RSS Press releases
We publish all of our recent press releases online so you can keep up to date.
You can use special RSS software (or newer web browsers) to subscribe to an RSS feed of our recent press releases . Email pressenquiry@dumgal.gov.uk if you'd like further details on any of our press releases.
If you want to speak to a communications officer, you can find their working-hours telephone numbers and what areas of the council they cover at www.dumgal.gov.uk/pressenquiry.
Read our press releases as HTML >>
Recent releases
Last Updated: 06/12/2024 14:13:03
Council's BT Olympic Storyteller visits Eaglesfield School
Thursday, 28 February 2013 16:27
Last Friday Eaglesfield Primary School received a visit from Sports Development Officer for Dumfries & Galloway Council and chosen BT Storyteller for the London 2012 Olympics.
Calum was invited by Ms Williamson, head teacher, to talk to the children about his day in London with Daley Thompson and Lord Sebastian Coe. He displayed pictures of his tour of the Olympic venues. The discussion also combined elements of history, geography, culture and the environment including how the torch is lit, the meaning of the Olympic symbols, competing nations and how the regeneration of the area in the south of London is taking shape. Calum told the children how the London 2012 team are setting standards and breaking barriers in terms of environmental protection with much of the Olympic site being landfill that has been turned into useful green space. The iconic white piping on the Olympic Stadium sourced from Bolton was old North Sea gas piping, which would have been left to waste had it not been used in the creation of the huge stadium.
The children also learned about the 21 Paralympic sports. Pupils were already doing their homework on the 38 Olympic sports and how the Annandale & Eskdale Sports Academy organised by Dumfries & Galloway Council, had inspired children using London 2012 to get involved and hopefully stay involved in sport. Calum presented the school with signed cards from Olympic athletes Fran Leighton and Libby Clegg and who had also signed a golden shoe for the school. He went on to tell the children about the many high profile opportunities linked to London 2012 happening in the October holidays. Calum was keen to stress the seven Olympic values of Respect, Friendship, Excellence, Equality, Inspiration, Determination and Courage and getting the message across to young people that athletes live these values every day as they work hard to achieve their sporting goals. Young people can live these values in everyday life – at school, at home and in the community.
Councillor Ian Lindsay said, “It is inspiring in itself that our Sports Academy is now going into schools and covering so many elements of the school curriculum whilst ensuring our children fitter and healthier by taking part in sport.”
Head Teacher Ms Williamson, said, “We are planning to use the London 2012 Olympics as the basis for a lot of our interdisciplinary learning in health and wellbeing throughout the forthcoming school year. Calum’s visit provided an excellent introduction, and he covered a wide range of topics for us to follow up on. His presentation of the Olympic values supports the ethos we promote at Eaglesfield and our pupils enjoyed hearing about Calum’s recent visit to the Olympic site. His involvement in London 2012 is promoting a real interest amongst pupils in learning about all aspects of the Olympics, as well as encouraging active participation in sport.”
Calum Graham said, “It was a privilege and I would like to thank the school for asking me to come in and share my experiences with them. I was so impressed by how much the children had already learned and remembered about the Olympic Games.” He added, “I really enjoyed the afternoon and hopefully they learned something useful, but their parents might not believe them when they say what inspired Chris Hoy to take up cycling!”
Anybody requiring information on the sports academy sessions on offer in the October holidays should contact Calum Graham on 07787 690611 or e-mail calum.graham@dumgal.gov.uk
Calum was invited by Ms Williamson, head teacher, to talk to the children about his day in London with Daley Thompson and Lord Sebastian Coe. He displayed pictures of his tour of the Olympic venues. The discussion also combined elements of history, geography, culture and the environment including how the torch is lit, the meaning of the Olympic symbols, competing nations and how the regeneration of the area in the south of London is taking shape. Calum told the children how the London 2012 team are setting standards and breaking barriers in terms of environmental protection with much of the Olympic site being landfill that has been turned into useful green space. The iconic white piping on the Olympic Stadium sourced from Bolton was old North Sea gas piping, which would have been left to waste had it not been used in the creation of the huge stadium.
The children also learned about the 21 Paralympic sports. Pupils were already doing their homework on the 38 Olympic sports and how the Annandale & Eskdale Sports Academy organised by Dumfries & Galloway Council, had inspired children using London 2012 to get involved and hopefully stay involved in sport. Calum presented the school with signed cards from Olympic athletes Fran Leighton and Libby Clegg and who had also signed a golden shoe for the school. He went on to tell the children about the many high profile opportunities linked to London 2012 happening in the October holidays. Calum was keen to stress the seven Olympic values of Respect, Friendship, Excellence, Equality, Inspiration, Determination and Courage and getting the message across to young people that athletes live these values every day as they work hard to achieve their sporting goals. Young people can live these values in everyday life – at school, at home and in the community.
Councillor Ian Lindsay said, “It is inspiring in itself that our Sports Academy is now going into schools and covering so many elements of the school curriculum whilst ensuring our children fitter and healthier by taking part in sport.”
Head Teacher Ms Williamson, said, “We are planning to use the London 2012 Olympics as the basis for a lot of our interdisciplinary learning in health and wellbeing throughout the forthcoming school year. Calum’s visit provided an excellent introduction, and he covered a wide range of topics for us to follow up on. His presentation of the Olympic values supports the ethos we promote at Eaglesfield and our pupils enjoyed hearing about Calum’s recent visit to the Olympic site. His involvement in London 2012 is promoting a real interest amongst pupils in learning about all aspects of the Olympics, as well as encouraging active participation in sport.”
Calum Graham said, “It was a privilege and I would like to thank the school for asking me to come in and share my experiences with them. I was so impressed by how much the children had already learned and remembered about the Olympic Games.” He added, “I really enjoyed the afternoon and hopefully they learned something useful, but their parents might not believe them when they say what inspired Chris Hoy to take up cycling!”
Anybody requiring information on the sports academy sessions on offer in the October holidays should contact Calum Graham on 07787 690611 or e-mail calum.graham@dumgal.gov.uk
Photo link attached
Page last updated: 20/05/2022
