Fatima teams participate at all levels in the many sports organized through the Catholic Independent Schools of Vancouver Archdiocese Elementary School Athletic Commission. Coached by teachers, parents and volunteers Fatima students participate in volleyball, basketball, soccer, cross country and track and field. In accordance with the philosophy of sport adopted by the Athletic Commission Our Lady of Fatima School stresses skill development and participation rather than competition. The CISVA league in which all our teams compete against other Catholic elementary schools, however, is a competitive league. Our teams play regular season games and then, depending on wins and losses, may move on to playoff games and season finals. All students who attend the practices and games are members of the team, but there is no guarantee that all students will play an equal amount of time in a league game. Sometimes this is simply not possible. Coaches make player decisions that are based on many factors such as attitude, active participation at practices, development and sportsmanship. Parent or other volunteer coaches must be paired with a teacher sponsor. The teacher sponsor must attend all games. While parents are encouraged to attend games and to support our teams they must not interfere with coaches or officials during a game. The school principal is the head of all athletics in a school. Complaints, observations or suggestion should be directed in writing to her. (OLF School, Parent Handbook, 1995)

At the midway point of our sports year, although they did not compete in the finals, two of our volleyball teams made it to the playoffs. Our Senior boys’ (Gds. 6/7) soccer team placed first overall in the Catholic Independent Schools league. League play for basketball begins in January.

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Track & Field Program

This year Mrs. Dumas and Mme. Brose will be coordinating the track and field program. Mrs. Dumas will be coordinating the track events and Mme. Brose will coordinate the field events.

Track and field is open to all students from Grades 3 - 7. (Grade 2 students may participate in the Our Lady of Mercy Meet. After the Our Lady of Mercy Track Meet the grade 2's no longer attend or participate in the track practices).

All students must wear appropriate runners, as well as Fatima gym strip on both meet and practice days. On colder days, a track suit may be worn over our regular gym uniform. Students are asked to bring their own water bottles to each practice or event.

Please note that most meets are participation meets and we will enter all team members who have attended practices. The Elementary Catholic Schools Meet is a limited entry meet and only participants who meet the time/distance standards, set out t by the organizers, will be entered. (Only those students who have attended practices, attended participation meets and have met the standards set by the Elementary Athletic Commission will be selected for the Catholic Schools Meet.)

If your child is sick or misses practice for an important reason, please send a signed note to the appropriate coach to inform them of his/her absence. If your child has an activity that he/she participates in after school and is unable to make one of the scheduled practices, please send a note stating what day he/she is unable to attend. Excused absences such as illness and previously arranged lessons are acceptable as long as a note is received.

Three unexcused absences for any reason (i.e. detention, without proper Fatima gym strip, etc.) may mean that your child will be taken off the track team.

Parents of track and field participants need to make their own driving arrangements for getting to and from practices. We strongly recommend that arrangements be made ahead of time, to make the arrival and departure of students at practices efficient. Please ensure your child is picked up promptly after practices.