By Br. Thomas Rice, fsp
Program Coordinator

Aitape Elementary School Sports competition draws to a close.

Friday afternoon on May 18th 2007, saw the ending of the inaugural Aitape Elementary School Sports come to an end.

The programme which was started on March 2nd, was an initiative of the Patrician Brothers Formation Team to address one of the crying needs of the area.

Consultations with the principals and B.O.G. chairmen begun in February, saw the participation of schools such as St. Anna Elementary, Nuku Camp Elementary, Fatima Hill Elementary, C.B.C. Elementary and Romei Camp Elementary.

The programme offered assistance with sports coaching and health development of younger elementary students, whose needs were not being catered for in any other way.

With the plan unanimously accepted, the programme officially began on Friday March 9th. Various games were played such as basketball, volleyball, softball and touch football.

Those involved in the coaching clinics were Brothers John Kauke, Barth Saiworo, Jude Towun and Mathew Aiwe (Patrician Novices); Mr. Valentine Atiou, Mr. Bobby Barry, Mr. Bonny Menai, Mr. Polycap Ganowo and Mr. Ludmer Pindau (Associate Postulants); Mr. Ernest Uom, Mr. David Alukson and Mr. Jimmy Telwetu (Come & See participants).

Competition games were played each Friday afternoons from 2:00pm to 4:30pm.

Congratulations to the dedicated and enthusiastic teachers from each school who gave great encouragement and support to the children who in turn showed a wonderful and joyful spirit of sportsmanship.

On the final day of games, each participating school received a collection of library books and classroom resources. For the Premier Teams, there were medals and ribbons.

These gifts were sent to coordinator Brother Thomas Rice by generous international benefactors including David Sproule Trophies Sydney, Australia. This indeed was an extra bonus and one certainly appreciated by the lucky children.

The successful schools for the season were: Basketball - Nuku Elementary School, Volleyball - Nuku Elementary, Softball - Nuku Elementary and Touch Football - C.B.C. Elementary School.

Preparations are now underway for stage two (2) of the 2007 sports programme. This will be a Soccer Competition catering for young people aged 6 to 14 years of age.

We hope to see the various camps complete and defend the Brother Charles Barry Shield and the Brother Tony O'connor Shield in the June to November season.