Olympic Challenge 2010
Wednesday the 17th March saw the start of the second Olympic Challenge to be held at Whitchurch High. The Olympic Challenge was introduced with a number of objectives in mind. We wanted a focus for Year 8 midway through the year, something that would introduce them to new skills and foster teamwork, and a venture that would support the build up to the London Olympics of 2012, including an appreciation of everything that is involved in creating a successful Olympics.
The opening ceremony took place during period 5 on the Wednesday, involving almost forty Year 8 students giving a presentation to the rest of the year group, covering the history of the Olympics, great Olympians, and the ceremonies of the raising of the flag and the lighting of the Olympic flame. We were also very lucky to be entertained by the guitar playing of Sam Pinches, which set the crowd alight. The opening ceremony was rounded off with a video of an inspirational speech by our very own Sam Warburton, sending his own message to the students. A great start to proceedings, with pupils keen to experience the events of the following day.
The day of the Olympic Challenge dawned, with all students ready to push themselves to their limits. Departments offered a wide range of activities, including deciding on the site of a future Olympic games, making Olympic food, creating Olympic flags, presenting a Welsh Olympic rap, sending an Olympic message in thirteen different languages, making Olympic medals, investigating Olympic science, composing and playing an Olympic samba, debating the rights and wrongs of the Olympics, delving into the mathematics of the Olympics, considering physical activity and Olympic standards and reporting on and producing a video of the Olympic Challenge day. A full day, to say the least!
Bu that’s not all! The one activity carried out by all pupils was the Rowing Challenge, pitting themselves against the clock and recording some amazing times, while having great fun, but still being very competitive. Mr Mike Williams from DT is still recovering from running this event (he loved it really).
The closing ceremony was a fantastic opportunity to see what could be achieved in one day, with outstanding performances from all involved and met with great applause. The handing over of the flag by Tamjid Miah to Finn Provan (Year 7) set up the Olympic Challenge for Year 8 in 2011. A gold medal was awarded to the outstanding learner in each subject, while gold, silver and bronze were awarded in the four main competition categories, always remembering that it was the taking part that was more important than the winning.