This day comes around every year to strengthen Whānau hauora and as a warm welcome to the Pakūranga spirit for our new students! Our day commenced when the 100-metre sprint rolled around and signalled the start of our activities. We were divided into Junior, Intermediate, and Senior groups, and we would rotate around separate activities.
The day was filled with fun Whānau cheers and bonding with our fellow pupils, which started at 8:30am in the morning. I had woken up early to take the bus with my friends, and one of them graciously gave me her red pom poms to help cheer on my Whānau even from the sidelines.
We arrived at Lloyd Elsmore and dropped off our bags under our Whānau gazebo, and waited until the call for sprints.
I didn’t partake in the sprints, but my friends did, and I was thrilled to cheer them on. We moved from activity to activity. From long jump to discus to shotput and so on.
The air was sizzling, and so was the competitive spirit when students tried to qualify for finals. I tried to do so for the high jump and discus! I was unsuccessful this year, but there’s always next year.
Congratulations to Pōhutukawa! You clearly won the day with your incredible cheering and participation.
Another thing was that I felt more relaxed. I focused on competing in the activities I didn’t really have time for last year. I was also in Year 9 then, so I wanted to make a good impression on the Peer Support Leaders but still lacked my own cheerleaders and amigos back then.
That was all because I was new, but now I had a good set of friends that I was close with, and I felt like the sun was shining a bit brighter on us. Sure, Athletics Day is about sport and participation, but it helps us bond more with our peers and strengthens our Whānau spirit. My friends pushed me to do the activities with them, and overall, it was much more jubilant this year because of them.
At the end of the day, we gathered around on the far side near the gazebos to prepare ourselves for the Whānau relays. I’d partaken in this the year before for the Junior girls, so I knew what to expect.
Before the day finished, our Peer Support Leaders went around to gather sign-ups for sprints and relays. They approached me, and I debated whether or not to sign up, as I still remember the looming feeling when I raced last year.
I was thinking I wouldn’t do it this year, but fate had other plans. My gracious Peer Support Leaders convinced me, and I put my name down. When the day rolled around, my Whānau Leader told me I was a backup because we already had our set of runners for my year group. That sounded good.
Unfortunately, two girls dropped out, so my friend and I were chosen. I remember we had come second to last, which was mainly my fault as I was the last runner.
One final thank you to the Peer Support Leaders, Whānau Leaders, and teachers! This day wouldn’t have been possible without you guys! Easily another day to go down in Pakūranga’s hall of fame.
Cossar Salesa-Lee, Year 10
