Catshill Middle School holds Olympic events

Buy photos » Pupils Carys Jones and Sam Wakeling with Jamie Hubbard and Dawn Baylis and the two torches. s

THERE have been plenty of Olympic events taking place at Catshill Middle School, in the run up to London 2012, which is now just a fortnight away.

The opening ceremony started with two Olympic torches - one carried by ASDA's community champion Dawn Baylis, who was a bearer on the Droitwich leg of the torch's 70-day journey around the UK, and another replica made by parent Jamie Hubbard. That one was used by pupils for the school's sponsored torch relay and all of the children were also able to have their photographs taken with the real torch.

Other themed activities included making origami Olympic rings, geography activities relating to the countries taking part and making salt dough and chocolate commemorative medals.

At the end of the event, there were appearances by two visiting athletes at the closing ceremony - Richard White, a Paralympian who competed in Sydney 2000, and Helen Russell, who is a former Catshill First and Middle School pupil and current World and European Duathlon Champion in the 35 to 39-year-old age group.

Headteacher Paul Essenhigh said: "What an exciting two days of activities centred upon the Olympics.

"The children have also managed to cover enough miles in our Olympic Torch relay to transport the torch from Lands End to John O'Groats.

"We hope to raise enough money to replace our school minibus."

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