St Patrick’s Cross Country 2022

St Patrick’s Cross Country Event will be held on Friday March 25th.

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. Classroom teachers are able to check house colours if you are unsure.

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” to encourage each other to “meet or beat” our goals. 

The overall goal has been to build running confidence so that students can run consistently all the way without stopping. They have been encouraged to take advantage of Active Club mornings to practise as well as lunchtimes. Students have also suggested running around the backyard, running around a local oval or park and running on the way to school. I appreciate and thank those families who have supported students to fit some extra running into their weekly schedule.

Whilst there is the opportunity to represent St Pat’s at the next level of competition (Pakenham District) not everyone has the ability to achieve this level. Students have been encouraged to work on improving their individual skills and shifting their mindset to achieve success. This will look different for all students, but some of the things we have spoken about include:

• using a run/walk model (some will call it “50/20”)
• run with someone of equal ability to encourage each other
• set markers to run to (eg: run to the next tree)
• count steps between points on the track
• sing your favourite song
• use a personal tracker to time
• recall your past personal achievements in the lead up to the event and try to “meet or beat” them

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) they will be required to respond to a permission note on PAM. This note will be posted in the coming days so please look out for it. Any student who does not respond by the due date or declines will still be participating but completing a course of similar length within the school grounds. 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 11:30am-12:50pm.

These students will 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.

I will also require assistance from a few parents/carers for the morning session. A note will come through PAM for this. 

Lastly, in exciting news, parents will be able to watch the event this year. There will be a designated Spectator Zone, and spectators are asked to follow all necessary requirements regarding vaccination status, wearing of masks and/or social distancing.