JUST before the pandemic forced the Isle of Wight to stay at home, Newport CE Primary School went big with its efforts to support Sport Relief.

The school celebrated its nomination for the best primary sporting school accolade at the 2019 Isle of Wight Sports Achievement Awards, now postponed until the autumn, with its bi-annual fundraiser.

Isle of Wight County Press: Jo Garner, a learning support assistant, took on the rowing challenge.Jo Garner, a learning support assistant, took on the rowing challenge.

From Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) youngsters to Year 6 and all staff members, everyone came to school dressed as sport stars and athletes as part of this year’s theme — endurance through distance.

EYFS to Year 3 pupils were all tasked with running a marathon, with a course set-up on the playground and each child encouraged to run, in the hope that collectively all of the distances they ran would add up to a marathon of 26.20 miles.

Isle of Wight County Press: The school’s youngest collectively ran two marathons. The school’s youngest collectively ran two marathons.

In the end, many of the children wanted to run multiple times, which meant that by the end of the day, they had amassed an incredible 60.10 miles.

Meanwhile, Years 4 to 6 were challenged to climb the equivalent of Scafell Pike — England’s highest mountain.

The children needed to collectively reach 3,209ft, taking it in turns to climb a 30ft climbing wall erected in the school playground.

Isle of Wight County Press: Summer Trevillion, aged ten, focuses on the next step of the climbing wall. Summer Trevillion, aged ten, focuses on the next step of the climbing wall.

In an assembly at the end of the day, children were told that they had not only scaled the peak, but gone further to climb a mighty 4,520ft.

It was not only the children who were challenged though.

Headteachers, teachers, learning support assistants and office staff, aided by the donation of two indoor rowing machines from Newport Rowing Club, took on the task of rowing the equivalent of the English Channel to France.

The row started during morning assembly in front of the children and finished at the end of day to coincide with the results assembly, to much fanfare.

Isle of Wight County Press: Mohammed Al Ashkar, aged nine, stretches for the top of the wall.Mohammed Al Ashkar, aged nine, stretches for the top of the wall.

“We needed to row 35,405m to cross the Channel from Dover and in the end we rowed 105,348m — the equivalent of rowing to France and back, and then heading off again,” said Patrick Yates, Newport Primary’s PE teacher, who organised the day’s events.

“We are absolutely delighted with all of our amazing totals across the school.

“Everyone contributed to go above and beyond their challenges — running two marathons, climbing England’s highest mountain, and then some, and rowing to France and back, all in one day.

Isle of Wight County Press:  The school’s youngest collectively ran two marathons. The school’s youngest collectively ran two marathons.

“The children and staff had a great time raising money for such an important cause.

“It was a very memorable Sport Relief day. We raised £228.”

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