Their Own Opening Ceremonies
Whitman Elementary School Kicks off “Winter Olympics” with Torch Relay, Opening Ceremony
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP – Tia Cade swiftly moved through the hallway on Friday, smiling brightly and proudly carrying the Olympic torch. No, Whitman Elementary School’s Teacher of the Year wasn’t in Pyeongchang, South Korea, where opening ceremonies for the Winter Olympics were held on Friday. Cade was in her home school, where they kicked off their own Winter Olympics with an international celebration of their own.
It began with a “torch relay,” with Cade handing off to Elementary Supervisor Christine Gehringer, and Gehringer passing the torch along to Principal Ray Anderson while students lined the hallways to cheer. Then, students met up with their “buddy classrooms,” teaming to represent various countries from around the world. Each country then processed into the gymnasium, where physical education teacher Adam Clark announced their arrival.
Once each country assembled in the gym, Anderson raced in with the torch, climbing the bleachers and holding it aloft near the Olympic rings. Anderson gave an introductory speech before the assembled nations recited the Pledge of Allegiance and sang the “Star-Spangled Banner.” He briefly discussed Whitman’s two-week Olympiad, where students will compete for medals by showing great character and completing an array of reading and math tasks. Clark completed the assembly by giving a history of the Olympic Games, before the countries were dismissed one-by-one.
-WTPS -