Swimming Carnival

There was a swimming carnival at school today. Prep through grade 2 was the first session, then grades 3-6 went later. Our school was generously given free pool time at a Catholic boys’ school. The events for the young kids were: kickboard, free-style, piggy-back, “running” and peg scramble (grab as many floating clothes pegs as you can and put in your bucket before the whistle). They went width-wise across the pool so it was 10 metres instead of 25. Everyone got a ribbon for everything they did. They accumulated points for their houses. At schools here they kids are assigned to houses (like in the UK or in Harry Potter) – typically they stay in the same house their entire career at a school, and siblings get assigned the same house. So, they are multi-age groups. They get points at events like this and by being well-behaved in assembly, etc. Our houses are named after Aussie birds: Emu, Kookaburra, Rosella and Brolga (Zoe’s). We won’t find out until Monday which house won the swimming carnival. I happen to know that Brolga was ahead when the little kids finished. Shhhh – don’t tell. Zoe got 4th in the kickboard race and 2nd in the free-style race. I was proud of her – she doesn’t do swimming lessons continuously / year-round like a lot of her friends (Aussie parents are very committed to their kids being excellent swimmers – it is such a part of the culture here) but she swims very well – doing nice big arms and breathing well, etc. Good on you (Aussie for congratulations) Zoe! Go Brolga!