Simon (Red House) emerged victorious at the latest edition of the Bishop Charles Gachet RC Primary School track meet, held at the Mindoo Philip Park on Wednesday. The champions finished with 401 points, followed by Quinlan (Green House) with 344 points and George (Blue House) with 238.
School principal Alison Lewis explained in an exclusive interview with St Lucia Times that the meet serves as more than just a sporting event for students. She said it is designed to support their extracurricular development.
“Sports build character,” she said. “You have teamwork, which is necessary. You have the children who train. Apart from working with a team, you have children working at their individual best. You have students who, probably, academically, they’re challenged. However, on the track, they can make it.
“Now, when you build that confidence in a child, it will naturally translate to the classroom. Because once I can do something and I can get a win in one area of my life, it makes it easier to take that same character and put it into the other areas of your life.”
Lewis applauded the engagement and participation of parents, who filled the stands to show their support for the student athletes.
“They’re coming to support their children, and they’re also coming to help in the supervision. Because we have a small staff, and of course, they’re divided. So I have a staff member as the MC, I have my PE teacher as the meet director, and we have people all over the place who’re in the kitchen. Because even for staff, this is also a team event.
“So we have to work together to ensure that the meet is successful. So parents come, and they play a dual role. They’re there to supervise, and they’re also there to cheer on the athletes,” Lewis said.
Facilitators are confident that this activity will continue to develop the youth both on and off the field of play.
