We are very proud of our sports teams, and offer sporting opportunities in both winter and summer. It is our belief that participation in a range of team sports promotes a sense of belonging, self-belief, healthy competition and achievement that complements our children’s successes in the classroom.
At St Mark’s we offer our students a large range of options for developing their interests and skills outside the classroom. This includes sports teams, performing arts clubs, itinerant music lessons, choirs, bands, and a number of other clubs and activities. These activities all complement our classroom learning, helping our students to broaden their horizons and develop life-long passions.
Sports Teams
Summer Team Sports: Terms 1 & 4
Water Polo and Mini Polo
Water Polo is a popular sport at St Mark’s School. Students in Years 7 and 8 play on Monday evenings during Term 1 at Kilbirnie Aquatic Centre. Mini Polo is the precurser sport to Water Polo and is offered to students in Years 5 and 6. All Mini Polo games are played at Kilbirnie Aquatic Centre on Friday evenings during Term 1.
Junior Netball
We offer both Junior and Senior netball programmes at St Mark’s. Junior netball is for students in Year 1 to Year 4 and is run during the summer terms (Terms 1 and 4). All games are played on a Saturday at the Evans Bay Intermediate School Netball Courts in Kilbirnie.
Touch Rugby
Touch rugby is a fast, safe, non-contact sport that is becoming extremely popular at St Mark’s. It is played by boys and girls in Years 3 to 8. All games are played on artificial turf at Wakefield Park on Wednesdays after school during the summer terms.
Winter Team Sports: Terms 2 & 3
Basketball and Miniball
Miniball is a junior version of basketball, with modified rules and lowered hoops. It is available to both boys and girls in Years 3 and 4. From Year 5, students play basketball. Miniball and Basketball games are all played at ASB Sports Centre in Kilbirnie.
- Year 3/4 Miniball games are played on Tuesday nights
- Year 5/6 games are played on Monday nights
- Year 7/8 games are played on Wednesday nights
Netball
Senior Netball teams play during the Winter (in Terms 2 and 3). We provide our students with access to the very best netball facilities, with specialist coaching and training at the ASB Sports Centre which means we are not beholden to winter weather. We also offer a Year 7 & 8 development programme which runs for four weeks, commencing early in the season.
All Senior Netball games are played at EBIS in Kilbirnie Wellington on Saturday mornings, in Terms 2 and 3.
Fixture Sports
In addition to our regular team sports, St Mark’s School also both hosts and visits other independent schools and local primary schools for various inter-school sports fixtures during the year.
Summer Codes: Cricket (we currently have a 1st XI team for Year 7 and 8 boys, a Cricket 8 team for Year 7 and 8 girls and the Colts team for Year 5 and 6), Tennis and Touch Rugby.
Winter Codes: Football, Hockey and Netball.
Students in Years 5 to 8 are encouraged to take part in at least one of these sports. Trials are held for team selections.
Whole School Sports Events
During the year St Mark’s School has three major sports days involving the whole school: cross country, swimming sports, and athletics. Students can earn House Points at all these events, which are totalled up to give us a winning House. This makes the events very competitive and fun!
Cross Country
Taking place in Term 2, our cross country event is held at Liardet Park (Years 4 to 8) and Wellington College Field (Preschool to Year 3).
Students in Years 4 to 8 run the Central Zone Cross Country course, and the top 5 runners from Years 4 to 8 will be chosen to compete at the Central Zone and thereafter Inter-Zone competitions.
Swimming Sports
Our annual School Swimming Sports are held in Term 3 at the Wellington Regional Aquatic Centre in Kilbirnie. It is always a fun-filled, competitive event with children earning house points for participation in each race as well as points for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd placings.
Students in Years 4-8 are chosen to compete in Central Zones based on their placing.
Athletics
Athletics Day is held every year in Term 1 in Newtown Park. Children practice for the event at school during Term 3 and are usually raring to go by the day itself. Every child participates in each event: 100m sprint (60m sprints for Years 3 and 4), long jump, high jump, discus, shot put, vortex throw, and quoit throw.
All events and positions are worth House Points which are totalled up to give us a victorious House for Athletics Day!
Students in Years 4-8 have the opportunity to compete at a higher level at the Central Zone and thereafter Inter-Zone competitions, for those who are placed in the top 3 of each event.
Other Sports Clubs
Running Club
Our before-school Running Club is very popular and is a great way to start the day and keep fit. Runners meet on Thursday mornings before school, usually choosing a local run, which may include the bush tracks of Mt Victoria or a run down to Oriental Bay. Alternatively, the group will do a circuit class in the School Hall if the weather turns.
