Ahead of the ninth National Sport Day celebrations, the Philippine International School – Qatar (PISQ) kicked off its third annual PISQ-PTA basketball tournament for students on Friday.
Dubbed “3rd Skyline Automotive Hyundai Cup 2020”, the sports tourney spearheaded by the school’s Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) is aimed at honing the bodily-kinesthetic intelligence of the students apart from academics, as well as involving parents in school programmes.
“The objectives are to develop the children in other aspects of intelligence in which sports forms a vital part, at the same time involving parents which is very important because they are part of the growth of any educational institution,” Jason Iyas, PISQ Principal told local media.
The school puts a strong impetus on sports in its annual programme as it recognises the significant role sports play in “building character and refining the behaviour of children,” said Iyas.
So far, the programme has been an effective platform for students to excel in the field of sports.
“The PTA has been doing this for the last three years and we saw the development in the fact that for two consecutive years, we have been the champion in senior basketball in Schools Olympic programme in Qatar. Our girls volleyball team was also the champion in the Schools Olympics,” added Iyas, while lauding the robust support of the PTA in the school’s programmes.
Running for 10 Fridays, the tournament which involves Grades 4 to 12 comprises several categories including 3x3 basketball for boys and girls and the main event which is Under-14 and Under-19 basketball in which 12 teams are competing. In addition, there is a volleyball tournament for boys and girls which will see eight competing teams.
Even during Fridays, the school was abuzz with a plethora of extracurricular activities that focus on developing the other talents of the learners. They include visual arts like painting and performing arts such as dance, theatre, and singing, he said, adding these activities had already born fruit with some students winning several competitions recently.
Maths and English development classes are also conducted during Fridays for learners with difficulties in academics.
The tournament’s opening ceremony on Friday witnessed the parade of all the teams taking part in the tournament and their muses followed by the official start of the games.
