SJA Sporting News

At the start of this half term, we saw new sports captains elected for each house. Congratulations to Blanche (Fleur de Lys), Leopold (Benedict), Sam (Domremy) and Azara (Rouen). The captains positions are very well deserved and they will be working hard promoting school sport, PE and physical activity this year.

Islington Cross Country Champs

On Wednesday 24^th September, our year 4, 5 and 6 cross country team (consisting of 90 children!) raced over 1500m around Highbury Fields. The children had worked very hard training and trialling at school to be selected for the team. We were excited to compete against the rest of the borough and the team should be very proud of their efforts on the day. We had great team successes with our year 4 and year 6 teams both coming 3^rd and being rewarded with bronze medals. Our year 5 team were unbeatable on the day and won gold medals. We also had some brilliant individual performances: Florence came 4^th in the year 4 girls’ race, Michael came 3^rd in the year 5 boys’ race, Cara came 4^th in the year 5 girls’ race, Blanche came 4^th in the year 6 girls and Leopold came 5^th in the year 6 boys’ race. Most notable of all were Dominic who came 1^st in the year 5 boys’ race, retaining his title from last year, and Milan who bettered her 2^nd place last year and came 1^st in the year 5 girl’s race. Our year 5 and 6 runners mentioned above have been selected to represent Islington at the London Youth Games Cross Country Championships in November. We wish them the very best of luck in this!

Football House Tournament

This year all the juniors have the opportunity to compete for their house in our house sports championships. Every half term will see a different sports tournament held and organised by our sports captains. Last Thursday and Friday, we had lots of fun playing our year 3 and 4 football tournament and year 5 and 6 football tournament. The children played in 6 a side games and showed excellent sporting behaviour. Well done to Otto in year 4 who was chosen as a player of the tournament showing ‘head, heart and hands’ qualities such as resilience, positive communication and courage. Congratulations to Rouen who won the 3 and 4 tournament and Fleur who won the 5 and 6 tournament! We are very excited to play our next house tournament of tag rugby in December and for a year of enjoyable interhouse sport.

Sports Clubs

Miss Campbell and Miss Newman have started a girls’ athletics club for years 3-6 every Thursday morning. So far, the girls have worked hard on their fitness and agility and are impressing their coaches! Over the term, the girls will get to experience a range of track and field athletics events from long distance running and relay sprinting to speed bounce and foam javelin. After half term, there will be a new girls’ football club starting at lunchtimes for years 1-6. We are very lucky to have both a professional coach and parent volunteers making this possible. As with all our new lunchtime clubs, children are encouraged to sign up in class by their teachers.  We hope to encourage mass participation and for the girls’ to improve their skills. Please note, if your child is attending a sports club, they must bring appropriate trainers to wear. Lastly, boys and girls in the juniors have been enjoying a netball club every break time run by KS2 teachers. The children are improving their skillsets and learning the rules of netball. Well done to all those children attending a sports club – you have been brilliant!