We packed into the buses, and turned the music to play sing-a-longs and grooved all the way back to school.

Jaali Brennan