This year’s Winter Olympics in Milan are epic and students at Salt Point Center are joining the fun by participating in special activities themed around the games during the weekly Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) Fridays initiative in the school’s gym.
Physical Education Teacher Scott Calcagni is tasked with offering activities to students that get them moving and was invited to a PBIS Committee meeting in January, where members discussed February’s theme centered on living a healthy lifestyle. He thought it apropos to include the Olympics in his activities.
“Being this year was an Olympic year, we decided to incorporate a building-wide theme for students,” Calcagni recalled.
Students tried their hand at curling, hockey and bobsledding, the latter of which taught them about the games and the meaning of teamwork. It proved so popular that Calcagni offered the activity outside of PBIS Fridays.
“I then decided to carry bobsledding into my PE classes to further the excitement and correlate the happenings of the Olympics going on in the world into my classroom,” Calcagni explained. “The students have been very receptive and have taken it very well.”
Noah DeSario enjoyed trying his hand at bobsledding, which proved to be labor intensive.
“I really liked when I could get pushed, but I didn't love being the one pushing,” DeSario recalled. “I hope we can do it again soon.”
In addition to the physical activities, students made their own paper torches and used the bottom of toilet paper rolls to replicate the famous Olympic rings symbol. Mikayla Smith made some flags celebrating the games in her classroom, which were displayed alongside other student made flags outside the SPC gym.
“The flag activity was fun because we got to make different things and it is fun to draw,” Smith said. “I liked watching Bobsledding and that they take turns trying to win gold, silver and bronze medals.”
The Winter Games end this Sunday, Feb. 22.
