28th July 2010

DORCHESTER: Pupil's sporting achievements celebrated

by Anita Harries

The last week of term saw Damers First School celebrate a tremendous wealth of sporting achievements among its pupils.

Organised by teaching assistant Lucy Pickersgill, 22 children from the school took part in the Lion’s Club Fun Run. Managing to raise almost £500, with £240 going to the school, each participant received a certificate for their efforts from Headmaster Phil Minns.

And more certificates were awarded to the children from year four who had taken part in an orienteering festival at Dorchester Middle School in preparation for their transition to their new school in September.

This was a great way for them to learn the layout of the Middle School and help them find their way around.

One of the overwhelming success stories of the year had been the Big Dance Project. The whole school, including the staff, had fun learning various dances including the jive and the waltz under the watchful eye of two professional dancers. Teacher Nikki Simmonds had put in some excellent work with the children, producing some truly incredible dancers.

Some of the children from year four took part in a Ballroom Extravaganza at the Ocean Ballroom in Weymouth, dancing in front of a large crowd of people and putting in a first class performance under pressure.

Their achievements were again rewarded by the presentation of certificates.

Damers First School is very fortunate in having its own swimming pool and wonderful tuition from swim teachers Sandra Scott and Debbie Hewitt. In May, the year four Gala Team entered the West Dorset Primary School Gala at the Thomas Hardye Leisure Centre, competing against teams from 15 other schools across West Dorset.

Their hard work and dedication were rewarded when they finished in second place, only two points behind the overall winners.

The girls mixed stroke relay team achieved first place, and Megan finished first in the individual breast stroke.

Going on to compete in the Dorset County Gala, Megan again finished in

first place. Every member of the team received a medal from Mayor of Dorchester, Councillor Leslie Phillips, in recognition of their success. And a special award went to Chelsea Bascombe who overcame her fear of the water, never giving up when she found the going hard, and eventually learnt to swim.

The final presentations in a day of sporting celebration went to the children of the foundation year, the youngest children in the school.

There are two grades of certificate in the Damers Swim Award scheme, with every child receiving one or the other.

These are given to children who can enter the water safely, submerge their faces in water and blow bubbles, and over a distance of five metres travel backwards, forwards and sideways.

One grade is for those who can do so without support or swimming aids, the other for those who need support and swimming aids.

PICTURE: The children who took part in the fun run with their certificates