Forbes Public School (FPS) students took part in a Mini Olympics event at the school recently organised by Year 6. The 300 students were divided into nine countries and marched in an opening ceremony with the school captains carrying the Olympic torch donated to the school by Robert Lytton OAM, who carried the torch through Forbes in 2000.
The year 6 students ran activities like tug of war, gum boot toss, sack races, egg and spoon obstacle course, hoop throwing, hurdles, relays, soccer dribbling races and target ball throwing. Students have been studying the Olympic Games and loved seeing the joy on the faces of outstanding role models displaying sportsmanship and national pride. They also witnessed athletes who have trained hard, sacrificed a lot and competed with everything they had.
With Australian childhood obesity at a record high, FPS is committed to exposing students to as many opportunities as possible to enable them to find their preferred sport and develop a life-long love of it. As part of this term’s skipping unit, FPS participated in the Jump Rope for Heart Program. In the classroom, students learnt about heart health including nutrition and the dangers of smoking. In sports skills, students learnt tricks using skipping ropes and choreographed routines, and in the community, students fundraised for the Heart Foundation, while the school newsletter featured articles educating parents about healthy eating and keeping children active.
After the Mini Olympics event, students from Kindergarten to year 6 put on an amazing skipping show. The school raised well over $5,000 for the Heart Foundation and the P & C raised more than $600 through the Mini Olympics, Jump Rope for Heart skipping show and celebration lunch.
By Katie Stitt