Sports News

SPORTS NEWS

Lacrosse
Our Year 4 and Year 5 classes have been fortunate to have been offered 5 weeks of Lacrosse training from Timperley Lacrosse Club.
Sessions started in February and on the first week they learned how to scoop the ball up using the three S's - step, squat, scoop movements.
They are looking forward to aquiring further skills as the weeks progress.

Speed Stacking Challenge
During February 2010 our Year 3 and Year 4 children enjoyed a lunchtime session of Speed stacking. They had 6 plastic cups to stack in a 3-2-1 formation and collapse back down. Each child was filmed and the results were entered onto the family of schools network computer by Colin Jones, Schools Sports Coordinator. One of our Year 4 children came 5th out of 450 children from all the other schools.

Football
During October 2009, our boys football team played brilliantly in a local schools tournament-drawing in two games and winning the other two.All the boys taking part showed great team spirit and were a credit to the school.Our girls also took part in a five-a-side played at Blessed Thomas Holford organised by their Year 11s and despite a slow start, soon gained momentum and the final scores were-won 2 games and lost two.

Golf session May 2009
Class 4 enjoyed a free, one-off session of Trigolf when they were instructed on positions, hold and basic skills by Colin, Family of Schools Coordinator at Blessed Thomas Holford Catholic College.

Softball Taster Sessions
During April 2009 a coach from Timperley Sports Club came in to take Class 3 and 4 for a series of taster sessions on how to play softball. The children were taught how to put on the gloves, how to hold the bat correctly and the basic rules of the game. Class 4 will be taking part in a Softball Festival at the end of April and they are excitedly looking forward to the event.

Football Team
On Thursday 19 March 2009, our football team joined a number of other local primary schools for the Trafford 6-aside Tournament which was held at the fabulous astro turf facility at Blessed Thomas Holford Catholic College.

The children really enjoyed the experience and although they unfortunately were not winners, the team had a great time taking part- especially when they were cheered on by many ex St Margaret Ward pupils who came over to encourage their old school!

Multi Sports Club
A reminder that Colin our Sports Coach runs a Multi-Sports Club here at school every Saturday morning 9.30am -11am. This is a great opportunity for children to develop a wide range of sporting skills in a fun way and all children are welcome to attend the sessions that take place on our school fields - the cost is £2 per child or £3 per family. Children of any ability from Year 1 to Year 6 are welcome to take part in this fun packed morning and certificates and medals are awarded at the end of the session

Manchester City Football Training Session
On Thursday 18 October 2008, class 1 and class 2 were visited by a special guest from Manchester City Football Club, much to the delight of Miss and Mrs Cook! Both classes enjoyed a very professional training session, resulting in one of our boys being invited to train formally with the club.

Athletics
On Tuesday 24 June twenty of our junior children joined children from other local schools at the South Manchester Primary Schools Athletics Tournament at Timperley Track.
All the children enjoyed taking part in the running, throwing and long jump events and well done to all who were involved - special congratulations goes to Paige who came first in the 400m race.

Trafford College Sports Roadshow
On 11th June students from Trafford College worked with our Year 3 and 4 children for the morning.They set out different activities for the children to work with and the parachute and giant footballs seemed particularly popular.The session was very well organised and the children enjoyed it tremendously.

Active Mark
We have been working very hard over the last few years to develop sport at St Margaret Ward and we were especially delighted to have been awarded the Activemark last year - our celebrations continue as we have just heard that we have successfully achieved the 2008/9 Activemark!
( The Activemark and the Activemark Gold awards scheme offers primary schools the chance to achieve recognition for its commitment to promoting the benefits of physical activity.)

Football Team
We are fortunate to have professional coaches in twice a week as part of our extra curriculum activities.On Tuesday our junior children train and on Wednesday it is the turn of the children from Year 1 and Year 2 to take part in the coaching sessions.Our boys and girls learn skills and technique and just as importantly, how to play the 'Great Game' in the correct sporting manner.

In recent times our football team have been very successful, gaining a large number of trophies and enjoying a great run of victories in the local league.

Parents are welcomed to all our sporting events and many help with refreshments etc as well as cheering on the side!

Tesco Sports Vouchers for Schools
We have been collecting Tesco vouchers to purchase PE equipment for our school and last year we were sponsored by Tesco on Manor Avenue.They passed on to us any vouchers that their customers didn't want and with their help we raised an amazing 21,000 vouchers.
We have been able to purchase a wide range of outdoor games, toys and sports equipment for children of all ages to enjoy both during PE lessons and at lunchtimes.

Sports Students
A student from South Trafford College comes in two afternoons each week to help our sports leaders at lunchtime, support afternoon PE lessons and help with after school sports clubs.

Swimming
Throughout the year, our Junior children have swimming lessons in the club pool at Sale Leisure Centre. Each term,one class have a weekly swimming session in which they learn the basics of water safety and stroke improvement in small groups, taught by three experienced swimming coaches.Mr Ratchford, our Headteacher , himself a qualified swimming coach, accompanies the children.

After school clubs
In addition to the sports played by the children, we also run a number of other popular activities:

Maths Club
Children from Years 5 and 6 may attend a weekly Maths Club to become involved with challenging and enriching investigations, problems and games. The children have thoroughly enjoyed learning to play 'The 24 Game' and now have regular competitions.

Choir
Our ever popular school choir has seen another increase in numbers and the children enjoy practising for various events throughout the year, ranging from school concerts and plays to the Young Voices at the MEN Arena.

Reading Club
Our Reading Club meets every Tuesday at 12.45 and this term we have read and discussed 'The Twits' by Roald Dahl.All the children who attended thoroughly enjoyed the reading experience and we have also read a range of short stories.Next half term, the children will be starting 'The Chronicles of Narnia' by C.S.Lewis.

Science Club
After our very successful Science Week, our Science Club is about to resume on a weekly basis for Keystage 2 children - more news to follow shortly.