North Bellmore Students Practice For The Olympics

BELLMORE, NY - From North Bellmore Public Schools: With the winter Olympics on the horizon, Martin Avenue Elementary School in the North Bellmore School District devoted a morning to the international celebration. A day before the opening ceremonies were held in Pyeongchang, South Korea, students participated in their own activities including sports, crafts and STEAM challenges.

Following a parade of countries and “torch-lighting” ceremony on Feb. 7, students rotated through stations throughout the school. In the gymnasium, children competed in speed skating in which they placed paper plates under their feet and raced in a circle. One classroom featured cross-country skiing, with students stepping onto long wooden boards, grasping strings and working together to get across the room.

STEAM activities included international-themed science, technology, engineering, art and math challenges. Children celebrated France by building models of the Eiffel Tower and Egypt by recreating the pyramids. To honor China, students used marshmallows, toothpicks, tape and index cards to see who could build the biggest freestanding version of the Great Wall of China.

Principal Leyna Malone said that the purpose of the day was to give students some exercise and allow them to challenge their minds. She explained that the Martin Avenue Olympics were highly anticipated, and the enthusiasm displayed by students and staff made it all worthwhile.

“The spirit of the Olympics is something really special, and we recreated that here at Martin Avenue,” said Ms. Malone. “There was friendly competition through activities with curricular connections.”

Photo courtesy of North Bellmore Public Schools