SPORTS WEEK 2024

With the Olympics taking place this month, the aim of our Sports Week was to reflect the sports that will be contested by Olympic and Paralympic athletes in Paris

MONDAY

Year 6 headed to the park to play beach volleyball whilst Early Years practised their balance bike riding skills with a circuit on the playground and team relay races. Years 2 to 5 were testing their fitness with regular Sports Week visitor, Chris from Fit Kidz, moving around a circuit of functional fitness equipment including tyre flipping, battle ropes and Bosu balls. Meanwhile, Year 1 enjoyed fun and games on the field with the parachute.

For eight lucky children, plus Mrs Paine and Mrs Fitzpatrick, their Sports Week experience started with a visit to Wimbledon to take their seats on No. 1 court for day 1 of the championships. The group, who picnicked on Henman Hill, were able to watch a men's singles and ladies' singles match before returning home. We hope their many questions about the game and the championships were answered and that this trip has grown their enthusiasm to both play and watch tennis.

TUESDAY

Early Years were treated to an Olympic themed yoga session with Mrs Childs. Poses and actions were based around a number of different Olympic and Paralympic sports including surfing, power lifting and equestrian.

With Sports Week also coinciding with the Euros, football featured on Tuesday although in a very different format - freestyle football. Ash Randall, freestyle footballer and Guiness World Recorder Holder, demonstrated his skills and creativity to pupils in Years 1, 2, 3 and 5 before teaching them some tricks. Year 4, guests of St Albans School, were out at Woollams Playing Fields participating in a circuit of activities led by the school's PE department as part of their annual 'Fun and Fitness' morning. Both Ash and regular Sports Week visitor, Mike Mullen, shared messages about the importance of resilience, encouraging children to keep on trying as well as learning from their failures. Year 6, who were BMX biking with Mike, six times Halfpipe Champion, definitely moved out of their comfort zones as he challenged them to try various skills with a mild, hot or spicy rating. The children amazed themselves by how well they did, having the courage to go through their fears.

WEDNESDAY

Wednesday was dedicated to the Paralympics and we were fortunate to have two athletes in school who have represented GB. Emma, a visually impaired athlete who both plays and coaches Goalball, delivered workshops to Year 4. Shot putter Ness, who competed at both the Rio and Tokyo Paralympics, was part of the team from Herts Disability Sports Partnership who worked with Years 1, 5 and 6. Year 1 experienced curling and seated volleyball with Years 5 and 6 rotating between handball and wheelchair basketball. Mrs Paine organised Boccia games for Years 2 and 3. The children were quick to understand the rules but found it more of a challenge to stay seated as we tried to replicate the experience of Boccia athletes who are all wheelchair users. Reception and Year 1 were kept busy by new after school tennis club provider Let's Go! Tennis with skills and tennis team games.

The Daily Mile Colour Challenge

Years 1 to 6 also completed their half termly Daily Mile Colour Challenge, a collective team effort to see which team can run the most complete laps per runner over a period of 8 minutes. Well done to the Green house colour team who managed an average of 6.25 laps per runner. The Orange house colour team weren't far behind with an average of 6.05 laps, which equates to approximately 1200 metres.

Blue	5.59 laps
Green	6.25 laps
Orange	6.05 laps
Purple	5.3 laps
Red	5.66 laps
Yellow	5.88 laps

The challenge also allows us to see how year groups are performing and it has been good to see year groups making term on term improvements. Year 1 improved from 4.25 to 5 laps on average per runner from the start to the end of the year. At the top of the school, Year 6 managed to improve from 6 to 6.6 laps. We will continue to encourage the children to take advantage of their Daily Mile running opportunities to build their physical fitness and stamina and to promote positive mental health.

With Thursday and Friday disrupted by the General Election and the rain, Sports Week became Sports Week Plus with activities spreading into the next week!

Monday

Years 3 to 5 were treated to workshops in a new Olympic sport - Breaking. Cassi taught the children a routine which included moves such as the helicopter. The weather held out for Early Years who participated in their Sports Day on the field, moving around a circuit of activities before finishing with running races. Thank you to the Year 4 and 5 Sports Ambassadors who helped to run the carousel activities and to the many parents, grandparents and younger siblings who came to spectate.

As always, we hope Sports Week has provided our pupils with new and inspiring experiences, encouraging them to value the importance of being physically active.

Prae Wood Primary School