Stingers play for gold

Chester Hill North Public School celebrated the Australian women’s water polo team, the Stingers, reaching the gold medal match with a Green and Gold Day on Friday during Public Education Week.

Dual Olympian and head coach of the team, Rebecca Rippon, is a former student at Chester Hill North.

Principal Amanda Adams said Ms Rippon – the first female head coach of the Stingers – was school captain in 1990.

Her sister, fellow former Olympic water polo player Melissa, was school captain in 1992.

“We are over the moon,” Mrs Adams said about watching Ms Rippon lead the Aussie Stingers to their first gold medal match in 24 years.

“As a school we discussed how Olympians and coaches need confidence and perseverance to help them reach their goals. Two students per class today were given gold medals for showing confidence and perseverance, just like Rebecca Rippon.

“We are so proud we can call her our own.”

Mrs Adams said the atmosphere was “electric” on Friday, when students came to school dressed in green and gold, watched a slideshow presentation about Ms Rippon and match replays from the Olympics and learned more about water polo.

She said each teacher handed out medals to students in their classes who had showed improvement of growth in their learning.

“The school is excitedly watching the games and tracking the medals and achievements of the Australians,” she said.

Ms Rippon was a member of the Australian women’s water polo team and competed in the 2004 Olympics in Athens and the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, where she won a bronze medal.

The current Stingers team features former Beecroft Public School student Keesja Gofers, competing at her third Olympics, and former Northern Beaches Secondary College - Freshwater Campus student Sienna Hearn, who is making her Olympic debut.

The Stingers will play Spain in the gold medal match after defeating reigning Olympic champions the USA in a penalty shoot-out early on Friday morning.

They are the first Australian women’s side to reach the final since Sydney 2000.

Moesha's silver Seine swim

Former Tweed River High School student Moesha Johnson has won silver in the marathon swimming at the Paris Games.

Swimming in the River Seine, Johnson led for the majority of the 10km race but was overtaken by the Netherlands’ Sharon van Rouwendaal with a few hundred metres to swim.

Johnson, who also competed in the 1500m freestyle in the pool at the Olympics and finished sixth in the final, was unable to overhaul van Rouwendaal in a race that lasted just over two hours.

“It’s just such a tactical race, and there’s so many ifs, buts and maybes that could have happened in that race. To come out with a medal is just unbelievable,” Johnson said after her medal-winning swim.

Connection runs deep for weightlifter

For Blairmount Public School in Sydney’s south-west, having a former student represent Australia at the Olympics is a big deal.

The fact that she’s also the daughter of their canteen manager and a highly valued member of their school community makes it even more exciting.

Jacqueline Nichele will make her Olympic debut tomorrow morning (Saturday) when she takes on the world’s best in the women’s 71kg weightlifting event.

Jacqueline’s connection to her former school runs deep. Her mum Kathy has spent the last 12 years running the school canteen, Kathy’s Kitchen.

Blairmount Public School brought forward their Green and Gold Day so they could share Kathy’s pride and excitement before she left for Paris to support her daughter at the Olympics.

Students aim for glory at Olympathon

Kirrawee Public School on Wednesday hosted a Public Education Week Olympathon for its school community, with students dressed in the colours of the flags of different countries.

The day began with an Opening Ceremony where the students paraded to their designated country’s national anthem before a French-speaking student declared the games open.

Students rotated around 13 activities to compete for glory for their country, including making an Eiffel Tower from spaghetti and marshmallows, table tennis as the French Open, and ‘Baguette – Bag It’ where students caught a stuffed toy in a sack.

Relieving principal Melissa Oostdam said special events like the Olympathon encouraged teamwork, built an atmosphere of collective achievement and satisfaction, “and remind us to take moments to experience laughter and joy”.

“We are so very proud of our staff, our students and our school and we welcome the opportunity to share our achievements with our parents and carers and wider community,” she said.

Lego-themed Olympics

Yarrawarrah Public School today held the Lego Olympics for students and their families, with a ‘medal presentation’ by Tokyo Olympics Australian softballer Stacey McManus.

Principal Kyleigh Nash said the special event was an extension of the school’s Lego theme this year, which it integrates into learning activities.

The opening flag ceremony with the school’s koala mascot Yarraburra and student performers was followed by students rotating through activities and an exhibition of their Lego STEM projects.