PLAYGROUND and LUNCHTIME FUN
Each day children are able to go into the library at lunchtime and play indoor games. The school has a wide selection of these which suit all ages and children love to play them.
The ICT suite is also open each lunchtime for children to use. They may have research work or project work to complete or they may wish to to play games. All our internet games are vetted as suitable for children's use.
In term 2 and 3 Mrs Watson runs the lunchtime chess club. This is open to all children who are interested and there is a chess ladder, competition running. There are over 40 regular participants and our keenest students can get the opportunity to be selected for the interschool chess competition, the out door chess board is currently not accessible because of the building work in that area.
Each lunchtime two duty teachers are responsible for organised sports options and any child can participate in these games and events. On wet days this programme is run in the hall. Examples of activities that are provided are flags, T ball, indoor hockey, netball and jumpjam. These activities are notified to students through daily notices.
Teachers and parents are often providing a coaching time for their teams over lunchtime. Those children who opt into teams are notified by their coaches of the arrangements for this. Teaching staff involve in sports coaching are Andrew Peart, Amanda Jacobs and Lynette Towsend.
All children can take sports gear out from the Phys Ed shed to play their own games on the turf, on the top courts and on the field.
Children have free access to all playground areas and we have trained senior leaders as peer support. They are out in the playground helping children to work well together and respect each others needs. Two of these leaders are always around the sand pit area which has a high student use on most days.
Duty teachers patrol each area of the school over breaks and ensure that children are actively managing themselves and are participating in positive ways. Teacher aides are also outside supporting special programmes students as they interact and join in with the playground fun.
Our keen gardeners a group of about 20 meet on Friday lunchtime to work together around our enviro themes particularly in veggie village.
For the more musically inclined the specialist choir practices at lunchtime and we will have ukulele group starting in term 3.
Making friends, being a friend to others and learning to play co operatively is a major life skill that we seek to develop through our fun playtimes and lunchtime activity programmes.
There is lots to chose from and lots to interest the range of ages. Our junior school has just asked for more playground games marking, for an outdoor blackboard and for access to drawing activities outside. The senior school has asked that the top courts be resealed. Other classes have further ideas to enhance our playground environment. We think that is exceptional that they are coming up with the ideas. SO in term 4 we are going to fund raise with the help of the children and the PTA so that these wishes can come true.
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