Advertisement

Antoine’s story, Olympic experience great lesson for youth

Error message

  • Warning: array_merge(): Expected parameter 1 to be an array, bool given in _simpleads_render_ajax_template() (line 133 of /home/pdccourier/www/www/sites/all/modules/simpleads/includes/simpleads.helper.inc).
  • Notice: Trying to get property 'settings' of non-object in _simpleads_adgroup_settings() (line 343 of /home/pdccourier/www/www/sites/all/modules/simpleads/includes/simpleads.helper.inc).
  • Warning: array_merge(): Expected parameter 1 to be an array, bool given in _simpleads_render_ajax_template() (line 157 of /home/pdccourier/www/www/sites/all/modules/simpleads/includes/simpleads.helper.inc).
  • Notice: Trying to access array offset on value of type null in include() (line 24 of /home/pdccourier/www/www/sites/all/modules/simpleads/templates/simpleads_ajax_call.tpl.php).

Students in Mrs. Copsey’s 4K class at B.A. Kennedy have been keeping a close eye on the medal count each day, particularly acknowledging American athletes’ achievements. (Photos by Correne Martin)

You might have to use a creative eye in looking at this collaboration, but the second graders at Bluff View School are proudly displaying the colors of the Olympic rings.

By Correne Martin

Matt Antoine achieved 11th place in the Pyeongchang Winter Olympic skeleton competition last week, certainly making his hometown fans proud. Along the way, the youngest of his fans have also shared in the excitement, learning all about Matt, the sport of skeleton and some Olympic fun facts, too. 

The teachers of the Prairie du Chien school district have found many ways to incorporate these current events into their curriculum, from 4K to second and third grades on up. Two such classes focusing on Olympic units have been Mrs. Megan Copsey’s 4K at B.A. Kennedy elementary and the entire second grade at Bluff View elementary.

The 4- and 5-year-olds have zoned in on the basics, such as the red, white and blue colors of the United States of America; what gold, silver and bronze and first, second and third mean; some of the different participating countries; how some of the sports work; and how it feels to be proud of Prairie’s Olympian despite him finishing off the podium. They saw clips of Matt’s race. Every day throughout the Games, the 4K students would take a look at the medal count from the previous day, determine whether any Americans earned medals and then, if they did, place a patriotic star with the athlete’s name onto the wall outside their classroom under the appropriate medal: gold, silver or bronze.

The intent with spotlighting the Olympics in class is go help the kids become more aware of the world.

In the second grade, Mrs. Christine Seeley led the charge of adding Olympic material to the curriculum. Her class and the others in the grade were fortunate enough to secure some classroom time with Matt’s mom, Mary, who lives in a Prairie du Chien. A former teacher herself and local historian, Mary explained a lot of detailed information about Matt, skeleton and the Games to the students several weeks ago.

On Thursday, the second graders took a moment from class to sit in the formation of the Olympic Rings, holding colored paper above their heads, for a group picture.

Afterward, about 16 of the kids shared the very specific facts they recalled from their conversation with Ms. Antoine. Every time a question was asked, most of them eagerly raised their hand to answer.

For example, the sport gets its name from the shape the pad and metal bar frame create together underneath the sled. The running head start of skeleton is called “loading.” The students knew that Matt wears a tight and tiny suit that helps improve his speed. One boy noted that racers have exactly 300 spikes on the bottom of their shoes. They stated that Matt prefers a black shield on his helmet as compared to clear or tinted glass like other sliders’ helmets. The kids said skeleton competitors have no spikes on their gloves, as opposed to luge athletes. On average, they said, he speeds down the approximate one-mile track as fast as 80 mph as it weaves around the mountain in South Korea.

Regarding the Olympics, the students soaked in as much information. One boy remembered that the colors of the Olympic Rings were chosen to represent each continent. The black color in particular stands for several continents. South Korea is 15 hours ahead in time than the U.S. The students stated that each Olympic qualifier must wear the Pyeongchang bib, as it’s called, overtop their suits or clothing worn during contest. If they don’t wear it, they can be disqualified. Also, every Olympics has a mascot. The 2018 Games has a white bear, and the kids knew white was chosen because, in the host country, it’s a color that stands for strength and protection, and it represents snow and ice.

While all the learned tidbits will undoubtedly be remembered for some time, perhaps the greatest lesson the second grade students have learned from Matt’s experience came from his personal story of hard work and triumph over adversity, Mrs. Seeley said.

They retold his story as so:

Matt started sliding at the age of 17, as a Prairie du Chien high schooler. In those early years, a coach told him, “You aren’t that good. You won’t make it.” To that he said, “Watch me!”

From there, he went sliding in Lake Placid, N.Y. He trained harder than ever, strengthening his upper body and quadriceps, and also coordinating his “loads.”

One year later, he returned to try again and the coach said he could “play the game.” “You have potential,” the coach said. Then, of course, he became an Olympian, an Olympic medalist even.

“Matt’s story’s truly is an inspiration,” Seeley summarized, saying she overheard two boys doing math the other day in class, and the one was struggling.  The other boy encouraged his friend, “Just try your best. Be like Matt. Don’t give up.”

Rate this article: 
No votes yet