REVEALED: Private school’s return to sport COVID plan

REVEALED: Return to sport COVID plan for three of the state’s biggest private school organisation.

GPS First or A division sport only will start as scheduled on Saturday while QGSSSA and AIC will by-pass all scheduled round 1 activities before resuming competition from the week starting February 7.

The COVID-19 pandemic, including the current outbreak in Queensland and the spread of the Omicron strain, has resulted in the vast majority of students across the three major private schools being held back from returning to inter-school sport.

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The GPS Association, which incorporates schools like St Joseph’s Nudgee College, St Joseph’s Gregory Terrace and Brisbane Grammar School, will start competition on Saturday for “Opens and A division teams in year levels 7-12 for cricket, debating and volleyball’’.

But all other divisions, involving the vast majority of participants, will not return until round three on February 11-12.

Padua College take the first wicket caught in AIC First XI cricket last season. Picture, John Gass

“Schools will be allowed to train and participate in trial matches as approved by

individual school headmasters and principals in the lead up to a return to full scheduled competition in round three, 11/12 February,’’ the GPS association said in a prepared statement.

The QGSSSA (Queensland Girls Secondary Schools Sports Association), incorporating schools such as St Margaret’s and St Aidan’s Anglican Girls’ Schools and Brisbane Girls’ Grammar School, will kick-off term 1 sport with cricket on February 9.

The QGSSSA Track and Field action in 2021. Term 1 sports will not start until the week starting February 7.(Image/Josh Woning)

QGSSSA were scheduled to start school sports on February 2.

AIC (Associated Independent Colleges), which encompasses schools like Marist College Ashgrove, St Laurence’s and Padua Colleges, bypassed all round 1 competition scheduled for February 4-5.

St Joseph's Nudgee College bowler Tom Malone gets the team congratulations last season. Picture, John Gass

Instead Australian football, cricket and volleyball will now start from round 2, February 11-12.

The GPS Music Showcase, scheduled for February 10, has been postponed.

“The GPS Association will work with Member Schools for a suitable date with an

announcement expected in the coming month,’’ the GPS association said in the statement.