KICK-OFF DAY!
It’s 6.30am on a Saturday morning.
Parents and students are rolling into St Gabriel’s Primary School for its own version of the UEFA Euro 2024 football tournament.
550 parents
265 students
34 teams
76 matches
3 pitches
equals…
1 entire day of non-stop fun!
From setting up registration booths
to preparing trophies, medals and souvenirs
and prepping the students for the match.
Parents turn into football coaches, team managers and referees for the day, putting weeks of hard work into practice.
Any Primary 3 to 5 boy could take part in the tournament and represent his house. The students just had to put their hand up for training.
Pep talks…
Reminders…
and more pep talks…
Then the kick-off whistle goes off, and the rounds of matches begin to much fanfare!
Non-stop action
Non-stop cheering
Non-stop hydration and snacks
St Gabriel’s Primary organises these events when the World Cup or UEFA European championships come along and the school is hit by football fever.
Parent volunteers then rally for student players and start training and organising the whole event.
So who won?
The students?
“We look forward to winning as well as making friends with people from other classes so we can have a stronger bond and friendship.”
Kaelen Lin, Primary 3 student
The teachers?
“It’s not about the competition; it’s really about enjoying football and building good sportsmanship and character development.”
Mr Jimmy Tong (Head of Department for Physical and Health Education and CCA)
Or the parents?
“The students are really raring to go. And it’s important for the parents to step in and encourage them. And to push them a bit so that whatever they do, they do their best.”
Mrs Sneha Chhaya
Parent and football team manager
“It truly brings everyone together as one – the school, students, and parents – to make this a happy event for the children.”
Mr Ken Lin
Parent and coach
Will they do this again?
Watch the reel we made of the event on MOE’s IG
For more interactive stories, visit Schoolbag.edu.sg