HES students catch Olympic fever

    HOULTON — Students in grades K-3 at Houlton Elementary School had the opportunity to learn about the Olympic Games and the traditions that go with the games last week in physical education classes.
    “Mrs. Shari Good’s PE classes were centered on the events that take place every four years at the Winter Olympic Games,” said HES Principal Candace Crane. “The students participated in opening and closing ceremonies including the torch lighting with the Olympic Theme Song playing in the background. Every student got to carry the torch (a plunger with a ball on top) during the torch relay to imitate the runners carrying the real torch across the host country to the games.”
Contributed photo
OLYMPIANS GATHER — Students at Houlton Elementary School recently spent some time learning about the Olympics in physical education classes. Showing off their medals are, front row from left,  Zaida Gaug, Nicholas Toby, Emily Chamberlain and Duncan McCormick; middle row, Tyler Bailey, Brittany Quint, Matthew Bouchard, Andrew Tuttle, Gabriella Guiod, Jenova Maguire, Daniel Moreno and Leah McKissick; and back row, Michael Monteith, Alexander Wilde, Ryder Graham, Ryan Lamkins, Katelynne Albright, and Makenzie Fitzpatrick.
    During the first day of class, students got a chance to train and practice just like real Olympians. The lesson for that day was focused on the importance of maintaining health, nutrition and physical fitness. The second day was when the Olympic Games were played. Some of the events that the students competed in included skating (on pieces of foam), bob skeleton (on scooter boards) and hockey.
    At HES the USA hockey team won. The lesson for that day was focused on sportsmanship.
    “Every student received a gold medal during the award ceremony where the National Anthem could be heard playing in the background,” Crane said. “Mrs. Good felt that all of the information and practice really helped to familiarize the students with the Olympic Games. The Olympic Spirit was quite contagious that week – there was a lot of excitement in the air. The students were very anxious to share different stories about some of the 2010 athletes and their wins and losses.  This gave us an opportunity to talk about winning with humility and losing graciously. In student terms it is called wining without bragging and losing without blaming.”