Pupils and teachers at St
Joseph’s Catholic primary and Nursery School celebrated today when they were officially
welcomed in to London 2012’s Get Set network, in recognition of their
commitment to the Olympic and Paralympic Values. The school recently held a
‘The Olympics are coming day’ to start thinking about the great events and how
best they can celebrate and use it as a focus for their learning.
The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic
Games (LOCOG) awarded St Joseph’s Catholic primary and Nursery School a plaque
and certificate to acknowledge their involvement in the London 2012 education
programme. They now join schools and
colleges across the UK as members of a special London 2012 community – the Get
Set network - and will receive access to exclusive competitions and 2012 Games
related opportunities over the coming years.
Ian Morton, a former Paralympian from the Sydney Games of 2000, who presented the School with the plaque and
certificate, said: Pupils at St Joseph’s are excellent examples of how London
2012 is helping to spark young people’s imagination and inspiring them to get
involved and make a difference. They have
clearly demonstrated that London 2012’s education programme extends far beyond
PE and sport and I hope they will motivate other young people to join their
journey.’
Sebastian Coe, chairman of LOCOG, said: “When London won the right to host the Olympic
Games and Paralympic Games, we made a clear promise to use the power of the
2012 Games to inspire young people.
“I am proud to welcome St Joseph’s in to the Get Set
network for their exciting work around the Olympic Values of friendship,
excellence and respect and the Paralympic Values of inspiration, courage,
determination and equality.”
Mr. Mike Donoghue, headteacher of St Joseph’s said: We are delighted to
involve our children in the Get Set network even at this early stage. We recognise that this is possibly a once in a lifetime opportunity for many of our
children to experience an Olympics and Paralympics on home soil. We fully
intend to use it as the focus for learning before, during and after the event
itself. We would view it as a missed opportunity if we did not immerse
ourselves fully in the occasion. We have already held and ‘Olympics are coming
day’ and intend to repeat the event next term. As we move into the summer our
curriculum will be dedicated to the Olympic theme, our own Olympic and
paralympic sports events will be held, each class will adopt a country to
follow alongside G.B during the games and we hope to share experiences with
other local schools. We are also very excited that the Olympic torch relay will
pass through Boughton on Thursday 28th June on its journey between
Lincoln and Nottingham. We hope to be there to cheer it on its way.
Neil Pike, Parent Governor of St Joseph’s said: St Joseph’s are actively
taking this opportunity by the scruff of the neck. We see this as a chance to enhance our
pupils’ view of the world outside of Ollerton and Boughton and to engage the
whole school community in what will be a very special summer.
