LEARNING
JUNIOR SCHOOL
THRIVING WINTER PROGRAMME With over 35 competitive teams playing in various sport codes, it’s safe to say that our Diocesan Junior School sports community is thriving. We continue to offer one of the largest sport programmes in Auckland at the primary school level. Over 270 of our students participate in sports during the winter months. The girls are incredibly enthusiastic, and our participation rates are very high. Our winter programme includes netball, hockey, futsal, ski racing, flippa ball/mini polo and gymnastics. Starfish flippa ball girls training with Senior School coaches
‘Most Outstanding Flippa Ball School’ looking to be even better in 2019
Netball girls with Holly Fowler and Senior School student coaches
Futsal by popular demand
Ex-Silver Ferns and ANZ League Super-Stars help out We started our pre-season netball programme with some exciting, fun sessions delivered by ex-Silver Fern Courtney Tairi and ANZ Premier players Holly Fowler, Hannah Ward, Charlie Hodges and Mila Reuelu Buchanan. Holly and Hannah continued to coach our teams in the winter competition league. Some of our girls hit the limelight when Courtney, also a Sky TV Sports presenter, organised a film crew to record our girls in action with these super stars. Our 12 teams are in full swing in the winter competition, with six Years 5 and 6 teams competing at the St Johns Netball Centre and six Years 1-4 teams competing at the Windmill Park Netball Centre in Mt Eden.
Dio Hockey culture passionate as ever! Our hockey programme is led by our very own super star, Kay Anderson, who
Our flippa ball programme is flourishing. As always, it’s a popular option. Our young girls are inspired by our senior Dio water polo prems who are the current New Zealand National Champions. Having won the 2018 award for New Zealand Water Polo’s Most Outstanding Flippa Ball School, we are continuing to refine and improve our junior programme. Our talented senior student coaches have created a vibrant community and our junior girls love it.
Hockey juniors
has many years of experience playing at an elite level and is now passionately coaching our juniors. She is ably supported by her sister, Aprill Anderson, our much-loved Year 5 teacher, who is similarly passionate, accomplished and experienced. Our 12 hockey teams are underway in the winter league and reports indicate great developmental progress, good sportsmanship and some fine results.
Futsal at the Dio Junior School is growing in popularity and, by demand, is now a year-round option. The girls love this fast, exciting, highly interactive code. There is an excellent pathway into the Junior High futsal programme. Our intermediate futsal girls won silver at the National AIMS Games event last year and have been an inspiration for our juniors. Our two futsal teams are competing through the winter months and by all accounts the girls are enjoying themselves immensely, playing some tough competition and developing in leaps and bounds.
Giving back to our programme Over 45 Dio senior students are coaching our juniors in hockey, netball and flippa ball/ mini polo. They collectively provide more than 2,000 hours of service to our junior sports programme. We love the special bonds being built between younger and older students. Our junior girls are part of a wonderful sports community that extends up into the Senior School. DIO TODAY
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