A local junior high school is getting into the Olympic spirit by holding a mural contest, thanks to a $10,000 federal grant.
Sir George Simpson school secured the grant this week from Canada’s Department of Heritage, which is promoting the Olympic torch relay.
On the advice of principal Pierre Rousseau back in September, Grade 8 student Jen Delainey applied for the grant on behalf of her school.
“I was feeling rather bored in school so Mr. Rousseau called me down and gave me this project, asked me to come up with some ideas, things we could do to celebrate the Olympic torch,” Delainey said.
The school’s lead activity will be a mural contest that is open to all the students in the art program and anyone else who’s interested. The winning entry will be made into a banner about eight- by 16-feet and mounted in the gym.
Other proposed activities are a cabane à sucre and a candle walk to St. Albert Place when the Olympic torch is in town.
“We’re all going to have these little candle things and we can use the torch to light them then we’ll all walk back to Sir George,” Delainey said.
Students from the school will be also helping the city carry out its mini-Olympics event at city hall, which will involve elementary students on the day of the relay.
After learning this week about the successful grant application, the school is just ramping up its mural contest and getting the other activities organized, said Rousseau.
“What Jen did is really initiate something that creates a lot of enthusiasm and interest around the school,” he said.
Delainey is excited about Canada’s chances at the upcoming games.
“I hope that we win all events because I have a lot of online friends from across the Earth. I like to talk to them about sports and the Olympics,” she said.
A recreational hockey player and avid fan of the sport, Delainey has particularly high hopes for Canada in that event, especially the women’s team.
“From what I’ve seen before I think the women play better,” she said.
Most local schools are organizing Olympic-themed activities to coincide with the torch relay or the games themselves. Most are planning some version of Olympic-style competition. For example, students at the French immersion Father Jan school will be divided into French speaking nations and try to earn Olympic medals.
The Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay will pass through St. Albert on Jan. 13. The Winter Olympic Games start Feb. 12 in Vancouver.
