Matthew Hatch, a first grade student at Paris Elementary School, represented Russia at the opening ceremony for Paris Elementary School’s reading program Thursday. The theme is based on the 2010 Winter Olympics.

Christina Jackson, a third grade teacher at Paris Elementary School, helps her students during the opening ceremony for the schoolwide reading program Thursday. The theme is based on the 2010 Winter Olympics and Jackson’s class represents the country of Mexico.

Jake Redgate, a sixth grade student at Paris Elementary School, was one of several torch runners during the opening ceremony for the schoolwide reading program Thursday. The theme of the program is based on the 2010 Winter Olympics. 

Members of the Norway-based Art Moves Dance group perform a West African dance during the opening ceremony for Paris Elementary School’s winter reading program Thursday. The theme is based on the 2010 Winter Olympics. The dancers are students from the Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School in Paris.

PARIS — Let the reading begin.

Students at the Paris Elementary School kicked off their winter reading challenge, Read For The Gold, Thursday morning with a ceremony representing the 2010 Winter Olympics.

“Welcome all you Olympian readers,” said Principal Jane Fahey to the hundreds of students in grades kindergarten through six who marched into the gymnasium under the flag of the country they will represent during the two-month project. Students were dressed in the outfits of the country they represented.
The final delegation in the procession represented the United States and received a standing
ovation from students, families and friends in the bleachers. 

Runners ran a course and the Olympic torch was officially
lit on the stage just before the Norway-based Art Moves dance group
performed a West African dance for the students. 

Fahey, who spoke from the gymnasium stage beneath pictures of Olympians on a screen, told the students that many years ago someone had a “great” idea to compete not with weapons but with athletics, and the Olympic games were born.

The 2010 Winter Olympic games begin in Vancouver, Canada on Feb. 12 and conclude Feb. 28.

On Feb. 12, the reading program will hold a schoolwide Olympiad where children will sled, snowshoe and build snow palaces.
By March 1, the school hopes to reach its goal of 3,000 books read. Each classroom team will compete as countries in various reading events. Students will receive a “snowflake” for each book they complete.

Kathy Elkins, director of curriculum for the Oxford Hills School District dressed in an official Vancouver Olympic T-shirt, challenged students to read a variety of books.

Fahey said teachers are planning special activities to integrate curriculum with the reading project. For example, the chorus is learning songs about the Olympic games, one teacher is doing a shared reading with her class about the Holland skater Hans Brinker, and others are writing letters to Olympic athletes. Each classroom is also learning about their adopted country and will follow those athletes once the actual Olympic games begin in February.

Plans are currently under way for the closing ceremonies on March 1 when each child will be awarded a gold medal.

“I declare this Olympic read-athon open. The games have begun,” Fahey said as the students marched out of the auditorium.

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