William Floyd Students Host Own Olympic Opening Ceremony: Video

SHIRLEY, NY — Just as the opening ceremony of the XXIII Winter Olympic Games kicked off in PyeongChang, South Korea, students at William Floyd Elementary School celebrated the event taking place almost 7,000 miles away with an opening ceremony of their own — complete with a parade of nations and a cauldron-lighting.

The excitement was palpable as, with the “Olympic Fanfare and Theme” playing, students — dressed in the colors of one of 16 different countries that they have been studying in class — entered the gymnasium, decked out to look like the Olympic stadium with flags, banners and lights, the district said.

Together, they celebrated in song, cheered for their adopted country for the day, and met the Olympic mascots Soohorang and Bandabi, played by teachers Desirae Francis and Brinna O’Hara, a release said.

The fifth-grade chorus, under the direction of Michael Cicerelli, sang the “Star Spangled Banner” and “God Bless America” followed by Student Council President Ava Cusimano's recitation of the Olympic Creed.

To conclude the ceremony, fifth-grader Catherine Corry had the honor of carrying the torch for the last leg of its journey through the school and “light” the cauldron.

“We wanted the students to understand what the Olympic Games are about and experience what it might feel like for the athletes to enter the Olympic stadium,” said William Floyd Elementary School Principal Dr. Keith Fasciana. “The Olympics occur once every four years and the goal was for our students to see how the athletes from different countries all over the world get together to compete peacefully.”

Photos, vide courtesy William Floyd School District.