Elementary School Students Celebrate, Learn About Winter Olympics

The entire school community at Theodore Roosevelt Elementary School, an elementary school in the Cheektowaga Sloan Union Free School District, recently came together for an exciting, schoolwide Winter Olympics event that celebrated teamwork, inclusion, and school spirit. 

The event was organized by Karen Durawa, an Erie 1 BOCES physical therapist, who did an outstanding job engaging students and staff across the building in a meaningful and collaborative experience.

The Winter Olympics theme featured nine different sporting events, allowing every student the opportunity to participate, move, and have fun. The participation throughout the building was incredible, as classrooms, teachers, and support staff all played an active role in bringing the experience to life.

This was truly a cross-curricular celebration, including multiple different areas of education.

Response to Intervention (RTI) Math incorporated a medal count activity, helping students practice data collection and tallying skills. RTI Reading shared stories about each Olympic event, followed by a creative extension where students designed their own sporting event and created a uniform to match.

Occupational Therapy (OT) supported students in making Olympic torches, integrating fine motor skills into the festivities. The English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher guided students in identifying and labeling the flag representing their family’s country of origin. Students proudly placed their names under their respective flags, creating a powerful visual display of the school’s diversity and global connections.

Every student earned a medal, reinforcing the message that participation, perseverance, and teamwork are valued and celebrated. Certificates were awarded for gold medal times, adding an extra layer of excitement and recognition.

The event was not only fun, but it also fostered unity, inclusiveness, and pride throughout the building. It was a wonderful example of how a shared theme and collaborative planning can bring an entire school community together.