This week has been a real mix of sporting, cultural and academic pursuits.

Last night our Year 10 Science whizzes won the Otago Science Teachers' Association Year 10 Science Quiz for the fourth year running - an outstanding result.

As I write this article the world renown author John Boyne (The Boy in Striped Pyjamas) is speaking to an audience of students from around Otago in our school hall as part of the Dunedin Readers and Writers Festival. Later today we host Marcus Zusak, author of The Book Thief and Bridge of Clay.

Yesterday we held our annual cross-country event. This is an event that is greeted each year by our students with a mixture of anticipation and dread. We had outstanding conditions for the event and saw some great performances by our top athletes. What was really noticeable was that even those girls for whom this was not their favourite event, finished the course looking happy, feeling refreshed and hopefully energised. I believe this was due to them being out in the fresh air and moving. Our dual focus again this year is on Engagement and Wellbeing with the role of physical activity in overall wellbeing a critical one.

Sport and Recreation New Zealand (SPARC) and The Mental Health Foundation outline the benefits of physical activity as follows:

Physical activity releases endorphins into your bloodstream. These are the body’s natural painkillers and are responsible for the pleasant ‘feel good’ factor often felt after being active.

Physical activity improves muscle and heart function, increases blood flow to the brain and increases the efficiency of brain chemicals. It can also promote better sleep. There is some evidence that being active can improve cognitive functioning in older people.

Physical activity has psychological benefits too. It can:

- improve self-esteem

- give you a sense of control over your life

- promote a sense of positive achievement

- help with weight control

- provide opportunities for socialising and making

new friends.

When you factor team sports into the equation, the benefits are even greater, with many life skills developed through the cooperation, resilience, self management and interpersonal skills required.

Despite these benefits we, like schools throughout the country, are seeing a reduction in the number of students taking part in sport. This is something that we would really like to turn around. With over 30 sports available here at Otago Girls’, there is something for every student. If there are barriers to your child taking part please make us aware of them so that we can help. These may be related to finance, transport or lack of knowledge about what is available.

We would like every student in the school to be involved in a sport, whether this be at the top level, or simply playing in a team with friends. Please support us to make this happen.