We have had a busy start to the year.
We are finishing the second week of summer sport with our teams participating in the interschool competitions, all while preparing for the upcoming winter season and tournaments. We are very grateful to the staff and parents who are helping support our weekly sporting opportunities.
Last year, we bid farewell to Dot Dixon, who had been our Sports Coordinator for the past six years. We are incredibly grateful for all the time and effort she invested in our students, as well as the countless opportunities she provided during her time with us. We wish her all the best in her well-deserved retirement.
This year, we are excited to welcome Ry Van Keulen to the Sports Office. Please take a moment to introduce yourself and make Ry feel welcome as she steps into her new role. See Ry’s profile in our Welcome to New Staff article.
Monday Volleyball – We currently have seven volleyball teams competing each Monday, and it’s fantastic to see our Senior Boys playing in the Premier Grade this year. The level of competition is higher, but they’re rising to the challenge, and have worked hard over the off-season to get to this level. Our in-school drills/skills sessions are seeing great interaction, with our senior students running these sessions to help develop their skills in preparation for Term 4.
Wednesday Sports
Wednesdays are packed with a mix of sports:
- Touch
- Tennis
- Football 5-a-side
- Canoe Polo
- Small Bore Shooting
- Dragon Boating
Dragon Boating – It was great to get our Dragon Boating team out on the water for the first time this week. There was plenty of energy and enthusiasm, although there will be some sore arms after the first practice. It was awesome to see a full 20-seater boat filled with both experienced and new students eager to get involved. The team is gearing up for the regatta on the 30th March, so there’s lots of training ahead!
Unfortunately, our Hockey 6-a-side team didn’t have enough team entries for an inter-school competition this term.
Archery – Thursday has seen strong interest again this year, with two sessions being held each week to accommodate all the keen students and again it’s great to see so many new faces joining the returning students.
We held a Fencing ‘Have a Go’ session, which was good to see some interest. We’re looking forward to seeing where this could go in the future.
Our Friday Korfball teams are in full swing, with eight teams competing at the Nga Puna Wai Sports Hub each Friday night. It’s fantastic to see such strong interest for this mixed sport, and the teams are really starting to get together.
Winter Sports Trials
We have seen great numbers attending our weekly basketball scrimmages and also the preseason netball, and it’s hard to believe that our winter sports trials are already underway. Our netball trials will be wrapping up this weekend, with Basketball A team trials following next week. Sign-ups for hockey and football are looking great, and there will be more information about preseason training in the coming weeks. All other winter sport sign-ups will be posted on the noticeboard.
School Athletics – Next Week
Our School Athletics Sports are happening next week, and we hope to see some competitive athletes ready to push themselves to the next level. Those who perform well will have the chance to qualify for the Canterbury Champs, and from there, the South Island Champs in Nelson. Best of luck to all our athletes.
Upcoming Events
Senior Boys Volleyball
Mainland Secondary Schools Tournament – 28th-2nd March
Canterbury Secondary School Champs – 14th-16th March
NZ Secondary Schools Nationals – 24th-28th March
Junior A Girls Volleyball
Canterbury Secondary Schools Champs – 14-16th March
Satellite Secondary School Champs – 25th-27th March
Equestrian – Dressage – 19th March
Summer Tournament Week
Golf Canterbury Secondary Schools – 24th March
Cricket Forward Foundation – 26th March
Mountain Biking SISS Champs – 26th-29th March
3×3 Basketball Regional Qualifiers – Senior Girls – 27th-29th March, Dunedin
Skateboarding SSC Champs – 28th March
Dragon Boating Regatta – 30th March
Stay Informed
Don’t forget to keep an eye on the Sports Noticeboard, Kaiapoi High School Sport Facebook page, and School Notices (also available on School Bridge) for sporting updates, draws, and student success. It’s a busy time of year, so stay connected and make sure you don’t miss anything!
