SACRED Heart Parish School has been excluded from the Broken Hill Primary Schools Sports Association (PSSA) from 2025.
The decision means students from Sacred Heart will not be able to attend any PSSA individual sports carnivals or Gala Days and will not have the opportunity to compete at a higher level against other local schools.
Sacred Heart administrators sent a notice to parents this week explaining the decision and describing it as an unexpected development not related to sport.
The notice said the exclusion was due to increasing enrolments while school principal Trevor Rynne said the move was disappointing.
“The decision is being made to exclude us from the local BHPSSA,” he said.
“So obviously we’re disappointed and disheartened with the decision.
“It gave our kids an opportunity to play at the highest level that they could against other local schools.
“Certainly, the kids and parents, and I guess the whole school community, is disappointed that it can no longer exist at the moment.”
The notice sent to parents and guardians said school leaders are addressing the situation and pursuing all avenues to have pupils return to combined education-based sports events.
It also said school administrators regret the impact this decision could have on students and families.
“Participation in PSSA has always been an important opportunity for our students to showcase their athletic talents, build camaraderie, and demonstrate sportsmanship,” the notice said.
A follow up notice to parents was sent asking communication sent by the school not be uploaded to social media following increasing community speculation about the issue.
PSSA president Kate Hogg, who is an employee of the Department of Education refused comment on the issue and directed media enquiries to an NSW Government spokesperson.
