Pakenham Hills runs into the Health Zone

This year Pakenham Hills Primary School wanted the Sports Challenge team to implement their ‘world first’ measures of fitness testing called the Physical Quotient (PQ). This allowed every student, their teachers and parents an opportunity to see how their fitness levels compared to the rest of Australia.

 Our biggest message to the kids was that the testing wasn’t about being the best, it was about trying your personal best (PB) and it was great see every kid have a genuine crack at the testing activities which ranged from throwing and jumping, to flexibility and aerobic endurance tests.

There were some fantastic individual efforts (particularly in the 12 minute run which can be quite gruelling for primary school kids), but perhaps the most pleasing aspect was the amount of encouragement and support the kids would give their peers as they waited in line for their own testing. This positive attitude towards fitness is what this program was about. Enjoy the beautiful school grounds by getting involved in physical activities and games at recess and lunch time.

 Healthy kids is what Pakenham and Sports Challenge want! We are sure by the way the students performed, the future for Pakenham students looks great.

Lyndale Greens Shines in Victoria

This program we found ourselves back at Lyndale Greens Primary School for the second consecutive year. As per last year, we delivered the focus program with great assistance from Lyndale’s welfare co-ordinator John Bowles.

 Although we generally have a fantastic time at every school, there is something special about the kids at Lyndale. Many of them (particularly the ones who were selected for the program) come from difficult circumstances in their home lives, ranging from disadvantaged to just plain tragic. I always feel like their enthusiasm and unassuming attitudes towards the program is symbolic of how much it means to them to have positive mentors in their lives. People who care about them and want to see them succeed in life.

 The kids fully immersed themselves in the program (their favourites team activities were toxic waste and swamp crossing) and relished the opportunity to all be leaders at different times.

 My personal highlight of the program was the presentations during our last session where John organised for parents of the children, as well as senior staff members to attend and watch the kids receive their awards. It was heart warming to see these kids get some public recognition for their efforts.

 We look forward to going back next year!

Gembrook Primary Marches On!

Gembrook were back on board again this year, and we had the advantage of full access to their multi-purpose room for every single session. Once again Tina Allsop and Principal Kym Peterson supported us in what we were doing and provided assistance whenever we needed it.

 We always find that the kids at Gembrook are pretty bright and it’s a good feeling when they can recite back to you all the life skills that they have learnt throughout the program (which by the last session pretty much every kid could). We hope that skills such as goal setting and conflict resolution can be utilised by the kids to enhance their lives.

 It was great to see certain individual students gradually develop and come out of their shells throughout the program. That’s what Sportschallenge is all about and there were more than a few examples of this at Gembrook.

 We formed some really close bonds with the Gembrook kids, which is evident already in the amount of E-pal messages that the kids have been sending us! It’s great to hear how much they enjoyed the program.

 Once again, without the support of the Tenix Foundation this program could not be run. All of us at Sports Challenge thank you for your great ongoing support.

 Thanks for another great program Gembrook!

ST JOSEPHS BOYS RISE UP TO THE CHALLENGE

The 2011 Singapore trip has once again been an extremely successful one. The Sports Challenge team, consisting of Jacqui Finnegan, Jeremy Olman, Christal Ryan and Margaret Thompson, made the trek across to Singapore for a fun filled 3 week program with the students of Singapore.

The final stop of the trip was the excited and energy packed boys of St Josephs Institution. An all boys primary school which we were keen to see as the end of the trip drew near. We all knew the boys were wrapped to do something different in and out of class and to have time with their Australian coaches

This year the Sports Challenge team was again lucky enough to be involved in 2 programs at the school, and this provided us with the opportunity to interact with more of the P4 boys. Playing games and getting outside was obviously a focus for the boys, where a few exciting tumbles and slips allowed them to laugh and bond with each other. The students also had the opportunity to improve and excel in their challenge activities, focusing on their listening skills, and their ability to work as a team. A vast improvement was shown by all.

Many new bonds and friendships were formed, and despite the programs being run in the holidays, the boys were keen for it to be lengthened.

Although the program was quick, it was enjoyable, and it is one that students and mentors alike will not forget.

Chong Boon High School

The Sports Challenge Team have had a enjoyable few days at Singapore’s Chong Boon High School helping year 10’s (Sec3) to not only discover their potential, but to also boost their confidence.

This program was led by Programs Coordinator Jacqui Finnegan, with the help of coaches Christal Ryan, Jeremy Olman and Margie Thompson. They worked with the students over four days and taught them to think outside the box and become creative with all their challenges.

The days included many challenges that related back to teamwork, confidence and communication, each of which the students excelled in by the last session. It took a little while for them all to come out of their shells, but when they did, oh boy could they talk! We were told where we should all go on holiday and we received many great tips for the secret spots in Singapore to buy gifts for loved ones back home.

We ended the session with a Singapore themed Pipeline competition which all the students were excited about and got into enthusiastically. They were given twelve pipes and four wooden sticks and off they went! The prizes went to those who had the most creative name and exciting pipeline, such as the Sharp Shooter, Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious and The Ol(d)man to name a few.

Our time at Chong Boon was enjoyable and unforgettable. Working alongside the students gave us a great feel for their culture and ideals and all the students found our program both enjoyable and helpful for their confidence at school work and team activities.

Punggol Primary School

Bright and early on a Monday morning the Sports Challenge team made their way to the first school of the Singapore trip; Punggol Primary School. Greeted by a sea of smiling P3 students, Jeremy Olman, Jacqui Finnegan, Margie Thompson and Christal Ryan began the initial rounds of skill testing. The team rolled, batted and bounced their way through the first week with ease and enjoyment. The start of a new week brought a new set of children; the P1’s, bright, bubbly and enthusiastic they tackled the skills with everything they had. Some very pleasing results eventuated, an absolute credit to the PE Department.

The end of the second week saw the start of the Sports Challenge “Focus” Program with 50 selected P3 and P5 students. Each coach took a group of their own students and ran through some ice breaking games, allowing the students to begin bonding with their group and mentor. The end of day one saw the four teams battle it out on a giant scale swamp crossing; a mad dash for the finish line saw Jeremy’s P5 team victorious over the three remaining crews.

Over the next few days the Sports Challenge activities, both written and physical, saw the children really come out of their shells and challenge themselves by setting goals to be achieved within the upcoming year. The most impressive action was seen when the four groups met in the school gym to complete the Pipeline Challenge. Divided into groups according to their year level, the Punggol students pioneered some elaborate structures. After an intense hour of building, buying and bargaining, construction was called to a halt and each Pipeline was assessed according to naming, budgeting, marketing and excitement factor, with a P3 group taking out the winner’s prize.

For the Mentors, Punggol was an unforgettable school. Both the students and staff were a pleasure to work with and the children seemed to really enjoy immersing themselves in the program.