STUDENTS from grades two and up from the region’s small schools gathered at the Gunnedah heated pool on Friday for the annual small schools swimming carnival.
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Pupils and teachers from Carroll Public School, Curlewis Public School, Mullaley Public School and Fairfax Public school swam in a variety of events and cheered each other on.
Reliving Principal of Carroll Public School, Beck Dowe said the carnival “is always a lot of fun”.
“It’s a always a great chance for the kids to interact with other kids from small schools as well as those from their own school as well,” Mrs Dowe said.
“They get to make friends around the community which is always nice.”
Mrs Dowe said the competitions are fun for the teachers as well.
“The teachers always band together and have a lot of fun,” she said.
“It’s nice to be able to share in these events and bounce ideas of each other as well.”
New Mullaley Public School principal Ben Carter said the event provides the students with “great opportunities”.
“Everyone supports each other as they compete and that provides the students an opportunity to take those positive feelings back to school and home as well,” Mr Carter said.
“At the end of the day it’s about every student feeling like they can get in and have a go and that’s really what school sport is all about, having a go.”
Students competed in a variety of events throughout the day with highlights including team relays, medleys and a parents and teachers race.
Mrs Dowe said the students at Carroll Public School will take away a lot of skills and memories from the day.
“Some of our students don’t do swimming lessons so for them to get a chance to have a go is huge,” Mrs Dowe said.
“Some of the kids may have struggled with some things but they got in and had a go which is great and hopefully they will go home feeling great.
“The school year has got off to a great start in Carroll with 26 students enrolled, including nine kindergarten kids, so it promises to be a fun and interesting year which it always is in a small school.”
The winning swimmers from the small schools carnival will next compete in the district swimming carnival later in the year.