February 2, 2015 at 4:30 p.m.
Going for the gold: Crescent Elementary holds second annual Winter Olympics
Going for the gold: Crescent Elementary holds second annual Winter Olympics
It was the school's second year holding the event and, with decibel levels reaching all-time highs within the gymnasium, it was easy to see - and hear - just why the kids love it so much.
Helping students be more active is a key component to the event, according to staff.
"Last year, we had been doing the usual, run-of-the-mill, kids sit and watch somebody perform (for them), and that's hard on (elementary students)," said first grade teacher Tina Vannatter, one of the organizers of the Crescent Olympics. "They're told to sit and be quiet all day long, so to have to sit still when they're supposed to be told, 'well done,' ... it's really kind of counterproductive. It was the Winter Olympics last year and we said, 'What if we did a Crescent Olympics, but with crazy, odd (events).' So that's what we came up with."
This year's Olympics included some of the zaniest events yet. In order to maximize the number of students participating, all events were completed in the form of relays. This year's relays included walking with a potato between your legs, balancing a ping-pong ball on a plastic spoon, dressing up in over-sized clothes, and basketball and human wheelbarrows.
"(The events are) crazy," Vannatter said. "Everybody's very excited. At first (the kids) don't always remember it's coming up, but the minute we start talking about it, (the kids get very excited and ask about the events)."
While the event is meant to be a fun time for the kids, it's also a celebration of positive behavior. PBIS has been implemented districtwide and Vannatter said all the teachers can see the difference it's making.
"All of us have noticed that it makes a big difference when you're noticing the positive stuff more often," she said. "It's huge. I notice it even in my little classroom of 18 kids. The minute I get one or two kids that are chatting and I say 'so-and-so is quiet and finishing his work, here's a Hodag High Five,' oh my goodness, everybody gets quiet because they're all hoping they're next. It's a great thing."
The events are also a way to build a sense of family within the school. That family mentality is incredibly important, Vannatter said.
"Anytime you feel a part of something, you care about it. If you feel left out, you get angry and you don't try to do your best," she said.
"If you feel like you're part of a family, part of a group, then you care and you do what you can to follow the rules and do what you're supposed to be doing."
Crescent has now held two successful Winter Olympics, which begs the question - will there be a third?
"Absolutely," Vannatter said. "We've started calling it the annual Crescent Winter Olympics, so we'll be doing it every year."
Marcus Nesemann may be reached at [email protected].
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