Category Archives: Game On Challenge

Competition, Game On Challenge, Games Legacy, Legacy tickets

Case Study Incentive

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We are extremely grateful to those of you who have shared inspirational Case Studies. As a “thank you” to you, we have approximately 70 reward tickets up for grabs. These tickets will be decided by Competitive Selection.

Schools and youth groups which provide a case study of their Games-related work will be rewarded with up to 10 tickets for one session at the Games.

These will be tickets for the Opening or Closing Ceremony or alternatively for a highly desirable sport session.

If you wish to submit a case study, please complete the form available here by Friday 30th May to be in with a chance to win one of these exciting prizes (conditions apply).

Good Luck!

Competition, event, Game On Challenge, Games Legacy, Legacy tickets

Game On Challenge – Reward Ballot

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Hot off the press news for those of you who have registered a Game On Challenge, we are delighted to announce we have approximately 900 tickets available to share.

Schools and youth groups signed up to a Game On Challenge have until Friday 30th May to enter the Game On Challenge Reward Ballot.

Entry is easy, complete this form and we will do the rest!

A random draw will then be conducted and successful schools/groups will be offered up to 10 tickets for one sport session at the Games. (conditions apply)

Good luck!

Game On Challenge, Game On Scotland Plaque, Games Legacy, International Education, International partnerships, Queen's Baton Relay, The Commonwealth Class

Game On Scotland Plaques Go International

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Trailblazers from a Highland primary joined in an online Commonwealth Games celebration with the first Canadian schools to get Game On Scotland awards.

Thanks to a virtual link up, Crown Primary School pupils in Inverness are able to swap experiences with three schools successfully being awarded Game On Scotland plaques in Toronto. Taking the total number of plaques awarded to over 100.

Crown Primary was the first worldwide to receive a Game On Scotland plaque, presented by Cabinet Secretary for Commonwealth Games and Sport, Shona Robison, last November so it was especially exciting for the youngsters to witness the first ever presentation of a Game On Scotland plaque abroad.

Ms Robison presented the schools with plaques on 1st May at Toronto’s Ryerson University. The Cabinet Secretary was on an official visit to Canada, coinciding with the Queen’s Baton Relay being in the country.

The awards and live link up came during a British Council-organised Commonwealth Sports Day in Toronto, a stopping point of the Queen’s Baton Relay. They are part of Commonwealth Class, a Supporting Legacy 2014 project, that is endorsed by Game On Scotland.

Inverness pupils and Canadian counterparts were able to put questions to the Cabinet Secretary as well as interact with Canadian athletes who will be coming to Glasgow to compete this summer.

The Highlands are twinned with Canada as part of the Support A 2nd Team initiative.

Ms Robison said: “It is fantastic to see the Game On Scotland precedent that was set so ably by Crown Primary School, being followed up today with these plaque awards in Toronto, among the first internationally.

“The Commonwealth Games is an inspirational springboard for learning activities around global citizenship, and encouraging young people to strive to be the very best they can be.

“Thanks to programmes like Commonwealth Class, and Support a 2nd Team, links can be forged across continents which I hope will endure as a lasting legacy beyond the Games.”

Game On Scotland provides a unique platform for schools and organisations to share their Commonwealth learning activities with an international audience. Over 700 schools and organisations across the globe have set themselves a challenge inspired by the sporting spectacle of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.

It is so exciting to read of the creative and exciting learning opportunities for young people globally, to understand how the Commonwealth Games is an inspiration to them and gain insight into things which are important to them. There are so many really creative approaches to using the Commonwealth Games as a context for learning and we would like to share a few with you.

As a result of Game On Scotland, learners in Nyarach Primary School, Kenya will hold their first ever Sports day. In contrast, St. Francis Nursery and Primary School, Nigeria are keen to understand the importance of being part of Commonwealth. In the aspect of oneness, being connected together as part of the Global Village.

Bogra Zilla School in Bangladesh hope their links with a partner school will help them develop a deeper bond of brotherhood across the distance. There is a focus on Culture, of the educational ties between them as well as challenging one another in a mini games.

Milford School in Aukland, New Zealand are writing and performing a school production based on their journey to the Commonwealth Games. En-route, children will perform dances and musical items representing a range of countries as they investigate the true meaning of being involved in an event such as the Commonwealth Games.

Highgate International School in Cyprus have learners from 29 different nationalities. They are inspired by the Commonwealth Games to find out more about Scotland – its geography and rich history, putting famous explorers, inventors and sports stars in the spotlight.

With over 25 International partners representing a number of Commonwealth nations and territories already on the map there has never been a better time to make use of the advances in technology. There are fabulous opportunities for our learners to make connections with their peers around the world.

The British Council have over 80 years’ experience in promoting international cultural relationships whilst through BBC Commonwealth Class, learners from around the globe can link up to debate topical issues or embark on special projects.

Our message today is “it’s not too late to get involved!” Set your challenge where you are at, learners from Iochdar School, South Uist are particularly interested in the challenges facing rural communities across the Commonwealth. They want to encourage their community to develop a healthier lifestyle through a variety of physical challenges.

Whatever your challenge, big or small we would like you to share it with us giving your young people an opportunity to learn more about the values that shape our Commonwealth in 2014. In doing so, you can join Crown Primary, their Canadian partners and over 100 other education establishments in being awarded a Game On Scotland plaque in recognition of your achievements.

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Athlete Visits Programme for Schools

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As part of providing exciting learning opportunities around the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, Game On Scotland is delighted to announce that we are able to offer 100 education establishments across Scotland the chance to receive a visit by a Scottish athlete in the run up to the Games.

What might an athlete’s visit look like?

The format of each visit will be negotiated between the individual athlete and the school, but may include the following:

• Whole school/year group assemblies: The athlete may participate in assemblies by providing the inspirational address for the day (eg. share their story, provide a key message, support a Commonwealth themed event, hand out awards such as the Game On Scotland Plaque)
• Focus group input: This may involve an athlete visiting a specific class, target group (eg. school ambassadors or senior coaching classes) sharing his or her experiences and engaging in a question and answer session.
• Active engagement: This provides an opportunity to share some of the expertise of athletes in their distinct area and may involve coaching sessions, skills development or offering taster sessions.

All visits will be arranged on a one-off basis. For more in depth athlete engagements please see the Champions in Schools programme.  However we aim to match athletes to education establishments within their reasonable travel distance to allow for the possibility of longer term educational partnerships.

When will the visits take place?

Visits will take place from the end of March until the end of June. The closing date for the first round of application is the 21 March and for this round visits will be allocated on a ‘first come-first serve’ basis. A second round will become available soon thereafter.

How to enter:

All education establishments in Scotland who have posted a Game On Challenge are eligible to enter a prize draw to receive a visit by a Scottish athlete, though secondary schools will receive priority.

To apply for a visit simply complete this brief survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/SW93KDZ

Are there any costs involved?

There is no cost to any school which participates, other than any costs resulting from individual programme arrangements (e.g. athlete lunch). Such costs will have to be covered by the participating education establishment.

Can I request a specific athlete/focus sport?

The aim of this initiative is to provide inspiration and generic insight into the life and work of a professional athlete. Much of the input will focus on a wider skills agenda and generic dispositions or values (eg. determination, aspiration, fairness and sportsmanship). We will not be able to guarantee visits by specific athletes from a particular sport, however we will take a school’s particular sporting interests into account when matching athletes.

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Sport Your Trainers on Commonwealth Day, 10th March

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Sport Your Trainers

It is hard to believe but the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games will be here in less than six months!

To warm up for Scotland’s biggest-ever festival of sport and culture, schools are invited to join in the annual Commonwealth Day celebration, Sport Your Trainers. It will take place on 10 March 2014 and organisers are continuing their tradition of encouraging young people to wear their trainers on the day as a symbolic gesture of support for Glasgow 2014.

Sport Your Trainers is a great opportunity to bring the Commonwealth Games to life in your school or organisation, allowing young people and those who work with them to show their support for the Games in a fun and easy way.

Over half of the people in the Commonwealth are under 25 years of age and we want to make sure that the children and young people of Scotland have every chance to engage with Glasgow 2014. Why not start making plans today?

Please email SportYourTrainers@glasgow2014.com to register for this Scotland-wide project and to receive a link to a Digital Toolkit filled with Sport Your Trainers resources.

We look forward to sharing the Glasgow 2014 experience with you and your young people!

Sport Your Trainers Blog Opportunity

We’re delighted to announce a special opportunity for those blogging about their Sport Your Trainers activity – if you send a link to your report from the day, we’ll choose a selection of the best and showcase them to the world on the Glasgow 2014 website! There’ll be a special page on the Glasgow 2014 website with some of the best photos and content from schools, groups and organisations up and down the country, so if you’re using social media be sure and use the hashtag #SYT2014 and tag Glasgow 2014 on Facebook / mention Glasgow 2014 on Twitter and you could be featured in the exclusive Sport Your Trainers hub.

Making more of Sport Your Trainers

The main ask of Sport Your Trainers is for people to wear their trainers on March 10th, Commonwealth Day, but it’s also a perfect moment to consider how you can link this special event to wider learning about the Commonwealth. Game On Scotland, the official Glasgow 2014 education programme, contains a wealth of information, resources and opportunities which can also be used to design your own inspiring Sport Your Trainers activities and enhance learning across the curriculum. You might also want to consider linking your on the day activity to the British Council’s plans to host the World’s Biggest Assembly, with schools across the Commonwealth due to take part.

If you haven’t already, why not register a Game On Challenge for your school, incorporating some of your Sport Your Trainers activity? Schools which register a challenge are eligible to receive a special plaque as well as rewards including Games tickets.

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Holly and Clyde Islands’ Tour a great success!

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As part of the Legacy 2014 Week, Game On Scotland visited the Shetland, Orkney and Western Isles. Both Clyde and Holly Cram, Scottish international hockey star and ambassador for the education programme, visited a large number of schools to recognise their creative engagement of learners around the Commonwealth Games. Between them they visited over 30 schools and youth clubs, addressed assemblies and handed out over 10 plaques. Holly addressed all secondary and a number of primary schools in the Western Isles providing inspirational talks as well as practical hockey sessions.
The tour was very well received by pupils and staff alike and created real excitement as schools are gearing up towards the Games in July.

Here are some of the highlights captured on the way:

The Western Isles:

Dr Allan awarding Tong Primary School the Game On Scotland Plaque:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Holly at Lionacleit School, Benbecula:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Duke of Edinburgh with pupils from the Nicolson Institute during their Active8 session:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Orkney Islands: 

Glaitness Primary School

Hope Primary School

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shetland Islands

Happy Hansel

and

Aith Primary School

Aith High School

Active, Award, Game On Challenge, Game On Scotland Plaque, Holly Cram

First Edinburgh Schools to receive Game On Plaque

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Wester Hailes Education Centre and Pilrig Park Special School joined the list of ‘firsts’ to be awarded the Game On Scotland Plaque. Amidst an exciting programme for young people to engage in the Commonwealth Games, Wester Hailes Education Centre became the first secondary school in Edinburgh to receive the award by the Game On Scotland ambassador, Holly Cram, on a day of activities from street dance to gymnastics. Holly also provided a coaching session for the school’s girls hockey team. The day was also supported by former Gold medallist Steve Frew who set learners a number of gymnastic challenges stretching from the pommel horse to ring exercises.

Pilrig Park Special School put on an exciting award ceremony for Holly and Education Scotland celebrating their plaque award. The head boy and girl, the Legacy ambassadors and Baton bearer as well as head teacher Ellen Muir outlined the impressive record of Games related activities of the school from their own Commonwealth Song and dance performance to learning about the 70 nations and territories.

Well done to both schools.

Game On!

Award, Game On Challenge, Game On Scotland Plaque

Two more Secondary schools to receive the Game On Plaque

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Lourdes Secondary School and Shawlands Academy have both joined the award winning secondary schools now to hold the Game On Scotland Plaque for using the Games as an inspiring context for learning.

The teacher leading the initiative at Lourdes, Kerry McSween, says: This is an excellent and fun opportunity for the pupils to be actively involved in their learning. The projects are giving the pupils the opportunity to learn about different countries and cultures in a more inspiring and motivating way, whilst giving them the opportunity to learn and enhance their experience of the Commonwealth Games.

Shawlands Academy has a long history of using the Games to create exciting learning experiences for their pupils. Amongst their accolades are their participation in Glasgow’s bid for the Youth Olympics, submitting the winning design for the official Glasgow 2014 Tartan and being part of the Queen’s Baton presentation at Buckingham Palace last October. Now the school is determined to get the whole school and its community inspired to engage with the Games by implementing an extensive cross –curricular, whole school programme.

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Blackwood, Killermont, Mossvale & St James’s all awarded plaques

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Mossvale Primary and St James's Primary pupils with ClydeKillermont Primary pupils with ClydeBlackwood Primary pupils with ClydeClyde was continuing his Game On Scotland tour today, his 7th day of this most recent tour visiting schools around Scotland. Once again he was recognising excellent Games-related learning by awarding Game On Scotland plaques to some of the schools on his travels. Today began with a plaque presentation to Blackwood Primary, South Lanarkshire then onto Killermont Primary in East Dunbartonshire and finishing at St James’s and Mossvale Primaries in Renfrewshire. All four schools were the first in their area to receive the Game On Scotland accolade for their use of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games as a context for learning. Congratulations!

If your school would like to receive a Game On Scotland plaque (as well as a range of other benefits, including mascot visits), then make sure you register a Game On Challenge, telling us about your plans.

Clyde, Game On Challenge, Inspire>Aspire, plaque

Banchory and Broxburn latest schools to receive plaques

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Banchory Primary pupils with ClydeInto the second week of his Game On Scotland tour and Clyde stopped at Banchory Primary in Clackmannanshire and Broxburn Primary in West Lothian, awarding both schools Game On Scotland plaques in recognition of their great Glasgow 2014 work. Congratulations to both schools, which are the first in their local authority areas to receive a plaque.

Banchory Primary has made excellent use of the materials and opportunities available on the Game On Scotland site, taking part in Glow Meets, using the learning journeys and joining in with projects and competitions. The school has also been getting active with cycling a big part – pupils have been undertaking training and are now part of bike clubs, with funds raised to take a trip to the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome later in the session. Speaking of fundraising, pupils also raised £800 through enterprise activities to support community projects in Ghana. That’s just a flavour of a huge range of activity, but the story here is very much about seizing opportunities to enhance learning and working with partners in the community to realise ambitions!

Broxburn Primary pupils with ClydeMeanwhile, at Broxburn, there are more great examples. Using the obvious connection to physical education as a starting point, the school has then broadened out their learning across the curriculum. The school gratefully acknowledges the support they’ve received from a Big Lottery grant, which has allowed them to secure training for staff and recruit sport coaches for after-school clubs. Amongst other things, the school has also been involved in learning around the Queen’s Baton Relay, the Inspire-Aspire programme and Champions in Schools.

If your school would like to receive a Game On Scotland plaque (as well as a range of other benefits, including mascot visits), then make sure you register a Game On Challenge, telling us about your plans.