School welcomes top athlete to its own Olympic-themed events (From Watford Observer)
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Olympic fever hits St Margaret's School with visit from top canoeist
9:29am Thursday 28th June 2012 in News
By Ben Endley, Senior reporter
St Margaret's Olympic week begins with, from left, athlete Jessica Walker, torchbearer Tony Ward and pupils Ella Harvey, 12, Ella Cheir, six, and games captain Ella Bamford, 17.
It may be a month until the beginning of London 2012 but thanks to a visit from an Olympic athlete this week, sports fever is already in full flow at St Margaret’s School in Bushey.
Pupils at the all girls boarding school, on Merry Hill Road, kicked off their Olympics themed week with an opening ceremony on the Monday, attended by canoeist Jessica Walker.
Torchbearer Tony Ward and the official Olympics torch he carried through Southwick last month were also at the opening ceremony.
After the ceremony, Jessica, 21, visited pupils in several different classes and chatted to them about her experiences in the run-up to this year’s games.
The school’s 430 pupils, aged between four and 18, have been divided by house and academic year with each representing a different country. The idea is the brainchild of Dulcie Pimlott, head of physical education, at the school, she said: "We are delighted with how it has gone. The idea was to bring the whole school community together and the Olympics looked like a good way to do that.
"The pupils have all really got behind the event and are all really excited.
"Jessica Walker was absolutely lovely and it was so nice to have a real, proper athlete here."
Pupils have competed in rounders, swimming, tennis, badminton and did 2,012 seconds of aerobics while the senior sports day, a highlight in the school sporting calendar, takes place today (Friday).
There will be a closing ceremony on Monday where the pupils will be presented with medals recognising their achievements.
Headteacher Lynne Crighton said: "This event really has achieved exactly what we wanted in terms of getting everybody excited about sport and physical activity.
"We know we give pupils a good education but it’s about preparing them for adult life and getting everybody involved with something like this is a way to do that."
