Friday Interschool Sport (Years 3–6)

Every Friday afternoon from 1:30pm to 3:00pm, students in Years 3–6 play interschool sport in the Northern Districts Primary Sports Association (NDPSA), a competition of eight local primary schools. Every student plays – there are no spectators on the sideline – and the emphasis is on participation, fair play and representing St Mary's well. Prep to Year 2 students have their own Friday afternoon program of PMP (Perceptual Motor Program) and Fun Fridays run by their classroom teachers and Mrs Jo Kaminski.

Seasons and sports

Students nominate three preferred sports on the Parent Portal in the fortnight before each season begins. Each sport fields mixed or single-gender teams depending on numbers, with separate Year 3–4 and Year 5–6 divisions. Basketball is offered in both seasons because the Sports Centre gives us the courts to do so.

2026 remaining fixtures

Team selection

Teams are chosen by the Junior Sport Coordinator and PE staff in the first week of each season, taking into account student preferences, a fair spread of ability in each team and NDPSA rules on team sizes. Most students receive their first or second preference. Students in the same year level are not guaranteed to be in the same team as their friends. Selection is not by trial in Years 3–4; in Years 5–6, short trials are held on the Friday before the season for sports with more nominations than places. Team lists are posted on the Learning Hub and outside the Junior Office.

What to wear

Students wear the full St Mary's sport uniform on Fridays: navy and gold polo, navy shorts (or sport tracksuit in Terms 2 and 3), white socks and predominantly white runners. Navy wide-brim hats are compulsory in Terms 1 and 4. Team-specific items are supplied by the College and returned at the end of the season:

• Netball: bibs (students provide their own runners; no mouthguard required but recommended)
• Football: St Mary's guernsey and a mouthguard – compulsory; boots are optional
• Soccer: shin pads – compulsory; boots optional
• Cricket, tennis, volleyball, rounders: all equipment supplied

The sport uniform is only to be worn on Fridays and on the student's timetabled PE day. See Sport Uniform and Uniform Shop.

Venues

Home games are played at St Mary's on the Main Oval (football), Lower Field (soccer), Sports Centre (basketball, volleyball) and the netball and tennis courts beside the Junior gate. Away games are played at the other NDPSA schools: Wattle Creek Primary, St Brigid's Hillview, Riverbend Primary, Kingsley Park Primary, Holy Family Ferntree Rise, Old Mill Road Primary and Sacred Heart Wattle Creek. All venues are within 15 minutes of the College.

Transport and permission

• Students travelling to away games go by College bus, leaving at 1:05pm and returning by 3:15pm. Transport is covered by fees; no per-trip cost applies.
• A single NDPSA season permission form covers all fixtures. It is completed on the Parent Portal at the start of each season and must be submitted before a student can travel.
• Parents are welcome to watch at home or away venues. If you wish to collect your child directly from an away venue at 3:00pm, submit the "Collect from venue" request on the Portal by 3:00pm Thursday; the supervising teacher will sign your child out to you in person.
• Parents driving other people's children is not permitted under our Excursions and Camps Policy.

Wet weather and heat

Sport is cancelled if the 9:00am Bureau of Meteorology forecast is above 35°C, on Total Fire Ban days, or if grounds are unsafe after heavy rain. The decision is made by 11:30am and posted on the Portal with an SMS to Years 3–6 families; students then have House sport or indoor activities at school. Light rain does not cancel football or soccer, so please pack a spare pair of socks in winter. See Extreme Weather and Cancellations.

Students who cannot play

Students who are injured or unwell still travel with their team to score, umpire or support, unless a parent asks in writing for them to remain at school. Students with a medical exemption for a season should provide a note to Mr Ruiz.

Coaching and volunteers

Teams are coached by classroom teachers and PE staff. Parents with a current Working With Children Check are very welcome to assist with umpiring or scoring – see Volunteering and WWCC. NDPSA results and ladders are published in the fortnightly newsletter and at Friday Assembly. For further sport information across the College, visit Sport Overview.