OLYMPIC DREAM FOR AYCLIFFE SCHOOL!

By Martin Walker

Byerley Park School will complete an Olympic dream when they form a huge Guard of Honour during the games’ Opening Ceremony.

As reported by Aycliffe Today last Thursday, eight students from the school will join 249 other schools from across the UK to make up the 2,000-strong team of youngsters who will line the route, holding lanterns and banners they have created to support their allocated teams.

The eyes of the world will be on them during the 2012 Opening Ceremony at the Olympic Stadium in London, on Friday 27th July.

In a Video Interview with Aycliffe Today, head teacher Alison Gargan said: “I’m so proud, it’s a fab opportunity.

“The children are running around the school, so excited about what they’re going to be doing. It’s great.

“Everyone is really excited, but there’s lots of preparation to do between now and then.

“We have a banner to make, for Andorra, as that’s who we’re representing during the opening ceremony.”

Miss Gargan added: “It’s a major achievement, for a small school in quite a big town.

“We’re representing Byerley Park, Newton Aycliffe and County Durham, and literally the whole world will see our children form this guard of honour and celebrating athletes from all over the world coming to the London Games.”

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One of the school’s selected pupils, Niall, said: “I’m really excited. When my name came out of the hat, I was like ‘is that really my name?’, I was really, really happy.

“I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity and really glad that I’ve got it.”

On your marks! Pictured (left to right) is Sophie, Niall, Emma, Joshua, Ebony, Dominic, Kira and Luis 

Another excited student, Emma, told Aycliffe Today: “I can’t explain how much I’m looking forward to it, it’s an amazing opportunity.”

Byerley Park was selected through the reward and recognition programme of the Get Set network, the official London 2012 education programme.

● Local councillor Dorothy Bowman has contributed £2,000 from her GAMP neighbourhood budget fund towards costs of taking the children to London.

■ Pictured above is: Back – Joshua, Luis, Dominic and Niall; Middle – Laura Plumb, Alison Gargan and Ebony; Front – Sophie, Kira and Emma.

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