In this week's episode, we had the pleasure of hosting two Grade 5 students Aria and Leon, alongside Niall Watt, the driving force behind the Olympic Dream Series (ODS) and the ISAC Sports program in WAB's ES. Together, they discussed the joys and challenges of participating in the ODS, reflecting on its impact and sharing valuable advice.

During the episode, Niall provided a background and overview of the ODS, emphasizing the remarkable participation rate of over 90% among WAB ES students. He also highlighted how ODS offers young athletes a gradual introduction to competition, starting as early as Grade 2 and progressively intensifying until Grade 5. As the journey unfolds, students are presented with a diverse array of engaging sports activities, allowing them to explore and develop their skills.

As an ODS participant for two years, Grade 5 student Aria expressed her joy in forging lasting friendships with fellow athletes while giving her all in various sports. Echoing similar sentiments, Leon, also a grade five student, emphasized the significance of friendship, recounting the fulfillment he derived from celebrating victories with his friends and finding comfort in their support during moments of defeat. Reflecting on his personal growth through ODS, Leon said, “It has impacted my social skills.?And in a way that I don't think any other program that I've been to has done."

Thank you again to our Grade 5 students for sharing their experiences and to Niall for his dedication to the ODS. Find out more about this unique program by tuning in to this episode.