The Mt Roskill Schools Sports Cluster (in consultation with Sport Auckland) have recently completed a major review of our annual Zone Sports schedule. The results and what it means for Three Kings School are explained below.

The review, which included a survey gathering student voice from almost 800 local Year 4-6 students, stemmed from a desire for Primary School sports to be aimed at providing opportunities for participation in a variety of sports and activities with their friends and peers. This would enhance their health and well-being and set them on a path where they enjoyed sports and wanted to continue to participate into adulthood. 

Here at Three Kings, we have seen very clearly the benefits of this approach, with huge numbers of Year 5-6 children wanting to participate in orienteering, football (unfortunately cancelled due to the weather) and basketball since returning from Covid restrictions.

There were also concerns from schools at the number of Zone events in an already very busy school calendar. As a result of this review, the cluster has implemented a draft 2-year cycle of Zone sports events, with two events to be held each term (including provision for one scheduled rain day for each). Some popular events, such as football and basketball, will be held every year and others every two years. These events were chosen from the sports that most children wanted to participate in, as well as some non-traditional sports that allowed for greater variety, participation and cultural responsiveness. In term 4, the two Zone events will be Ki-o-rahi and Athletics. In 2023, events will include sports, such as cricket, volleyball and rugby/rippa.

Zone Swimming and Cross Country events were not able to be held this year, due to Covid restrictions and the new schedule. Despite this, we decided to fit Three Kings School events in these sports into our term calendar. In future, the plan is to integrate competitive Cross Country races with our new, whole-school, ‘Fun Obstacle Course’ event. This approach is one that many of schools in the Mt Roskill Zone and around NZ are now taking, based upon principles outlined in this PENZ position paper. Our Student Leaders are taking this initiative forward and are working towards a date in Term 4. More details will be announced as their exciting plans are finalised!

To find out more about ‘Good Sports’ follow this link: https://balanceisbetter.org.nz/making-sense-of-youth-sport/