Jan 22, 2010 - 01:04 PM

By Reka Szekely

AJAX -- A group of Durham Catholic schools are igniting the Olympic spirit with a series of activities culminating in one big Olympic party for Grade 7 and 8 students.

It all started at Father Joseph Venini Catholic School in Oshawa where Grade 7 teacher Steven Beltrano and French teacher Carol McInerney heard the federal government was looking for proposals for projects that promoted the Olympics to youth.

"Steven and I thought how cool it would be for one school to come to other schools from their region ... to recreate that enthusiasm and friendship we think exists in the Olympic village," said Ms. McInerney.

The teachers recruited St. Francis de Sales in Ajax, St. Bridget in Brooklin and St. Joseph and Sir Albert Love in Oshawa to participate. The schools visit each other and engage in Olympic-themed activities, all in anticipation of a large gathering at Monsignor Paul Dwyer Catholic High School on Feb. 11.

On Jan. 19, about 65 St. Francis de Sales students hosted a similarly-sized group of students from Father Venini. The Grade 7 and 8 students from both schools went on a torch walk around the neighbourhood, including walking along Church Street and Hwy. 2. They were led by two of the official torchbearers in Durham who had their torches with them, though they could not be lit.

The goal of the walk?

"Just to raise the Olympic spirit here in Ajax," said Grade 8 St. Francis teacher Shannon White.

The students carried banners and cheered loudly as they were escorted on their walk by Durham police officers.

Following this, the students grabbed Timbits and hot chocolate, donated by Tim Hortons, and prepared for an afternoon of activities including games and Inukshuk building. The stones for the Inukshuks were donated by Hard-Co in Whitby. The schools also received busing donations from First Student Canada and Durhamway and banner donations from Banners Plus.

Grade 7 St. Francis student Megan Gallagher of Ajax described it as an "awesome experience".

Doraianna Filippo, an Oshawa Grade 7 student, agreed.

"It was actually very good, I felt very excited to meet new kids."

Alycia Olesky, also a Grade 7 student at Father Venini, said the events made her more excited about watching the Olympics.

"I feel sort of like an Olympian because I get to meet new people," she said. "I've been to two schools so it's really cool."

The first school visited by the Father Venini students was St. Bridget in Brooklin.

The St. Francis students also visited Father Venini where they taught them the dance to the Black Eyed Pease song I've Got A Feeling, a dance seen on the Oprah Winfrey Show.

All the students will do the dance when they get together on Feb. 11.

"I think it'll be a really fun experience," said Grade 8 St. Francis student Rachel Matthews.

Rachel has also been teaching to kids at her own school.

The students at St. Francis have also combined their Olympic activities with fundraising efforts. The money they raised will be donated to Development and Peace for their Haiti relief work.

Among the items auctioned off will be a spray-paint painting by Grade 8 St. Francis student JJ Kakish. He's creating his own version of Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon album cover.