Follow the Torch

The torch had one final stop. Having started with our Central team and made its way around all of our schools, we felt it right it should end with a meeting of all our wonderful Headteachers. Thank you to all of them for arranging for the torch to move between your schools and for all the exciting activities everyone has enjoyed on the way.

We did it! The flag has now made its way round all of our lovely Trust schools. Thank you to everyone at Wetheringsett for being so patient waiting for it, but you got to see the flag with the name of every school it had visited, and you had a beautiful day on which to receive it!

The pupils and staff at Bedfield have had a long wait and must have been beginning to wonder whether they would seee the torch! With perfect timing ir arrived for Sports Day!

The Sports Captains of Mellis School received the Olympic Torch from Ringsfield School, before parading it around each classroom. The Torch was also displayed at our weekly Celebration, and its symbolism of effort and excellence explained to the whole school. Representatives of our gymnastics team held it for inspiration for the Interschool Gymnastics tournament that day, before it set-off on the next leg of its journey to Bedfield!

The pupils and staff from Ringsfield School were very excited by the arrival of the 2012 Paralympic torch. We all came together in a special collective worship to learn about the history of the Paralympic and the importance of the torch and the torch relay as a symbol of the Paralympic Values.

In the afternoon the children completed a carousel of Paralympic based activities including learning more about the Paralympic values, designing a Paralympic sports kit and playing boccia and goalball! The children thoroughly enjoyed the experience and are looking forward the watching the Paralympic games during the summer.

Bramfield children told us about their time with the Torch:

"Today the sports leaders taught us games from the Paralympics to simulare how it would feel to have certain disabilities. We played sitting down volleyball, boccia and goalball. We used our new indoor sports dome which was really exciting.  We also had a collective worship where our Ethos leaders told us about  the Olympic values and led us in a special prayer."

At Brampton, the whole school participated in our annual sponsored walk around the woods next to our school. Before we began the walk, we organised a relay around the woods. Every child had the chance to run with the torch before passing it onto the next child. By the end, everyone was following behind the torch. It was a very special afternoon. 

Pupils at Eyke enjoyed having the Olympic torch. They embraced the fact that this year the Olympics are to be held in France. After looking at and learning about the torch, the Year 3s went outside for a game or two of Pétanque and then enjoyed a snack of Madeleines and croissant!

Gardening club had the Olympics as a theme and took their entry to the Suffolk show, winning a Silver Gilt award and also took a photo opportunity with their Morland counterparts. As well as the River Seine represented with a winding course of flowers, there were French onions and an Eiffel Tower and Olympic rings woven from Willow. Key Stage Two added the dossiers they had completed on themselves and a range of French Olympians during their French unit.

On 21st May the torch reached St Mary's, Woodbridge. The children in Year 6 researched the history of the Olympics and Paralympics. They then designed their own torch, mascots and developed three values.

The children passed around the torch and shared the three values they had chosen.

We had a special collective worship and invited Mrs Russ, an Olympic Park volunteer, to talk to us. Mrs Russ wore her volunteering uniform and showed us lots of souvenirs from the 2012 Olympics. We looked at all the other MAT schools that the torch had visited.

Four students from Chelmondiston climbed into a rib boat with their headteacher made their way across the River Orwell to collect the torch and olympic flag from year 6 pupils at Nacton who waited on the beach for the handover. Representatives from Felixstow and Holbrook Coast Guards were there with flashing lights and sirens!

Thank you to Nigel for making his way across the mud to collect the torch from the children from Nacton. 

They made a short journey back across the river.

Key Stage 2 children were waiting for their return at the sailing club at Pin Mill and they were greeted with cheers and clapping.

The children then took part in a relay passing the torch from person to person.

Thank you to Anthony Cullen who took pictures and has kindly allowed us to use them here.

Nacton held a Torch Ceremony and then took part in Olympic sports with teams representing different countries. Their athletes competed in 100m spring, javelin, equestrian racing and 3x3 basketball.

At Morland, we were so excited to receive the Olympic torch. Our year 4’s had pictures taken with the torch and learnt all about the history of the torch relay. We also had a special worship to celebrate the torch coming to Morland. We spoke about our school values of Love, Hope, Perseverance, Responsibility, Compassion and Forgiveness. We also spoke about our school’s Biblical vison of ‘Through God all things are possible’ (Matthew 19:26).

One boy in year 2 was so inspired he made his own Olympic Torch.

Nearly half way there!

On 29th April,St Matthew's were happy to see the torch in their school.

On 26th April, the torch arrived at Sproughton. It was received by the School Council and then passed around the classes before joining the school in Collective Worship where the pupils learned about the Olympics.

25th April was a busy day! Having been round Elmsett, the torch paid a visit to Hintlesham and Chattisham.

On 25th April, Mr Frolish delivered the torch to Elmsett Church of England Primary. It had a busy time travelling round the school and even into the woods!

On 17th April, the torch was delivered to St Mary's C of E Primary, Hadleigh . The children looked at it in assembly and then shared it round their classes. The Early Years children celebrated by making medals.

On 28th March, the torch arrived at Stoke by Nayland. The torch joined our easter egg hunt and was passed on from Tudor to some of our Key stage 2 children.

On 25th March, children from Long Melford passed the torch to Tudor.

On 19th March, Hartest passed the Olympic Torch and the flag to Long Melford.  The children from Hartest work with the children from Long Melford quite often and have visited the school for things such as DT Days and the Science Week.  So, once the photographs had been taken, they had playtime together, before heading back to Hartest.

On the morning of Friday 15th March All Saints', Newmarket visited Hartest with the Olympic Torch. Hartest School Council showed the All Saints' School Council representatives around their school.

Mrs Hann handed the Torch over to All Saints' C of E Primary, Newmarket on Wednesday 13th March.

The Torch started its journey at the Trust Head Office on Friday 8^th March.

The Olympic Values

• Excellence – someone doing the best they can, in sport and life
• Friendship – using sport to develop tolerance and understanding between all people – performers, spectators and citizens generally
• Respect – having consideration for oneself, others and the wider environment

The Paralympic Values

• Determination
   
• Inspiration
   
• Courage
   
• Equality