New Olympic-themed curriculum launched at local school.
Olympic hopeful Martin Reeder (beach volleyball) gets students from Williamson Road Jr. Public School active during the launch of the Canadian Olympic School Program 2012 at the school. (Jan. 23, 2012)
Courtesy/Canadian Olympic Commit
It was an exciting start to the week at Williamson Road Junior Public School as three top Canadian athletes came to speak to students and staff members about leadership, respect and healthy active living.
Canadian Olympic hopefuls Mary Spencer (boxing), Tobias Oriwol (swimming) and Martin Reeder (beach volleyball) visited the local school Monday morning to help launch the 2012 Canadian Olympic School Program.
Excited students and their teachers donned red and white for the special occasion, a gesture Spencer said hadn't gone unnoticed.
She urged those in attendance to be a champion in both sport but also in life by helping their friends, classmates, teachers and parents.
Spencer, who holds three world championships in her sport as well as a gold medal from the 2011 Pan American Games, spoke to students about the importance of respecting each other, just like boxers who hug each other at the end of a hard-fought match.
Oriwol, who represented Canada in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, encouraged the youngsters to follow their passions in school as well as in sports. He also urged them to be themselves above all, and be leaders, while having fun.
Reeder, who lives in British Columbia but loves playing volleyball and training at Ashbridges Bay, said he wanted to play beach volleyball in the Olympics since he was in grade 6.
Reeder told students and teachers it takes a lot of determination, focus, perseverance through the pain and trusting one's self to succeed.
The Canadian Olympic School Program, which has existed since 1987, is designed to inspire students to achieve their personal best through stories from Olympians, activities, movement skills, podcasts, case studies and project packs.
Developed for teachers by teachers, the free nationwide program for students in Grades 2 to 12 aims to promote Olympic values and the importance of pursuing excellence in all aspects of life through Olympic-themed classroom and school resources.
This year, the program features Spencer, Jennifer Abel (diving) and Simon Whitfield (triathlon), who have shared their stories about passion, determination and their journey to becoming Olympians.