Whitman Elementary School Plans Opening Ceremony for "Whitman Olympics"
Whitman Elementary School will usher in the 2018 Winter Olympics with an international celebration of its own during the opening ceremony of the “Whitman Olympics” on Friday, February 9, 2018, beginning at 9:10 a.m.
A “torch relay,” with various teachers jogging through the hallways and passing the torch, will open the festivities. Students will then meet with their “buddy” classrooms and team together to represent various countries from around the world. Each country will then process into the gymnasium. Once all of the countries are assembled, principal Ray Anderson will ascend the bleachers and present the torch in front of the Olympic Rings.
The “competitors” then will recite the Pledge of Allegiance and sing the National Anthem, and the competition will be opened. Students will be earning medals throughout the two-week Olympiad by demonstrating great character and completing reading and math tasks.
The countries competing will include:
China: (Carol Callaway-grade one class/Julie Palmisano-grade three class)
Japan: (Stacy Gorodetzer-grade one class/Carol McGoldrick -grade three class)
Germany: (Samantha Tosti – grade one class/Cathy Bennett -grade three class)
France: (Connie DiNardo- grade one class/Thomas Kilian- grade three class)
Italy: (Gina Castano – grade four class/Victoria Dott -grade five class)
Australia: (Jennifer Campbell/Inta Byers-grade two class/Tia Cade – grade five class)
Netherlands: (Jamie Kilpatrick -grade two class/Emily Piskun -grade five class)
Spain: (Carly Corrado -grade two class/Cathy Cooper -grade four class)
Kenya: (Diane Fox -grade two class/Kimberly Haines – grade four class)
Brazil: (Kristen Howell – class/William Mumbower – grade five class)
Great Britain:(Julie Fones – kindergarten class/Lauren Gregory – kindergarten class)
Canada: (Lisa O’Brien/Kathy Austin – kindergarten class/Barbara Cona – kindergarten class)