One of the reasons I'm so in love with Dulwich College is its emphasis on not only academics, but the arts and athletics. Of course, I'm all for promotion of the arts. Last year, Katie had to learn how to play a string instrument; violin. This year, it's a wind instrument and she is loving the saxaphone. All three sing in the choir.
Athletics is also a huge part of the curriculum. Healthy competition is not only accepted, but nurtured. The college is divided into four 'Houses'; Wing, Anand, Howard, and Shackleton, in which the girls are members. These houses have a long history involving big names from Dulwich. The competition is fierce and bragging rights are huge. DC-Suzhou has been around for only a few years, but has been dominated by Wing. Shackleton starts the year out strong, but falters. It's finished in the bottum two each year. Last year, I was introduced to the fierceness of the rivalry at the Interhouse Cross Country races. We all know my abhorance for running of any kind. Every sport I played, I was goalie so I could avoid running. Katie, too, is not a fan of running. She finished in last place...but she finished and the entire school was there cheering her as she crossed the finish line four minutes after the runner before her.
This year, all three Whitfield girls were competing. They've been training for the past month. The course the Year 3's and 4's (twins are in Year 3) ran was 1.4 kilometers. Years 5-7's courses was 2.2 kilometers. The set-up for the races is as exciting as an Olympic event. Houses march out with inspirational music blaring. The kids are cheering loudly as Mr. Dunn, the P.E. instructor calls the groups to the line. The little ones race first. Many of them take off like a shot, but pitter out. I ran to the half way mark and watched the twins race by. Sarah was going so fast she ran right out of her shoe, slowing down only long enough to slip it back on. She finished seventh. Sydney, in her quest to be named "most helpful student in the history of students" actually turned around to help a friend, who said she couldn't go on, so she ended up twenty-second.
My heart was beating so fast as Katie's group was called. Last year, Mr. Hallam, who, coincidently, is her teacher this year, ran the course with Katie. She asked him if he would run with her again. He did. I walked over to the half way point and was speechless as I saw Katie running. Mr Hallam said she hadn't stopped yet. Many of the girls sprinted out early, but were walking. As Katie neared them in her slow and steady pace, they'd sprint ahead again, but, by God, Katie kept going. She finished last again, but a full four minutes ahead of her time last year and only a few seconds behind the runner ahead of her. The cheers for her cracked my heart.
Watching the rest of the races, I was sure Shackleton was headed for another defeat. The senior school, though, actually had some strong runners and the finishes were exciting...as exciting as a foot race can be.
Afterwards, the kids sat under their respective tents waiting for the results. Starting with last place, the houses were called. It was positively deafening when Wing was called out in second place. Shackleton had somehow pulled out a victory. Looking back on the day, each of my girls made me so proud. Yes, winning is awesome, but they all proved they are winners in very different ways.
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