With sponsorship by Fujitsu Network Communication, Inc., the competition reached a new level this year. The company gave t-shirts to all participants and, for the first time, students competed in a contest to design the program cover. Fujitsu gave a monetary award for the winning design. The ESOL Olympic Games has grown in its four-year history. Under the direction of ESOL Olympics Coordinator Madelyn Brooks, a Liberty Junior High ESOL teacher, teams representing all nine RISD junior high school, RISD's new Freshman Center and Berkne High school test their proficiency in English through a series of competitive events.
Students compete a two different levels.
Events include extemporaneous speaking, prepared prose, poetry recitation, reading comprehension and listening comprehension, creative writing and a spelling bee. Preparation for the event each year fosters teambuilding strategies while refining English skills. The districtwide competition provides additional networking opportunities that give both parents and students a broader sense of their community. The City of Richardson has long supported RISD, generously providing resources to enhance the learning environment in our schools. Each year, high school students spend a day at City Hal participating in activities designed to illustrate how to manage all facets of running a city.