St Patrick’s Cross Country 2023

St Patrick’s Cross Country Event will be held on Tuesday April 4th.

Any cancellation or postponement of the event will be advised via PAM early Tuesday morning. A change of socks, shoes and shirt is recommended in the event of a wet track, as we will run the event in light drizzle.

Students need to wear their full PE uniform with sneakers and may choose to wear a T-shirt in their house colour FLYNN HUNT AHERN BOURKE. NO SLIP ON SHOES or STREET SHOES, and NO SINGLETS. Please see your Classroom teacher if you are unsure of your child’s house colour. They will need to wear their school hat and apply sunscreen prior to the event (available in the classroom but if your child requires their own type please be sure to supply this for them). 

ASTHMA: Students who have an asthma management plan registered at school are required to carry their ventolin and spacer with them and have been reminded to approach a teacher on course for assistance if they need to use it.

All students from Foundation to Year 6 are expected to participate to their own standard. Students have been developing their running skills during PE lessons throughout the term. We have also been discussing the value of “Team Spirit” and various ways students can extend themselves to achieve our whole school goal - “Run all the way without stopping”. The overall goal has been to build running confidence so that students can run consistently all the way without minimal stopping. Each week we have focussed on a different “Tip of the Week” (TotW). These include:

• “Boost a Buddy” - run with someone to encourage each other
• “Break It Down” - set mini goals, markers or checkpoints (eg: run without stopping to the next tree)
• “Countdown” - count steps between points on the track
• “Sing-along” - Sing a song in your head or out loud
• “Track It” use a personal tracker to time
• “Meet It or Beat It” - recall your past personal achievements in the lead up to the event and try to match or beat them
• “Take a Walk” - using a walk/run model

Students have taken advantage of Active Club mornings to practise as well as lunchtimes and suggested running around the backyard, running around a local oval or park and running on the way to school. Efforts by those who have been able to fit some extra running into their weekly schedule is appreciated. 

Students who finish in the top 10 in their age group may have the opportunity to represent St Pat’s at the next level of competition (Pakenham District). Times will be checked to ensure suitable qualification and students are aware that finishing in the top 10 does not automatically guarantee entry to the next event.

Years 3-6 will run DURING THE MORNING BLOCK from 9am-11am.

As Years 3-6 will be running outside the school grounds (using grass areas at the back of the school block) only those students with permission completed on PAM will be allowed out. Any student who does not have permission will still be participating but completing a course of similar length within the school grounds or another suitable aspect of participation in consultation with teachers. Students in Years 4, 5 & 6 will NOT be running in level groups but in age/gender groups as this aligns with the next level of competition. Year 3 students WILL run as a level and in gender groups.

Years F-2 will run AFTER recess from 11:45am-1:00pm (approx.)

These students do not require permission to run as they will be running inside the school grounds.They have also been developing their running skills during PE lessons, focussing on some of the TotW mentioned above.

Students have run sections of the course within the school grounds and have viewed virtual maps during PE lessons. All courses will be well marked with coloured cones and staff/volunteer marshals. Thank you to those community members who have volunteered their time to help. Your help is invaluable and without it the event cannot be completed as planned.

SPECTATORS

There will be a designated Spectator Zone located on the church side of the small oval with access via the pedestrian gate near the D10 portable building (4PA classroom near the church car park). Spectators are not required to sign in but are advised that there will be no further access onto the school grounds during the event time and entry to the track is prohibited for the safety of St Patrick’s students. Exit is via the same gate upon leaving.

Students are looking forward to a fun and exhausting event! 

Keep active!

Louise Breeden