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| We are EACH champions! |
WAB has always been an innovator in the field of Physical Education and extra-curricula activities. Yet over the past two years, the ES PE and WABX – ES have seen an extraordinary increase in the numbers of children participating in an expanded variety of voluntary sports. At the beginning of the school year, the WABX-ES team set out with the goals to increase the numbers and frequency of children engaging in athletic activity, to increase opportunity for sporting excellence and to target the involvement of ES girls in athletic activity. All three targets have been reached.
Derek Davies, WABX-ES Coordinator, attributes the success of ES athletics to a paradigm shift away from the "top heavy" approach in place currently at many elementary schools. "If a positive, exciting, successful and sustained experience is gained at this early age," he explained, "then surely the goal of life long learners (or participants in the case of physical activity) is more likely to be achieved."
The quality of teaching and learning that takes place everyday in PE classes, combined with increased opportunities for sport—namely the ES Olympic Dream Series and frequent ES ISAC events—have boosted the ethos of life in the ES. On a daily basis, the ES pulsates with masses of children hungry for the chance to engage in sport during their break and lunchtimes. This increased exposure to sporting opportunities has allowed ES athletes to gain greater confidence, and potential, in various sports, as well as to discover their individual gifts in sports they might not have experienced otherwise.
In this year’s ES Olympic Dream Series, from the biathlon/triathlon, the opening event of the series, to the final track & field event series, participation among Grade 2- 5 students was exceptionally high, with students engaging in a variety of different sports. A total of 220 of Grade 2- 5 students participated in the biathlon/triathlon, which many athletes consider to be one of the roughest events, and 96% of students participated in track & field, which many athletes will argue requires the most diverse skill set.
By comparing WAB’s results against other schools’ from cross-school tournaments, it’s evident that WAB students have been actively engaged, and invested, in sports. For example, among the 500 children from 8 Beijing and Tianjin schools participating in the ES ISAC Track and Field event, WAB students won an amazing 70 of 82 Gold medals, and claimed gold and silver medals in 11 different events. Added to this was a clean sweep of team handball, table tennis, cross country and runners up in the ISAC soccer tourmanent. This has been a year for us to share pride in our students' achievements!
In the past, participation among girls in lunchtime sport has been low, yet numbers are up tenfold from last year. Attracting and maintaining girls in regular sporting activity has been successful, in part, through the creation of “Girls Only” sport sessions. For the first time ever, WAB entered two separate teams of girls in the ISAC soccer tournament.
All around, it’s been an amazing Olympic year at WAB. Given that our students have access to such a positive, exciting and sustained experience at this early age in life, they are also developing a lifelong passion for learning, fitness and the Gong He spirit.