NRHEG Elementary Olympics focus on sportsmanship

The NRHEG Elementary Olympics have been a tradition since physical education teacher Bruce Wolfgram began them in 1994.

 

Current phy ed teachers Beth Schoenrock and Wendy Schultz say they are pleased with this year’s version of the event, and feel a certain pride to have completed the observation–held every four years just like the international olympics–for the ninth time.

 

“It’s been part of our district’s elementary school experience for all the students over all that time,” points out Schoenrock, “the past 32 years.”

 

The events begin with an opening ceremony which does what it can to mirror the international event. Schoenrock constructed a “torch” complete with a tissue-paper flame and a concealed flashlight. When it was touched to a boxy "cauldron" at the front of the gym, a shower of glitter and confetti provided a “flame.”

 

During the Feb. 2 ceremony, students read an explanation of the symbolism in the olympic flag, as well as the motto and oath of athletes taking part in the competition. Classes of students are linked with various countries and process in carrying flags representing them–both a larger flag and then smaller, handmade ones each student has created.

Countries selected include Austria, Canada, China, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the U.S.A.

 

During the two weeks of the international games, a large hallway display shows the medals won by athletes from each country. “Sometimes the kids really identify with their country,” Schoenrock mentions. “They’ll pay attention to the games and keep track of the medals athletes are winning,” occasionally even to a point of questioning the correctness of the number of medals displayed in the hallway.

 

Individual classroom teachers may take instruction time to learn about the geography and culture of the countries or about elements of the olympic games. Fifth-graders were assigned to write an essay on the topic of sportsmanship; this year Jack Van Hall’s piece was selected to be read during the opening ceremony.

 

For two weeks, activities in phy ed classes center around olympic events. 

 

Schultz, who teaches the upper elementary classes, takes some of her students to a curling course in Mapleton every year, and makes a point of scheduling the trip during the elementary olympics. In the school’s gyms, modified versions of chosen sports have students "skiing" using towels, or competing in “bobsled” races using baskets mounted on scooters. Sometimes first-place finishes are acknowledged within class groups, but Schoenrock says the focus is mostly on the levels of fitness, effort and sportsmanship the physical challenges call for.

 

An element important to her, she says, is “Learning how to win.”

 

Not figuring out how to finish first, she makes clear, but to recognize that everyone has used energy and dedication, so the difference between “winning” and “losing” can be a split second. “Sportsmanship is fundamental,” she says. “I want kids to realize ‘competition’ doesn’t mean people have to dislike each other; winning doesn’t mean you should brag or think you’re better than someone else.”

 

Schoenrock and Schultz say they know the elementary olympics are popular with students. This year’s “closing ceremony” was a slide show with pictures and video from the two weeks; rather than a school-wide assembly, each phy ed class watched the video and heard the declaration that the olympics were closed. One young student left the gym with tears in his eyes: “I don’t want the olympics to be over,” he explained.