Day Four: Elmhurst Academy Olympic Games Heat Up as End Nears

August 11, 2016—In the final day before the Elmhurst Academy’s Olympic Games closing ceremony, competitors and coaches are stepping up their game and truly working for the gold. As the teams lived, breathed, and sweated as true athletes, all of their hard work and dedication come down to these final hours.

Today, the Butterfly Team and the Prairie Prowlers partook in Track & Field events in the early morning. Both teams competed in their own version of the discuses, and used frisbees to throw at a given target as accurately as possible. With big smiles and tired arms, the Butterfly Team ended their events successfully, receiving a well-deserved gold standing for the day.

The Prairie Prowlers continued onward into their Track & Field events and participated in a long jump and a 10 yard dash, putting their speed and strength to the test. The students surpassed the expectations of their coaches, and used their long strides to jump long distances and their perfect form to run fast times.

The Olympians learned quickly how to cheer on and motivate their teammates, as well as be proud of their success and accomplishments—two important qualities of being a true athlete and gold medalist.

Later, the Lakeview Lizards and the Woodlands Warriors participated in a competitive water relay and water cycling event. The Lizards started with the water relay and separated into two teams. From there, each team was given long water pipes that when positioned correctly by the students, led straight into a large bucket that would collect water. On “Go!” the team members in the front of each line dashed to a separate water bucket, collected some water in their cup, and rushed back to their water pipe to pour the water in.

Each student had three turns dashing to the water bucket and the team helped count for the individual performing the high-pressure task. As the event went on, many of the students learned that doing something very quickly is not always the best way to be effective—an important lesson learned through play and personal experience.

At the other end of the Outdoor Classroom, the Woodland Warriors competed in their water cycling relay. Also divided into two teams and in two separate lines, the Olympians mounted their mini bicycles and race against their opponents. Each had to circle their ‘car wash’ twice, as well as make their way through it, getting splashed and soaked with water—a hazard that could potentially drive them off course.

The two classes pushed past their exhaustion from the first event, and switched to the opposite event. The coaches of the Lakeview Lizards extended the cycling course, challenging the older students to work their hardest and find value in pushing their limits.

Afterwards, the two teams joined together and with great sportsmanship, engaged in water play—creating and mixing mud, fishing in water tubs for colorful creatures, and made bubbles in a wake pool using straws.

Completely immersing in the Olympic experience, many of the coaches kept the Olympic Games on live inside their classrooms for the students to witness their role models accomplishing their dream of becoming gold medalists. “Just yesterday, we replayed for our students the race that won Michael Phelps his last gold medal,” said Mrs. Lisa Dillard, Early Childhood Associate Teacher.

Tomorrow, Elmhurst Academy’s Olympics come to an end, but the students learning and personal experiences in the games are life-long. Stay tuned for final comments on tomorrow’s events and closing ceremony!