'Winter Olympics' come to Sisters Middle School

All of the Winter Olympics action isn't in Pyeongchang, South Korea.

Students at Sisters Middle School staged their own version last week.

The event opened with a moment of silence to honor the students and coach who died the day before in a school shooting in Florida.

"I spoke briefly about realizing what we have in Sisters and how we need to take care of each other, stand in the gap for each other - no one eats alone," said leadership coordinator Becky Aylor. "The entire student body was still; it was moving."

Twelve Olympians were randomly chosen to represent their grade levels, and the event they competed in was then assigned. SMS Leadership students staged the procession of the American Flag, Olympic Flag, Leadership Flag and each grade level with their flag made a lap around the gym before finding their seats in the center of the gym "track."

Alessandra Wentworth, an eighth-grader, offered a beautiful a capella rendition of the National Anthem, as all students, staff and Olympians stood, removed their hats and helmets and honored our flag and what it stands for.

Leadership students gave a history of when and how the Olympics began and set the stage for the five makeshift Winter Olympics events. Speed skating (rollerblading, which some students had never tried) was the first event, with each of the two grade level athletes making one lap around the track. Points were given based on how they placed. The next event was the Alpine long jump which included 30 feet of Hot Wheel track, a ladder and Lego people with popsicle stick skis glued on the top of the Hot Wheel.

Unfortunately, the 1973 VW Bus could not stay on the track, thus the sixth-graders experienced the agony of defeat, placing last in this event. The eighth-graders came in first place in the skeleton - laying on a long board skateboard and pushing off the wall with their feet.

"A highlight was the enthusiasm from fifth-grader Spencer Tisdel with his curling fashion statement - with a wild outfit, huge wig and larger attitude to go with it," Aylor reported.

Curling involved launching frozen milk jugs to a target with the ability to bump an opponent's jug off course. The final event was the five-person bobsled race. The event featured flat scooters (think furniture movers) zip-tied together with one Olympian on each sled and one player pushing the train twice around the track.

"There was a collision on turn one and some possible unethical cheating and jockeying for position," Aylor reported. "Although the race was thrilling and so very close - it was indeed the seventh-grade team who came in first place, which secured them the Gold overall."

The Silver was awarded to the eighth-grade team and the fifth-graders shined by bringing home the Bronze.

Thunder, the school horse mascot, made an appearance. All 36 athletes were awarded medals, and smiles were had by all.

Aylor later said that the entire PE class of Mr. Larson also should have receive gold medals for taking care of breaking down the event while other students headed to core classes.

"I'm very proud of our students who were respectful fans and for the teachers and staff who support events that bring us all together for some education on the Olympics and to learn how to be winners and how to be good sports when you go home with nothing," Aylor noted.