School Sport Newsletter: 

Latrobe Valley 10000 steps Challenge: 

I would like to congratulate the staff of St Gabriel’s for successfully completing the Latrobe Valley 10 000 steps challenge. In total we had 8 teams competing in the competition.  During the 4 week competition St Gabriel’s staff walked a total of 14,166, 235 steps and this equates to 10,794 kilometres. An outstanding achievement.  I would like to congratulate the following staff members who won the school competition: Mrs Quinn, Mrs Aitken, Mrs Mifsud, Mrs Harbridge, Mrs Hunt, Miss Sceny and Mrs Haney they walked a total of 2,440,161 steps. I also believe some adults and past students from our school community also participated in the program. Well done to everyone on your walking program and staying healthy. 

Schools Sporting Grant - Lacrosse 

This term St Gabriel’s were successful in receiving Government funding from the schools sporting grant. Over the last two weeks the students from P-6 have been  coached by a number of  adults in the game of Lacrosse. These adults are from GippsSport who also specialise in coordinating and delivering the Streetgames program in the Latrobe Valley. Please see the flyer attached for more details. Jonah Van Galen from year 6 thought the Lacrosse program was enjoyable because it has multiple skills including throwing, catching and teamwork. Trying to get everyone together and win a match is probably the best thing you can do because you can’t go wrong with teamwork. Please find photos of the students participating in the Lacrosse program.

Sporting Achievement: James O’Dowd ( Soccer)

Over the last month James O’Dowd from year 6 has been training with 40 other  soccer boys from Phillip Island to Bairnsdale in the hope of making the Gippsland Football U13's Club Soccer team. Last week James received notification of successfully making the team of 14 players. The team will compete in Melbourne next year. James' position on the soccer field is either a Left winger or a striker. James will train at the Morwell Falcons Club oval on a Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 5.30pm until 7.00pm. On behalf of the school I would like to congratulate James on his selection in Gippsland Football Club Soccer team and wish them well in the upcoming season in Melbourne. 

Sporting Achievement: Brodie Adams (Basketball)

Brodie Adams recently attended a Gold Nugget Basketball Camp in Bendigo. A total of 74 boys attended this camp after completing a 10 week regional state development program to be selected for this camp. At the camp the boys play games against each other and learn basketball skills and drills from highly skilled coaches . The coaches then picked a team to represent Victoria Country. Brodie received notification the other day of his selection in the U14 Boys Basketball team to play in the County-Metro Challenge in Melbourne, 13th-17th January 2022. This is a high performance basketball tournament where he can potentially be selected to play for the Victorian State team. On behalf of the school I would like to congratulate Brodie on his selection in the Victorian Country Basketball team and wish him all the best in the basketball tournament to be played in January.

Soccer  Presentations - 

Recently the Traralgon City Soccer Club had their presentation night and Kyson Justice and Estelle Marino from Grade 2 Red, received a medal and a team photo. Kyson and Estelle enjoy soccer and Kyson plays in the U/8’s and Estelle in the U/10’s. Both players are looking forward to playing soccer again next season and are hoping to play a full season next year. Fingers crossed !!!

PMP - program 

Every Wednesday the students in Grade Prep participate in a PMP program and they are assisted by the house leaders and some selected year 6 students. Recently the school received modified tennis racquets from Tennis Australia. The students in grade prep were able to use them in the PMP program. Please see attached photos of students using the tennis racquets and hitting the balloon to each other over the tennis net. I would like to congratulate our Year 6 house captains in assisting with the PMP program this year. They have been outstanding models for the younger students of this school and helped them to improve their hand eye coordination and balance. 

AFL Clinic - Year 4 

On Tuesday 22nd November students from Year 4 had a special treat when Paul Vaughan from AFL Gippsland ran a football clinic on the oval at St Gabriel’s. Paul taught the students about the important skills of the game including: kicking and handballing and staying healthy and fit to participate in games. Please see the attached photos.

School Sport Victoria - 2022 ( Individual Tennis)

Next year on Friday 11th March the Individual Tennis Tournament for School Sport Victoria  (Division level) will be played at the Traralgon Tennis Club from 9.00am until 1.00pm. This competition is for students aged 10-13 years old. If your child is interested in playing in this tournament can you please email me on the following address: dhogan@stgtraralgon.catholic.edu.au 

Sporting Achievement:

Jonathan Cullen ( Football)

Jonathan Cullen in Year 6 has been training the V-Squad and this stands for a Victorian Football Academy Squad. Jonathan stated that over 2000 students are involved in the program. The students involved train in Melbourne, Geelong, Traralgon and other places in Victoria.  Jonathan said “One of his coaches in the program is Scott Lucas who played for the Essendon football club. Scott is a tall person and is a great coach.” All the participants in the program received a kit and included a football, a drink bottle, a folder, socks, shorts and a t-shirt. The program is for 2 years and Jonathan is very excited about what the journey brings for him. On behalf of the school I would like to congratulate Jonathan on his selection in the V-Squad and wish him all the best in his football journey. 

Sierra Colantuono ( Soccer )

Sierra has been selected to play for Southern United U13's girls soccer team in Melbourne.  Around 25-30  girls from all over Southern Melbourne and Gippsland tried out for the team. The trials were held at Cranbourne and Sierra had 4 training sessions. Recently Sierra was notified  by a letter that she had made the team. Sierra is the only girl from Traralgon to have made the team.The competition is called the National Premier League and is the highest level you can play in Victoria. Sierra will be training 3 times a week at Cranbourne and Sierra stated that “ she likes soccer because it is fun, keeps you fit and you get to meet new people”. On behalf of the school I would like to wish Sierra all the very best in the upcoming soccer season with Southern United in the National Premier League.

Alex Smith ( Baseball)

Alex Smith who earlier this year missed out on playing for Victoria in the National Baseball Competition to be played in New South Wales has recently made the Melbourne Junior League Academy. From this Academy a team will be selected to play against other teams from around Victoria. The top two teams from this competition will then go to the national competition and play against the best teams from all around Australia in 2022. Alex has started training with the academy  twice a week.  On behalf of the school I wish Alex all the best in his selection for the Melbourne Junior League Academy and the competition that commences in 2022.

Sporting Calendar Dates for 2022.

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