Term 4 has seen the focus turn to the pool. As part of the PE training, ākonga have been heading to the pool twice a week to learn technique and refine their strokes with Mrs Wilkinson and parent help.

Thursday was a brand new programme layout and started with Room 19, Year 7 & 8 and seniors heading over to the pool first thing to begin lengths and being joined by a handful of students from Romahapa school. Freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly and individual medley were offered to swimmers in 25 metres, 50 metres and 100 meters. Participation was at an all- time high with some great talent emerging from our older students of the school. Seeing students tackle all races and some even so close to each other provided and demonstrated some great tenacity and achievement. The weather was spectacular in the provision of strong winds and rain but thankfully the back of the pool provided a shelter for the sausage sizzle and coffee cart. 

A highlight was the teacher vs student relay. Mr Bloxham, Miss Currall, Nat Harrex and Mrs Wilkinson jumped at the chance to race Kaiyo Nakajima, Jethro Melville, Austin Morrison and Milly Lietze. In a hard fought battle, the students took the win again. The famous house relay took place and was a great way to end the seniors' swim. Manuka has taken bragging rights (again), Nora second and Surat in third.

Juniors joined the party at midday and jumped right in with Room 3 lengths, and then our new entrants and other juniors joining in for egg and spoon races, ring collecting, kicking and fun games.  History was repeated with the junior house relay being won by Manuka, Nora in second and Surat in third. 

Thanks to our fab parents who supported the event, and special mention to Kerri Nakajima and Adele Sellars for joining our teachers and helping to time-keep.

Results were also outstanding again this year with 46 record breaking swims:

R E C O R D S   B R O K E N

Rocco Povey (9 new records) - (Boys 12 and Under) 25m Freestyle, 25m Breaststroke, 25m Butterfly, 50m Backstroke, 50m Breaststroke, 50m Butterfly, 100m Freestyle, 100m Backstroke, 100m Medley 

Milly Lietze (11 new records) - (Girls 12 and Under) 25m Freestyle, 25m Backstroke, 25m Breaststroke, 25m Butterfly, 50m Freestyle, 50m Backstroke, 50m Breaststroke, 50m Butterfly, 100m Freestyle, 100m Backstroke, 100m Medley

Austin Morrison (6 new records ) - Boys 13 and Under) 25m Backstroke, 25m Breaststroke, 50m Freestyle, 50m Backstroke, 50m Breaststroke, 100m Backstroke

Kaiyo Nakajima (11 new records )- (Boys 15 and Over) 25m Freestyle, 25m Backstroke, 25m Breaststroke, 25m Butterfly, 50m Freestyle, 50m Backstroke, 50m Breaststroke, 50m Butterfly, 100m Freestyle, 100m Backstroke, 100m Medley

Amelia Morrison (6 new records ) - (Girls 15 and Over) 25m Freestyle, 25m Backstroke, 25m Breaststroke, 50m Freestyle, 100m Freestyle, 100m Backstroke

Yui Nakajima (3 new records ) - (Girls 15 and Over)  50m Backstroke, 50m Breaststroke, 100m Medley