Active

I hope you are enjoying the beautiful weather. We have been enjoying getting out and about in the sun over the past weeks at Maungaraki School.

As a part of our values we focus in on being active. We have specifically set a Strategic Aim around this:

• At Maungaraki School we are active participants in our learning through a wide range of opportunities.

Maungaraki School is committed to giving our learners an active education. At our school we are running the Sportstart programme. Sportstart is a programme which introduces children to basic fundamental skills that will help them across a range of sports and assist their physical development. It grows these skills, game awareness and communication skills in multi-sport settings. The programme is detailed and is being delivered across the school by our staff multiple times a week to all children. These sessions are targeted and we are beginning to see some excellent progress in students.

The weather and the new turf and surfaces have really assisted us in delivering this programme. It is enabling a safe and steady surface for students to practice and develop skills such as striking, throwing and catching on. 

The school is simply buzzing with activity. Just in the last week we have offered a wide range of opportunities to children:

• The Sports Academy is up and running.
• We have had specific Cricket training for our senior girls from Cricket Wellington.
• Cricket Wellington have also been training our Year 7/8 team.
• Our touch teams have been practicing for their competition at Hutt Park.
• Gary from Hutt Tennis has been training some future tennis stars.
• Tony continues to run his after school soccer programme for our juniors.

PHEW - so much is happening. Add in to this the lessons in class time and the children have certainly been active - and busy :-)

I would like to acknowledge the work that the staff put in to making this happen. Each classroom has embraced the sportstart programme, this can clearly be seen as you walk around the school. Thanks to Alle Pollard-Smith and Chris Cowman who are leading the school in this area. They continue to put in an amazing amount of work which we could not do without. 

I would like to especially thank our coaches and parent helpers who help run the extra sports teams offered at Maungaraki School. You are the stars that our children look up to. Thank you for being there and being the role models that our children need. 

There are plenty of ways you can help out at home, here are just a few ideas:

• Ask your child to explain the skills they have been learning in class. Then head out and practice with them. The skills and games are often simple and do not involve much set up.
• Encourage children to get out and play. Use the backyard, the bush, the school or any safe outdoor area. Playing organised games with friends is an excellent way to grow skills.
• Set up and play games around you home - have fun with little competitions. It can be a simple as a paper toss. These all grow coordination and resilience in a safe place.
• Give children opportunities to be involved in a range of sports. When they find one they enjoy, encourage them to continue.
• Above all else - have fun!

I hope you have a great time out there, until next time - Be your best!