St James's School Sports Day Brings Seria Community Together in Competition and Remembrance

A Day of Races, Family Teams and Remembrance in Seria

Students raced over 100m, 200m and 400m, families joined team contests, and the St James's School community remembered a member whose work helped make the gathering possible. Held at Anthony Abell College's track and field in Seria, the school's annual Sports Day brought students, teachers, parents and guardians together around competition, resilience and unity.

Acting Principal Joseph Beriso Sarmiento placed those shared values at the centre of the occasion. His message was that Sports Day extended beyond athletic achievement, medals and trophies: it was also an opportunity for the school community to come together as a family.

The gathering carried a particular sadness alongside its celebrations. Sarmiento paid tribute to Muhammad Zulfadhli bin Morneh, a valued member of the school community who had recently died in a car accident. He praised Zulfadhli's wisdom and tireless efforts, saying his contributions had laid the foundation for the event.

Ravie Tajit Anak Tarang, chairman of the school's Board of Governors, attended as guest of honour. His presence recognised the importance of an annual occasion sustained by the work of students, staff and families.

The event date, race results and attendance figures were not specified. The account of the day focused instead on participation, sportsmanship and the relationships built through competing and supporting one another.

School Songs and House Colours Open the Programme

The programme began with the singing of the national anthem and the school song, followed by a colourful house march. Students displayed their house colours with pride, making the opening procession a shared expression of school identity before the athletic contests began.

The house tradition gave students a team to represent and classmates to encourage. Supporting one another, regardless of the outcome of a race, was part of the school spirit promoted throughout the day.

Sarmiento's opening message connected those activities to resilience and unity, values he described as part of the fabric of St James's School. In this setting, resilience meant continuing to make an effort when a competition became difficult, while unity meant participating as members of a wider school community.

The opening songs and march brought those ideas into the programme from the start. Students were taking part together before they moved into events that would test their individual abilities and teamwork.

Sprints and Relays Test Effort and Cooperation

The athletics programme included 100m, 200m and 400m sprints, alongside the 4x100m relay. The races gave students opportunities to test their physical ability, determination and perseverance over different distances.

Individual races placed the effort of each runner in view. The relay added a shared task, with students competing as a team. Together, these events reflected the school's intention to give space to both individual performance and collective achievement.

Students also had opportunities to practise sportsmanship: striving for their own best performance while supporting their peers and respecting the outcome. The day's purpose extended beyond identifying the fastest runners to recognising the effort involved in taking part.

The school's social media posts described the energy and dedication students brought to competing and marching. Their participation linked the opening display of house pride with the determination shown on the track.

Parents and Teachers Join the Competition

Parents and guardians were active participants in the programme, rather than simply spectators. A race with pairs sharing a tied leg brought parents and children together, while tug of war involved members of the wider school community in a collective contest.

Teachers also joined the competitions. These activities placed adults and students alongside one another, making cooperation a practical part of the day and reinforcing the school's view that education and personal growth involve a shared effort.

The family events were particularly popular. Their appeal lay in the chance to work together, enjoy the occasion and strengthen relationships beyond the usual classroom setting.

The school connected this participation with its commitment to building strong community bonds. In an Instagram post encouraging that shared spirit, the school said:

Let's continue to build strong bonds through fun and unity.

That message reflected the role of the family contests within the programme. Winning remained part of the competition, but the activities also gave children, parents and teachers a reason to cooperate and celebrate together.

A Tribute to Muhammad Zulfadhli bin Morneh

Muhammad Zulfadhli bin Morneh's contribution gave the occasion a meaning beyond the races. His recent death in a car accident was acknowledged through a tribute that connected the day's activities with the work he had done for the school community.

Sarmiento praised his wisdom and tireless efforts, crediting him with helping lay the foundation for Sports Day. The recognition placed attention on the preparation and commitment behind an event that students and families experienced together.

The school community honoured his legacy by carrying forward his passion for sport and student growth. Remembering that contribution became part of a day otherwise marked by movement, competition and celebration.

Sport Continues Beyond the Annual Event

St James's School describes sport as a key part of daily school life, rather than an activity limited to a single annual gathering. It encourages pupils of all abilities to enjoy a healthy lifestyle and take part during and after school hours.

The school's sporting programme includes athletics, tennis, football, netball and basketball. That range gives students opportunities to experience different activities and find one they enjoy, with both individual and team sports included.

Interhouse games and friendly fixtures take place throughout the year. These provide further chances to compete, gain experience and enjoy the companionship of representing a house or the school.

The school's inclusive approach aims to give every student access to physical activity and competition, regardless of ability or background. Confidence, teamwork and resilience are presented as skills that students can carry from the sports field into other parts of life.

Physical Education Links Health, Confidence and Learning

The school's physical education curriculum is designed to support physical, social, emotional and intellectual development. Its approach brings together quality PE lessons, access to clubs and competitions, and opportunities for students to show initiative.

Oracy, the ability to express ideas through speech and listen to others, is also part of that approach. Alongside physical participation, communication and initiative help students build confidence, face challenges and develop an interest in staying active.

The school's vision treats sport and PE as ways to open doors to the wider world. Some students may have limited sporting opportunities outside school, so exposure to a variety of activities is intended to build both opportunity and a sense of belonging.

Respect, responsibility and hard work are among the qualities the school seeks to develop through participation. Its aim is to help students become resilient citizens, with habits and attitudes that remain useful beyond a particular race or match.

Wellbeing sits at the centre of this curriculum. The school recognises a connection between physical and mental health and uses sport to engage students, inspire them to overcome challenges and help them reach their potential.

The Youth Sport Trust, cited in the discussion of the benefits of PE and school sport, describes those benefits in these words:

PE, school sport and physical activity are proven to enhance physical health, boost mental wellbeing, build resilience, lift academic achievement and create active habits for life.

Other St James's Schools Share a Community Focus

Examples from other schools bearing the St James's name also connect Sports Day with family participation and belonging. At St James C of E Primary, a recent Sports Day included the opening of a new school field, bringing families, staff and students together in a shared space.

Maria Hazlewood, headteacher of St James C of E Primary, described what the field meant to that school community:

more than just grass; it's a place where learning, play and community spirit grow side by side.

The field opening celebrated perseverance and unity, values also central to the Sports Day in Seria. For the primary school's students, the new space also had an immediate practical value: somewhere to play.

A student at St James C of E Primary described the change and its effect on the school community:

Now we can play football whenever we want and I think it's brought the school community together.

At other St James's schools, awards recognise outstanding athletic performance and resilience in competition. Such recognition encourages students to pursue personal bests, whatever their final placing, while celebrating both individual and team achievement.

Shared Memories and Plans for More Gatherings

For students in Seria, the opportunity to compete, encourage classmates and celebrate together helped build pride in their school. Sports Day offered a setting in which sporting effort and a sense of belonging could develop side by side.

As the programme drew to a close, accomplishment and togetherness were central to the occasion. The work of students, staff and families had brought the day together, while the tribute to Zulfadhli kept attention on a contribution the community wanted to carry forward.

The school was already planning future events to build on that foundation. Sports, festivals and other community gatherings formed part of its commitment to creating an environment where every student could learn, grow and thrive together.

Key Points

• St James's School held its annual Sports Day at Anthony Abell College's track and field in Seria.
• The programme included 100m, 200m and 400m sprints, a 4x100m relay, tug of war and a race pairing parents with children.
• Acting Principal Joseph Beriso Sarmiento highlighted resilience, unity and participation beyond medals and trophies.
• The school remembered Muhammad Zulfadhli bin Morneh, who recently died in a car accident, and recognised his contribution to the event.
• Board of Governors Chairman Ravie Tajit Anak Tarang attended as guest of honour.
• The school links sport and PE with health, confidence, teamwork and belonging, with activities continuing throughout the year.
• Future sports, festivals and community gatherings were being planned to continue that shared participation.