Netball
Students in years 4, 5 and 6 have the opportunity to learn netball skills and how to play the game. These sessions are optional and run by staff during lunch breaks. A Bluewater Team is then created to attend the Northern Regions Schools Netball Cup for a one day competition, held in term one of each school year. This is an optional activity and there is no cost for students to participate however parents need to arrange private transport to and from the event.
Rugby league
Students in years 4, 5 and 6 have the opportunity to learn rugby league skills and participate in games throughout the school year. Lunch time training sessions are run by staff and volunteer parents. These training sessions are held to prepare students for a number of carnival events throughout the year. They consist of ball skills, tackling practice, game play and team building activities. As tackling is carried out during these sessions, students must either wear a mouthguard, or have a letter signed by parents giving them permission to train without one.
Bluewater State School enter a team in the Bill Nettle Cup which is a one day competition for boys and girls under 12 years of age. This event is usually held on the last day of term one each year. Parents are required to transport their child/ren to and from the event. Staff supervise and prepare students for games throughout the day and parents are encouraged, where possible, to stay and cheer on the team.
Another competition which we send a Bluewater State School rugby league team along to is the Development Cup which is a night time “knockout” competition for boys and girls under 12 years of age. To continue to the next stage of this competition, the team must win, hence the term “knockout”. This event usually runs during term 2 and 3, and games are held on a Wednesday night at Brother’s Leagues Club. Entering a team into this competition is dependent on student interest. Parents are required to transport their child/ren to and from the event. Staff members supervise and prepare students for the games on these nights.
The Annandale Cup, another rugby league competition which the school participates in, is held on the last day of term three each year. This is a one day event for boys and girls under 10 years of age. Parents are required to transport their child/ren to and from the event. Staff supervise and prepare students for games throughout the day and parents are encouraged, where possible, to stay and cheer on the team.
Throughout the year, Thuringowa rugby league trials are held for students aged 10 – 12 years. These trials are open to all schools in the Thuringowa area including public, private and catholic schools. Each school is encouraged to nominate no more than 5 students for each age group. However, consideration can be given for schools wanting to nominate more with exceptional reasons. Teachers at each school are asked to only nominate those students who have shown outstanding skills in the area of Rugby League. Parents are required to transport their child/ren to and from the trials. Selection in this team does involve costs and travel arrangements which are to be provided by parents.
Rugby union
Students in years 4, 5 and 6 have the opportunity to train and learn Rugby Union skills and how to play the game with teachers during lunch breaks. Those students selected through trials then represent Bluewater State School at the Primary Schools Rugby Union Gala Day which is traditionally held in term 2 of the school year. This is a one day mixed rugby tournament where Bluewater students have the opportunity to play other schools from Townsville and surrounding towns in a competition event. The format is a Round Robin selection with the top two teams playing for the Gala Day Cup. There is no cost involved for students to participate however parents are required to transport or arrange transport for their child/ren to and from this event.
In Term Four, Bluewater State School is involved in the Primary Schools Sevens Evening usually held on one Friday night at the Hugh Street Rugby Union Grounds. The Rugby Sevens teams come together to play games from within the Townsville and District Rugby Union catchment area which includes Ingham, the Burdekin and west to Charters Towers. Players can be formed into teams from primary schools, club teams, companies, like minded groups and families.
Touch football
Students in years 4, 5 and 6 have the opportunity to train and learn touch football skills and how to play the game with teachers during lunch breaks. Students in years 5 and 6 also have the opportunity to play in the BlueStone cup which is a challenge between Bluewater State School and Rollingstone State School, hence the name BlueStone Cup. Two touch football games are played for this event with Bluewater State School hosting the term 2 event and Rollingstone State School hosting the term 3 event.
The school also sends teams to represent Bluewater State School at the White Ribbon Gala Day each year which is traditionally held in term 4 of the school year. This is a one day mixed touch football event where selected Bluewater students have the opportunity to play students from other schools within our region in a competition which concludes with semi and grand finals. There is no cost involved for students to participate in this however parents are required to transport or arrange transport for their child/ren to and from this event.