They call it the beautiful game. It's the game with no boundaries no matter what culture, race, nationality or age. This week some Heaton staff and students proved it as they competed for the Staff vs Students Challenge Cup!

We have many traditions at our kura. One of them is when the Heaton Staff Barbarians take on some of the students' sports teams. This year, it was our two CAIMs tournament football teams. These two teams were winners of their respective competitions so the teachers knew they would be up against it!

The game on Tūrei/Tuesday was a competitive and high octane affair between the staff and the Heaton open football team. With the scoreline at 3-0 going into half time, it looked like the teachers were down and out. But as the saying goes, skill is temporary, class is permanent and the teachers roared back in the second half to tie the game at 3-3. The students then scored two quick-fire goals before the teachers clawed one back to make the final score 5-4 to the students. Congratulations to the Heaton open football team on their win!

Unfortunately the respectable loss for the teachers was soured by the season ending injury to Mr Evers who injured his ankle late in the game. It seems like the bantering from the teachers prior to kick off about needing the ambulance had come to fruition after all. Although no ambulance was called, we still wish Mr Evers a speedy recovery!

Paraire/Friday's game was a festive affair between the staff and the Heaton Girls CAIMs football team. Everyone was in their best Christmas get up but the teachers donned their traditional black barbarians tops for this game. Learning from their loss earlier in the week, the teachers raced out of the blocks to chalk up a 3-1 lead at half time after conceding an early goal. After the break, the students got a couple of quick-fire goals to even the scores as some of the teachers (ahem, Mr Naidoo) tried to be too cute with playing the ball out from the back to even the scores at 3-3. Each side then got one more goal going into the final minutes of the game.

Wanting a result, the teachers threw caution to the wind and played with a three pronged-attack of Mrs Wilson, Miss Ribotton and Miss Osborn. At the death, the teachers defended a corner before hoofing the ball long to Miss Ribotton who raced on goal before cooly slotting the winner past the goalkeeper to make it 5-4. Fortunately for the teachers, there was no VAR to check for any possible offside.

Mihi to all the students for their efforts and the teachers for demonstrating that 'doing your best' is a life-long practice. Mihi also to all the supporters who came down over the two days to cheer everyone on. Finally, a mihi to those students from Room 16 who helped Mr Phanpho with setting up and facilitating the two games.

Wishing you all a restful and fun festive season with your friends and whānau.

Ngā mihi,

Mr Phanpho