Students Lift ‘Torches’ in Salute to Olympics

With a balloon launch and a guest appearance by a former Olympic torch-bearer, students at Walker Elementary School staged mock Olympics opening ceremonies Wednesday.

Because the Olympic Games happen only once every four years, Principal Robert DeBerry said, “we just wanted our kids to know what it was all about.”

Led by second-grade teacher Janice Wexler, students have studied the Olympics for the last six weeks to learn about sportsmanship and to increase their awareness of other nations. The opening ceremonies and athletic contests were the culmination of the lessons.

Each classroom chose a country and studied its culture and geography. During Wednesday’s celebration, students marched onto the school’s basketball court carrying the flags of those nations.

Youngsters dressed in white danced in formation and unfurled gold streamers, while schoolmates ran across the campus carrying “torches” streaming red, orange and yellow tissue paper.

Seal Beach resident Sean S. Stewart, one of those bearing the Olympic flame across Orange County earlier this year, attended Wednesday’s festivities. Stewart, who was allowed to keep the torch he carried, lit it for the students. Students said they will keep in mind the lessons of the day. “We learned that if we don’t quit, we get the gold,” said second-grader Joey Horn, 8.