LATEST STORIES
BestStart Havelock North's Olympic Games
There was a lot of excitement as the tamariki prepared for the opening ceremony of our very own Olympic Games. With flags at the ready, they gathered in the playground for the parade. Proudly led by Bodhi and Nell, who carried the "Way to Go" banner, the other children followed them around the bike track, waving their flags before taking their places to watch the arrival of the "Olympic Torch."
Event Number 1: Bike Races
The children were paired up according to their age, and the 2-year-olds started first. With lots of cheering from their friends, it was a pretty close contest as they raced around the bike track twice. Then it was time for the three-year-olds to compete, and they circled the bike track three times. Lastly, the four-year-olds took their turn, and the competition really heated up as they rode around four times. There was so much cheering from the sidelines, ensuring everyone had fun. At the end of the day, it wasn't about winning, but about participating and being a part of such a great event.
Event Number 2: Lawn Bowls
For something completely different, Vicki had borrowed her dad's special lawn bowls for the children to use in Wednesday's competition. The playground had been transformed into a bowling green, and the children rolled the bowls to see who could get closest to the jack — in this case, a golf ball. Once again, the children competed in pairs based on their age categories. The sportsmanship was incredible as they cheered on their friends. There were some interesting techniques as the children rolled their bowls, and some surprising results too!
Event Number 3: The Obstacle Course
Our final event on Thursday was a tricky obstacle course that involved moving around the playground using different equipment. The children went up the plank, across the ladder bridge, crab-walked the level planks, jumped through the tyres, balanced over the stepping-stones, and moved through the hoops. There was a lot to remember, and the various movements required balance, coordination, and agility. But the tamariki were up for the challenge, carefully making their way through the course at their own pace. Once again, the crowd offered great support, cheering their friends on.
The Medal Ceremony
How lucky we were to have a former Olympian join us for our medal ceremony. Poppy's dad, Westley, competed in both the London and Beijing Olympics as part of the New Zealand Men's Team Pursuit cycling team, which won bronze medals on both occasions. Westley brought his medals and cycling helmet to show the children — how cool was that! The children were very excited as they made their way outside for the medal ceremony, sitting patiently and waiting to see who would be awarded medals in their respective categories. The final awards were for the supreme champions, not only for winning but for being kind, participating, helping and supporting their friends, and being leaders. A big congratulations to all our competitors and a big thank you to Westley for sharing his story and time with us, as well as to the other parents for coming to support their children and being part of this amazing experience.