Photos: Sergio Betancort
Under the title "Citizens of the World" the students of the Arenas International School, from Infant to Baccalaureate, together with a representation of students from the Arenas School, offered an inaugural show where the choreographies, gymnastics, dance, and dramatization introduced the attending public, from the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela where each year the students of the International Baccalaureate finish the journey of the Camino that they carry out with the colleagues of the Obradoiro School with whom they are twinned, through different Countries of the World to outline the attributes that they must preserve throughout their lives: inquirers, communicators, open-minded, reflective, upright... and above all, supportive.
The inauguration of the nineteenth edition of the Olympics, held at the facilities of the Lanzarote Educational Center, was attended by the Minister of Education and Culture of the Cabildo of Gran Canaria, Enma Cabrera; the island director of Education of the Government of the Canary Islands Flor Alonso, the Councilor for Tourism of the Teguise City Council, Antonio Callero; the General Director of the Arenas Schools, Alberto Rodríguez; the Director of the Arenas Internacional School Delfina Rodríguez and the CEO of the Arenas Schools Bernardo Rodríguez.
The Director of the Arenas Internacional School, Delfina Rodríguez, was in charge of inaugurating the event, welcoming all attendees. During her speech, she highlighted that "we are in a process of change that will lead us to the new Society of the 21st century, whose main challenge is to prepare future citizens to be competent, compassionate and committed... To address this new challenge, the Arenas Internacional School is committed to educational quality and the comprehensive training of its students based on personal and professional goals".
Likewise, Delfina Rodríguez also stated that "the Center is constantly innovating. During this course we continue to reinforce languages with support programs, we have opened an exchange with a school in the German city of Hanau and we are going to expand the presentation of students to external Chinese and German tests. We will continue to strengthen the international Baccalaureate studies and we have moved to a new phase in the implementation of this methodology in Primary and Secondary".
Finally, she announced to all those present that "after 15 years of waiting, the Center now has all the permits to carry out the long-awaited works of the covered Sports Center and the heated pool, whose works will begin before the end of the school year".
The reading of the inaugural proclamation was given by Bernard Gaziello, father of students of the Costa Teguise School, who highlighted "the merit of this school for launching a new challenge of such magnitude every year. Only those who have organized mass events know how difficult it can be to coordinate a show with more than 400 actors, and if these actors are children and teenagers, the challenge is immeasurable". Likewise, he stressed "how difficult the profession of teacher can be in my opinion in our current society, so politically correct... Of all the vocational professions, teachers are the last Mohicans; it is clear that this profession is not chosen for money, comfort or social status, but for the true pleasure and pride of transmitting values and knowledge to the children who will shape the future of our society. To all of them, I want to dedicate all my support and respect from here, as well as congratulate them, if I may, on behalf of the parents of the students of this school".
Next, the Lady of Art guided the students of the School through countries such as China where they found dignity, the United States to be informed and instructed, or England from which they brought the attributes of thinkers and reflective, among others... From all of them they extracted their main virtues, outlining some attributes with which they will have the balance to be Citizens of the World.
The show culminated with the lighting of the cauldron, an honor that this year fell on the student of the second year of Secondary Education Wan Ying Liang. The Olympic torch arrived at the Educational Center carried in relays by students of 2nd ESO who had left at 09.30 hours from "Las Caletas" of Costa Teguise.
The sport, protagonist
The opening ceremony precedes a week where the different sports disciplines will be protagonists. The traditional Olympics of the Arenas Internacional School values the integral education of the students in which sport and physical education play a fundamental role.
The program begins on Monday, March 24 with a demonstration of artistic gymnastics skills and abilities, a paddle tennis tournament for parents, dodgeball, indoor soccer, basketball, scooter race, kickball, dance contest and friendly indoor soccer matches.
On Tuesday, March 25, the men's volleyball and women's indoor soccer world cup, swimming and water games, a mini athletics competition, a pre-Benjamin basketball tournament, etc. will be held.
For its part, on Wednesday, March 26, gymnastic circuit, the visit of the 1st Division of Honor indoor soccer team "Colegios Arenas Gran Canaria", among others.
Thursday, March 27 will be the day of the beaches of Costa Teguise, a surfing morning in "Los Charcos", a circuit of sports skills and a festival of extracurricular activities will complete the day.
On Friday, March 28, together with activities such as Kickball, zumba and canarian ball for the mothers of students, mini basketball..., the Spring Gala Party will take place from 7.30 pm.
The indoor soccer concentration and Pre-Benjamin Island Games will close the XIX Olympics of the Arenas Internacional School on Saturday, March 29.
