KNYSNA NEWS – Knysna Primary School was able to give its learners a much-needed taste of normality last week by incorporating the annual Vooma Derby into their school programme for the week.
Traditionally, KPS held the Vooma every year as the school's very own soapbox derby - a grand and festive affair with family and friends flocking to the event for a day of great fun, complete with food stalls and a carnival atmosphere.
This all changed with the outbreak of the Covid-19 virus last year, which saw the suspension of all physical school activities countrywide.
The suspension was perpetuated in many forms to the present day, with only temporary moments of respite when school sport saw short-lived returns. It also meant that many schoolchildren went without physical school activity for over a year.
To offer the children some exercise and fun, KPS elected to dedicate one period of the children's daily timetables between 26 and 28 May to the Vooma Derby.
Morgan River enjoys their turn at steering the kart.
The school set up a track marked by tyres around its sport fields and the days were split up based on grades and phases. The junior phase (Grades 1 to 3) enjoyed their time on 26 May while the senior phase (Grades 4 to 7) had its turn on the track on 27 and 28 May.
This was done to ensure that the necessary social distancing could be enforced, and the learners' academic programmes were not negatively affected.
Migael Nel. Franco Kloppers, Liyakhanya Mtwa, and Ayanda Ndlovu got the Grade 7 race going on Thursday.
During the races the grades were split up between two teams (English and Afrikaans classes) and children were required to wear their masks at all times. At every 'pusher' change-over point, children stood on separate tyres to allow for social distancing, and their hands were sanitised before and after their turn to push the kart around the track.
When it came time for a pit stop and driver change, the karts were sanitised too, along with the children's hands once again.
All in all, the children had a blast and enjoyed some much-needed fun on the sport fields.
Jady Flippies (back, left) and Lulonke Frans (back, right) power along for the Grade 6 English class with Josephine Zgambo at the wheel.
Lamar Abdulkadir pushes Bradyn Jacobs along. Photo: Blake Linder
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