The annual SACPSSA carnival program is about developing more than just physical growth for the students who take part.
Every year, thousands of young South Australians from Catholic Education schools across the state come together to take part in the SACPSSA (South Australian Catholic Primary Schools Sports Association) carnival program. With nine programs offered throughout the year for Years 3-6 – cricket, swimming, lacrosse, netball, cross country, touch football, athletics and tennis, as well as a one-day “come and try” event – there’s something for all abilities. “We offer three levels of carnival: mass participation for primary students of all capabilities, a mixture of mass participation and a higher level of competition, and a couple of carnivals in which the best in each year level compete,” says Darren Elliott, SACPSSA executive officer.
And there’s more to it than just the physical benefits. “SACPSSA is one opportunity among a lot of really good physical education teaching run by schools as part of the Australian Curriculum that offers physical and social experiences that are essential for the holistic education of the child,” Elliott says. “There is a lot of interschool mixing, friendships being made and confidence being built.”
This year, around 17,000 Catholic Education primary students are expected to participate in the carnival program. “Lots of children come to more than one carnival each year, so we have a terrific reach,” Elliott says.
For year 7 school captain Billi Nicolson from St Joseph’s Parish School, Gladstone, attending this year’s carnival for the first time has opened her eyes to a new sport – lacrosse. “I play netball, football and basketball but hadn’t done lacrosse until recently,” she says. “It’s nice to try something different and it’s a good team sport.”
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