Our new junior High School basketball team took a great leap forward this term by signing up for the winter competition run by Basketball Byron at the Cavanbah Centre. They play every Wednesday after school. The team are still looking for some extra players so, if you're a basketball fan, or are keen to give it a try, come along and have FUN. Also, every Thursday from 4 to 5pm there is a free basketball training session at the High School ball court for students from Class 6 to Year 9. We thanks Josie Banens, for donating her time to organise the team.
 Class 4 and 5 students have been enjoying some extra opportunities for physical activity for this term, with gymnastics lessons by Spaghetti Circus. The students have been developing their fundamental movement skills by participating in a range of safe and engaging activities. The lesson plans have been developed by coaches and teachers and are aligned with the newly endorsed Australian Curriculum. They are also lots of fun!
Magnum Brotto PDHPE Teacher  There was sunshine, rain and some fast feet flying around Lennox Head recently, as Shearwater students raced in the NCIS Regional Cross Country Carnival.
It was the first year at a new venue with new event coordinators and the results indicate that Shearwater students approve of the sandy bush track. With over 40 students qualifying and 35 attending the day it was our highest level of participation on record. We had nine students qualify for the state championships, with three podium finishes! Isabella Devitt from Class 5 crossed the finish line 1st in the Girls 11 Year Old 3km race. Not too far behind her was Lani Goodwin in 3rd place. Charlie Heath smashed the Boys 13 Year Old 3km course coming 1st well in front of his competitors. The Year 10 students and parents coordinated a catering tent for the day, raising money for their Vanuatu building project. A great effort for a great cause. Big thanks to Magnum for his enthusiasm and energy training the students before the day, and for some cool and calm coordinating on the day. Thanks to Djuann for assisting Magnum with student supervision. Thanks to Nick for coming early and staying late to help with the set up and pack down, and for sitting out on the track in the rain and mozzies all day. Thanks to Marcella and Nelle from my Year 11 PDHPE class who volunteered their time on the day and to Lee and Paul who travelled down to Lennox to help me with all the heavy lifting! Thank you and congratulations to all competitors, it was great to see Shearwater students competing happily and healthy in an inter-school sporting event. Well done and best of luck to our state runners. Run Shearwater Run! Emma Sweeney PDHPE Teacher  Our Primary School netball team headed north to the regional competition in Tweed Heads last week. Despite being a new team, the 10 players displayed great team work, enthusiasm and maturity. All of the players enjoyed themselves and gave their best while representing the School - a great day all round.
Magnum Brotto PDHPE Teacher  Our new High School basketball teams (junior and senior) headed down to the regional competition in Coffs Harbour last week. Despite an early start and not much experience, both teams were up for the challenge, showing genuine enthusiasm and teamwork across all three games. All the players enjoyed themselves and gave their best while representing the School.
Many thanks to our basketball coach, Year 11 student Monica Brandolini, who was selected to be part of the NCIS basketball team. Well done Monica! Thanks also to Margaret Brandolini and Cameron Gough for all of their help on the day. Next week, the girl's Primary School netball team will also play in the regional competition, in Tweed Heads. We wish them luck and a great experience! Magnum Brotto PDHPE Teacher 
With six excited new Class 4 players swelling their ranks, the Shearwater chess team headed for the Term 1 NSW Northern Rivers Inter-School Chess Tournament at St Johns Woodlawn last week. With the tournament kicking off at 9.00am, our 17 keen intellectuals battled it out strategically until the clocks stopped at 2.00pm. The age-old game gave the students attending a great learning opportunity, taking in new strategies with the losses and fulfilling smiles with the wins. Congratulations to the team on a great day. Beau Devonshire During their PDHPE lessons last year, the now Year 10’s worked towards gaining their Bronze Medallion, an award that is the international benchmark for lifesavers and aims to build knowledge and skills in rescue, personal survival and emergency care. The Bronze Medallion award is a personal achievement that recognises your ability to perform aquatic rescues in a safe and efficient manner.
The Year 9 students last year learnt an understanding of the lifesaving principles embodied in the 4 components of water-rescue education - judgment, knowledge, skill and fitness. The students worked hard, swimming numerous laps, displaying a variety of skills and managing a rescue situation whilst also passing a theory component. Some students gained the Bronze Star which is an excellent preparation for success in Bronze Medallion at a later date. Participants develop problem-solving and decision-making skills individually and in partners. Candidates learn CPR and develop the lifesaving skills needed to be their own lifeguard. We were very proud of the enthusiasm and engagement of the class and congratulate those who gained the qualifications. Emma Sweeney High School Sports Coordinator
Twenty four students from across the school represented Shearwater at the NCIS Regional Swimming carnival at the Alstonville Aquatic Centre at the end of February. The students represented Shearwater in a happy and humble manner, enjoying the competitive buzz. If cheering for your school mates pool side was an event, we surely would have won gold!
A big congratulations to Year 7 student Mika Asherovitch and Oliver Pickering, from Year 9, who both qualified for the CIS State Swimming Championships to be held in Sydney next term. Mika qualified for the Girls 12-13 years 50m Breaststroke and Oliver for the Boys 15 years 50m Freestyle and 50m Backstroke. This is a great achievement and we wish them both well for their big adventure. Thanks to Nick, Magnum and Beau who helped out on the day, and to all the students who committed to participating and competed so cheerfully. Now it's time to pack away the goggles and lace up the runners, for the School's Cross Country carnival to be held at the end of the term. Emma Sweeney High School Sports Coordinator  Blue skies and a hot sun graced our swimming carnival on Tuesday February 12. The High School students started the day off with a splash and we had some great participation, especially from our younger students. Jack Russell won the inaugural doggy paddle while Oliver Pickering swam the fastest lap of the day with a slim 28 seconds for the 50m freestyle.
The Primary students arrived at the pool for the afternoon on a wave of enthusiasm. As the temperature increased, so did the participation level, with the Great Class Race luring many students into the pool. The effort in the pool was matched by those in the grandstand as the younger students eagerly cheered on their peers. A big thanks goes to the Year 11 PDHPE class and the Year 7 student volunteers who were fantastic time keepers, along with our wonderful parent helpers. You all did a very professional job and made the day run smoothly. Thanks also to all the staff who helped out with extra duties, including the maintenance crew who were there from start to finish to help set up and pack up all the gear, along with the PDHPE faculty. Thanks to Craig and his team at the Mullum Pool for having us and thanks to all the students for competing in a fun and friendly manner… even if they didn’t let the staff relay team win. Congratulations to all of the swimmers who qualified for the NCIS Regional Swimming Carnival in Alstonville this Thursday when a team of 35 Shearwaters will be competing against other independent school in the Northern Rivers for a chance to swim at the state titles. We look forward to seeing our students compete in some happy and healthy sporting competition. Stay tuned for further results. Emma Sweeney High School Sport Coordinator    Last week, 11 of our elite Shearwater chess players attended their final interschool chess tournament for 2018, at St Joseph's Primary School in Alstonville. With over six different schools and various age divisions competing, our students showed great talent and exceptional manners in what turned out to be another fantastic social event. Their energy and effort resulted in some fantastic achievements, evidence of their continuous cycle of strategic learning.
Beau Devonshire |
