Day One: Elmhurst Academy Olympics Opening Ceremony and Highlights

On August 8th, 2016 at 10:00 am, Elmhurst Academy’s four summer classes marched proudly into their Outdoor Classroom, and sporting their team colors, they presented themselves as competitive contenders for the gold in the Elmhurst Academy’s Olympic Games. The opening ceremony introduced the school’s four competing class teams—the Butterfly Team (blue), the Prairie Prowlers (red), the Woodland Warriors (green), and the Lakeview Lizards (yellow)—and ended with the teams demonstrating their unyielding sportsmanship with the passing of the Olympic torch.

The school’s Olympics, designed to support the country during the current international games, encourages students to participate in team and individual events to see what it takes to become an Olympic gold metalist. To accomplish this task, the students will learn to train like true athletes and become inspiring teammates. Throughout their week, the competitors will be required to eat healthy to fuel their body with meals prepared by school’s professional chef, Chef Sigy, and prepare mentally and intellectually through their summer lessons and activities.

Also, according to Mrs. Dillard, Early Childhood Associate Teacher, “the events will teach the students to collaborate together as a team and have the opportunity to show their sportsmanship for each other.”

Each class will perform their own events that test the students physicality and challenge them at their appropriate age. At the end of the week, all the students who have participated in the events successfully will receive their own gold mental and earn the title of an Elmhurst Academy Olympian.

In today’s grand event highlights, the senior students of the Lakeview Lizards were involved in two events, one team event and another focused on the athletes individually. In their first grueling event that tested agility and speed, the Lizards divided into two teams and partook in tire races, two teammates at a time rolling the tire 20 yards and back. After three rounds, the students congratulated each other with high-fives and a round of applause, and then proceeded to their second event.

In their gymnastics event, the second event challenged the Lizards' upper body strength on the monkey bars. Each student took their turn completing a timed trial on the bars, and after lined up in accordance to their times. To the teachers’ excitement and delight, the students were cheering on their teammates throughout and encouraged those who found the event harder than others. The positive chant “Don’t let go!” started during the event and was used to the very end.

The Elmhurst Academy Olympics will kick off again tomorrow, August 9th at 10:00 am. Don’t forget to stay updated with more team highlights and fun events each day!