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    LEADING THE WAY: Warracknabeal Primary School students, from left, Piper Knorpp, Jaiden Cooksley and Aiden Holland and teacher Rikki Nitschke get set to add to the school’s points tally for School Sport Victoria’s virtual track and field competition. With not long to go, the school leads the pack. Picture: PAUL CARRACHER

Warracknabeal Primary School on track for gold

Warracknabeal Primary School is going for gold in a virtual track and field event designed to make up for a lack of in-person competitions throughout the coronavirus pandemic. 

The school is on top of the table of a ‘school points and ranking based on number of students’ table, leading Lysterfield Primary School by a significant margin.

Warracknabeal is on 509.19 points, based on population, with Lysterfield on 174.96.

Lysterfield is winning the overall ‘school points and ranking’ section on 978, with Warracknabeal third on 776.



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Warracknabeal physical education teacher Rikki Nitschke said the school wrapped up its campaign at the end of last month, although students would ‘keep an eye’ on rankings.

“We decided to pull the pin on it because we have a couple of things coming up, like our school production and school swimming that we want to focus on now in our recess and lunch times,” she said.

“The actual program will probably run through to the end of term, but I’m pretty confident we’re far enough in front that we should still win it at the end. 

“But I have promised the kids we will do another week of it if someone gets close to us.

“The kids are very, very competitive.”

Mrs Nitschke said about 60 students were participating in the virtual competition.

“It has been fun, especially with kids coming back to school and finding it really hard with their friendship groups and getting back in big group environments,” she said.

“To have activities to do at recess and lunch times to help build those relationships has been great and it just gives them something else to do.

“They love it. Being competitive is good, with themselves and with others, and being on top of the ladder is good for our little school.”

– Sarah Matthews

The entire December 8, 2021 edition of The Weekly Advertiser is available online. READ IT HERE!