Making a splash at joint swimming carnival

Around 50 students from Bass Coast Specialist School and South Gippsland Specialist School headed to the pool on Tuesday, October 13, for the third annual joint swimming sports carnival.

The event was held at the Bass Coast Aquatic and Leisure Centre and kicked off at 10am.

It gave students from both schools the chance to put their swimming skills, which they’ve been working on all year, to the test.

Bass Coast Specialist School swim instructor Rachel Cullin said students had been going to weekly swimming lessons throughout the year.

“Just watching what the students have worked on all year to then be able to put into a place at the carnival,” she said.

Students took part in events, swimming on their front and back, using modified strokes including freestyle, breaststroke and backstroke, as well as doggy paddle and kicking.

A two-person relay was also on the program, along with a teacher-versus-student race to finish the day.

“It’s a carnival that they can participate in, and all feel equal,” she said.

She said the students had been looking forward to the carnival, especially with parents coming along to watch them show their skills.

The schools wanted the event to be inclusive and give every student a chance to experience a sense of achievement, regardless of their swimming ability.

South Gippsland Specialist School swim coordinator Linda Slabik said that joining their Bass Coast counterparts for the day had become a much-loved event on the calendar.

“It’s amazing that we can bring both schools together, all abilities,” she said.

Ms Slabik said opportunities to participate in activities within the wider community were really valuable for the students.

“It's great for community, good for the students to see, to be able to go to different spaces in the community and to be accepted in that, because that can be a challenge sometimes,” she said.

After the carnival, both groups of students would head to the Bass Coast Specialist School for a barbecue.

Ms Slabik praised Bass Coast Specialist School for organising the carnival and thanked the leisure centre for accommodating the event.

“It's a great, fun day out and we're hoping it will continue well into the future,” she said.