Celebrating a moment in history
Why Get Set?
Already enthusiastic and excited about London 2012 and recognising the Games as ‘a moment in our children’s history’, Minster-in-Sheppey (Kent, South East) felt that joining Get Set would enhance this. It wanted all children from nursery to year 6 to be inspired and benefit from cross curricular learning relating to London 2012.
The Network would provide the school with opportunities to bring the Games and Values more readily into children’s thoughts and everyday interactions.
The Journey So Far
Children are designing certificates based on PRIDE (personal excellence, respect and friendship, inspiration, determination and courage, equality) to be given out during assemblies to children who have been nominated by their peers and by staff. A special podium has been built and is decorated with the PRIDE values. School council are discussing what can be achieved through the Olympic and Paralympic Values.
An Olympic and Paralympic Games creative curriculum topic is being planned; within the topic children will study many areas and spend time looking at the Values. Through collaboration with other local schools an Olympic-Based Day has been organised incorporating a range of cross curricular activities and a celebration of the Values.
An opening ceremony will involve all pupils in celebrating the year of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Parents will be invited and a special dance performed to the song “Proud”. Every class in school has picked a country to focus on, and children will have opportunities to learn about the cultural aspects of their country and find out about its Olympic athletes.
After sporting events children have their photos and achievements displayed through the school website, an interactive welcome screen in the reception area and on the P.E. board; these children all receive certificates.
Positive Values
The Values are being used as a tool to inspire and motivate children both in their academic work and in sporting activities and competitions. Minster-in-Sheppey aims for this to help create an inclusive and supportive ethos across its school. All planned activities will link in with Minster-in-Sheppey’s Assertive Mentoring programme and the attainment of its children.
The school is committed to maintaining and extending links with the local community using the ethos and Values of the Games to bring different groups closer together. Children will continue to be offered opportunities to participate in local events.
And the highlights for students?
Following assemblies introducing the Olympic and Paralympic Games children are already very inspired by both able-bodied and Paralympic athletes and particularly so when thinking about Paralympic athletes who have achieved in the face of adversity.
Towards 2012
An ultimate measure of success for Minster-in-Sheppey’s involvement with Get Set will be children fully engaging with the London 2012 Games as a moment in their history. It is important to the school that children can have fun whilst learning and for the resulting impact to be on both behaviour and attainment.
