School swimming

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 14, Issue 676, 4 March 1997, Page 12

School swimming

Raetihi Primary School held both the junior and senior swimming sports last week on Monday and Wednesday. The weather was superb and a large crowd of family and friends came along to cheer and spur their children on. As far as the junior swimming was concemed, the various events were mainly thought up or organised by the teachers to allow the children to show off water skills learnt. Such skills included treadirig water, floating, wa-ter-kicks, balance in motion and breathing correctly while swimming. These skills also help to build confidence and safety in the water. Parents, teachers, care-givers and friends played games and had fun together in novelty fun-like relay events. The senior swimming took place on Wednesday and although there were novelty relay events between students, staff, parents and friends there was also a more serious and competitive edge to things. Events included back-stroke, breast-stroke, freestyle and a relay between 'houses'. Points were gi ven to each competitor for his or her house just for entering and the students yelled out plenty of encouragement to their mates, simply for having a go! The staff won the fun relay between staff and parents tee-shirts, hats, and/or hands down!