Flinders victorious in inaugural Junior Primary Sports Day

On a warm, sunny Wednesday, September 24th, Cummins Area School proudly held its first stand-alone Junior Primary Sports Day.

The day began with a vibrant parade, with each team walking behind their house banner, carried by the Primary House Captains. Students then showcased their voices with the national anthem and spirited war cries, setting the tone for the day.

The first session featured four rotation events: Target Throw, Soccer Kick, Long Jump, and Vortex Throw. Each student’s first two attempts were recorded for scoring, after which they enjoyed as many practice turns as time allowed until the buzzer sounded.

Following the tabloid events, excitement built for the 40m sprints, timed by the Year 10 students. A special highlight was Constable Ben, new to the town, who clocked students’ speeds with a speed camera; one runner hitting an impressive 21 km/h!

After recess, the Year 2 students completed the Mini Marathon, designed to prepare them for the longer-distance events at the 3–12 Sports Day next year. Meanwhile, the Year 1s tackled the Egg and Spoon Race with great persistence. Foundation students then paired up with their Year 12 buddies or upper primary helpers for the Three-Legged Race, showcasing plenty of creative running styles.

The track events continued with hurdle relays by year level, followed by energetic participation in Tunnel Ball, Over and Under, and Rob the Nest, before finishing with the Baton Relay. The crowd then gathered for the much-anticipated Tug of War. Miss Indiah’s class triumphed in the Foundation competition, while Mrs Pilgrim’s class took out the Year 1/2 battle. The final showdown saw the teachers claim victory against the parents.

To conclude the day, the house captains joined together for the presentation of results: Annabel Goldsmith and Cody Dreckow (Eyre), Lenny Minhard and Ziggy Minhard (Flinders), and Freya Puckridge and Xavier Bullard (Sturt). After tallying the scores from the morning events, the standings were:

• 3rd place – Sturt, 153 points

• 2nd place – Eyre, 168 points

• 1st place – Flinders, 173 points 🎉

Congratulations to Flinders on a hard-fought win!

Thank You

This day would not have been possible without the efforts of so many people:

• Mrs Phelps’ Year 5/6 students – for scoring and demonstrating events.

• Mr Charlton and the Year 10 class – for running track events.

• Mrs Watson – for marshalling.

• Mr Pedler and the Year 12 students – for their support and leadership.

• Jenna Bellenger – for team lists, program formatting, and photos.

• Cathy and the canteen staff – for keeping families well-fed.

• Mr Wood – for managing the sound system.

• All JP staff (plus Mrs Carr & Mrs Watson) – for early morning set-up, pack up and smooth running of the day.

• School leadership – for encouragement and support.

• Elise Goldsmith – for teaching events, sorting equipment, preparing name badges, and helping develop the program and rules. 

• Parents and grandparents – for their enthusiastic turnout and encouragement.

• Bendigo Bank – whose generous grant allowed us to purchase equipment that will support this day and future school events. This is very much appreciated.

A huge thank you to everyone involved for making the inaugural JP Sports Day such a success!