PR E PA R ATORY S C HO OL
Dolphin Swimming Carnival
There was much excitement at the Preparatory School swimming pool
in Week 5 of Term 1 as the Dolphin Swimming Carnival took place. This
annual event is eagerly anticipated by all Year 1-3 students and it provides
an opportunity for everyone to showcase their swimming skills to family
and friends in a fun, supportive environment.
All students participated in at least two events and the smiles on
everyone’s faces as they completed their events told a wonderful story of
enjoyment. It was fantastic to hear the deafening cheering and clapping
coming from family, friends and the Quarter bays as everyone supported
and encouraged our young swimmers.
The support for the inaugural staff event, the “fairy splash & dash”, was
wonderful too and it was great to see staff having as much fun in the
water as the students!
Thank you to everyone for your support on the day. We look forward to
welcoming you back to next year’s Dolphin Swimming Carnival.
Mrs Katherine Stevens
Preparatory School Physical Education Teacher
Breaking all the records
in the pool!
My love for swimming goes as far back as when I was a
baby. I always loved being in the swimming pool. I spent a
lot of time learning to float in the water, and was actually
swimming by the age of eighteen months. This passion has
always remained with me. I attended formal swimming lessons
at Altone Swim School and completed my last level (14), by
the age of 8, along with my Junior Lifesaving certificate.
Following Altone, I decided I would like to join the School swim
squad, which I successfully did, entering into Dolphin level. Now
I am finishing Sharks and moving up to age development. I train
four days a week, up until 6.00pm, and swim four kilometres
each session. I try to train at any other opportunity, as homework
allows, whether that be at home, at my grandparents or at the
beach. It’s very important to train often.
Being a part of school swimming allowed me to be invited to
join the Guildford and Kalamunda Districts Swimming Club. This
club allows me to compete in many competitions against other
WA clubs and gives me the opportunity to qualify and race in
State Championships and Premierships each year. My swimming
also involves inter-school swimming and triathlons, representing
Guildford Grammar Preparatory School. My coaches train me hard
and encourage me, and my team supports me, to help me succeed.
I enjoy all four strokes in swimming, but freestyle and butterfly are
my favourite and strongest styles. Butterfly is probably the most
demanding, but I have developed a natural ability in perfecting it.
Freestyle allows me to perform with speed, which gives me a real
adrenaline rush. In time, these are the two strokes I would like to
specialise in.
My aim for the Year 6 swimming carnival was to do my very best,
to win for North. I competed in all four strokes and the medley,
winning all events. I really wanted to break the School swimming
records this year, with the extra training and clear focus I had. With
my ambition, I managed to break the freestyle and butterfly records
which hadn’t been broken in fifteen years. When I had finished my
races and the timekeepers gave me my times I knew I had done
it! When Mr Budler announced that the records had been broken,
I was so excited. The crowds were cheering and my friends were
jumping up and down with me. I felt so proud.
I felt that I had achieved what I set out to do. My coach, Val, helped
me improve my style, speed, and my determination to excel, which
got me there. Just as important is the ability to overcome nerves
and have a positive mental attitude.
The future is all about becoming professional, so my school work
and academic results are my main focus. At the same time, I would
like to continue at State level and even be good enough to qualify
at Olympic level. Time will tell…
Ryder Attwood-Faudet 6T
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