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COURIER photo/Gabriel Fenoy
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| El Roble Intermediate School 7th and 8th graders representing the team from Russia compete in the school’s Olympics tug-of-war event on Monday. The school’s P.E. program has been transformed into the 2008 El Roble Olympics for two weeks. |
A burning torch. An opening ceremony. Various countries around the world competing in more than 15 events.
While these and other characteristics will be what make up the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China this summer, the Olympic-like traditions were taking place at a venue closer to home.
With the “Olympic Fanfare and Theme” blaring throughout El Roble Intermediate School’s gymnasium on Friday morning as P.E. students representing different countries walked into the gymnasium, the 2008 El Roble Olympics officially began and will continue through April 4.
“Let the games begin!” exclaimed El Roble P.E. teacher Brian Dorman following the opening ceremony on Friday.
Coinciding with this year’s summer Olympics, the El Roble physical education department, along with the efforts of the school’s Parent-Faculty Association, have planned out two weeks of activities for the 7th and 8th graders that make up this year’s Olympic-themed event. The United States, Italy, Greece, South Africa, England, Brazil, Jamaica, S. Korea, Germany, Japan, China, Russia, Canada, Australia and Mexico represent the 15 countries chosen out of a drawing as participants in the school’s Olympic offering with the countries competing in each period.
By the time the El Roble Olympics conclude on April 4, the countries—made up of 7th and 8th graders spanned across the different school periods—would have competed in 16 events that include street surfing, crew racing, the 4x100-meter run, a swim relay, speedminton, basketball knockout, dodgeball and more.
“It really brings the campus together,” said El Roble P.E. instructor Terri Kegans. “It’s part of a school-wide spirit effort and it is the only time this year that we’ve had the 7th and 8th graders mixed together like this in P.E.”
Along with the physical training the students underwent leading up to the El Roble Olympics, the event also contains academic and social components as well. For instance, once the students were teamed up, a primary project for the groups became to create flags for their respective countries that not only replicated the real flags but also contained Olympic facts and other data pertaining to the countries.
“It took a couple of days for us to make the flag,” said 7th grader Claire Damon, who is a member of Greece. “But it was fun and it was a chance for us to be creative in P.E.” (story continues below)
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COURIER photo/Gabriel Fenoy
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| The English Olympic team pulls for victory in the tug-of-war event on Monday during the 2008 El Roble Olympics. |
The creativity of the students was rewarded as the countries containing the top 3 flags in each period were rewarded with gold, silver and bronze medals accordingly. The judging for the flags was based on the analysis of El Roble’s P.E. department along with other principals within the Claremont Unified School District and Superintendent David Cash.
Other medals will be distributed throughout the two weeks of games for the top 3 finishers in each event with the total medal count for each country by period displayed near the P.E. office. The impact of the school’s Olympics has been felt beyond the P.E. classes, as how the countries are faring in the rankings has become a topic of conversation during lunch and on the way to other periods.
“People are talking about it,” said 8th-grade Mexico member Hailey Christiansen.
On Friday, the countries competed in crew racing inside the gym with two-person teams riding scooters using plungers to generate momentum. Three days later, the countries continued their friendly competition in a single elimination tug-of-war event with the use of an approximately 90-foot white rope.
Yet another aspect the El Roble Olympics provides beyond the physical competition and the mental component is social interaction between the El Roble students. Being that the Olympics involves each student as part of the school’s P.E. courses, the event has allowed students to get to know peers they had not known prior to the El Roble Games.
“I’ve met people I’ve never met before on my team,” said 7th-grade USA member Leland Jessel. “I was kind of quiet at first but now everything is good.”
While good sportsmanship and respect have been staples of the regular Olympic Games, the excitement that comes from competing on a significant stage against formidable opposition is one of the highlights of an Olympic experience. Seventh grader Stephen Zetterberg has also felt a similar excitement as a participant in the El Roble Olympics.
“I really like it and it has been really fun to go out and compete—especially against the 8th graders,” the England team representative said. “I have a friend on the other team and we talk [about the Olympics] and I told him ‘we’re going to beat your team.’ This is fun and it is something I can share with my own kids in the future.”
—Landus Rigsby
