This week in primary schools, assembly and classroom discussions focused on an extraordinary story of determination, achievement, and perseverance—the story of Jasmin Paris and her historic completion of the Barkley Marathons. Spotlight on Jasmin Paris and the Barkley Marathons Scottish runner and vet Jasmin Paris made headlines as the first woman ever to finish the Barkley Marathons, a race often dubbed the world’s toughest. In March 2024, Jasmin completed the challenge in Tennessee, USA, with less than 100 seconds left before the 60-hour deadline. Out of all participants in the event’s history, only twenty people—including Jasmin—have completed the full course. She undertook this challenge to push her limits and inspire others. What Makes the Barkley Marathons Unique? The Barkley Marathons is an ultramarathon taking place annually at Frozen Head State Park, Tennessee. Unlike typical races, its course changes each year and involves five 20-mile loops (approximately 161 km in total), packed with about 60,000 ft (18,288 m) of ascending and descending—twice the height of Mount Everest. Runners must prove they've reached unmanned checkpoints by tearing specific pages from books placed along the trail. The time limit for each loop is 12 hours, with a total cut-off at 60 hours. Who Is Jasmin Paris? At 40, Jasmin Paris balances life as a full-time vet, a mother of two, and a national fell running champion. Her achievement in 2024 marks a historic first for women in the Barkley Marathons. She reflected, "I'm really glad I helped to prove that women can do these things and I hope it inspires women to take on their own challenges, whatever they might be." Unpacking Perseverance: Assembly and Classroom Discussion Points This week, students discussed not just Jasmin's victory, but the bigger picture—perseverance. The key theme was continuing to work at something, even when it becomes difficult or takes a long time, and how the greatest achievements often come by overcoming obstacles with determination. Examples of Perseverance Assembly resources highlighted other inspiring figures who exemplify perseverance: Bethany Hamilton: After losing her arm in a shark attack at age 13, she went on to win major surfing competitions. Nelson Mandela: Imprisoned for 27 years, he continued relentlessly to fight for justice and became president of South Africa. JK Rowling: Rejected many times by publishers before "Harry Potter" was accepted, ultimately becoming a globally celebrated author. Thomas Edison: Famously persistent, he didn’t see failure in his thousands of attempts to invent the light bulb, but saw each as a step toward success. Michael Jordan: Cut from his high school basketball team, he practiced tirelessly and later became one of the game’s greatest. Inspirational Quotes Shared in Assembly "Of course I struggle, I just don’t quit." "Perseverance is power." "It doesn’t matter how slow you go, so long as you don’t stop." "Perseverance: secret of all triumphs." Reflection and Discussion Prompts Teachers encouraged pupils to reflect on questions such as: How does it feel to struggle or face setbacks? What helps you decide to keep going? Can perseverance be learned? How? Which personal traits are needed to persevere? How can family and friends influence your ability to keep going? When might it be right not to persevere? Children also defined perseverance in their own words and shared personal stories of challenges and success. Learning Activities: KS1 and KS2 Focus Activities for both Key Stages revolved around the perseverance theme: KS2: Creating poetry about perseverance, comparing challenges and triumphs, and measuring various running distances (e.g., 100m, 10k, marathon, ultramarathon). KS1: Discussing personal goals and making plans, inspired by the proverb, "A goal without a plan is just a wish." Vocabulary Focus Key words from the week included: ascent, descent, checkpoints, correspond, fell, ultramarathon, unmanned. Recent News Highlights for Assembly Croissant Race in Paris Paris saw the historic Croissant Race return after a 13-year break, with café staff balancing trays on a 2km course to celebrate the upcoming Olympics. Bears in a Boat At Woburn Safari Park in the UK, four black bears enjoyed enrichment activities, including riding on a swan pedalo, keeping their minds and bodies active. International Day of Play This June sees the launch of the first ‘International Day of Play’ to emphasize the vital role of play in children’s development, supported by organizations like Lego and education experts worldwide. Discussion and Reflection Moving Forward This week’s assembly and lessons used Jasmin Paris’s achievement to reinforce the idea that perseverance is a vital personal quality for overcoming obstacles and achieving goals—whatever your interests, challenges or dreams may be. Children were encouraged to reflect, share, and define perseverance for themselves, recognizing that everyone’s journey and talents are unique. They also discussed the importance of individual liberty and the right to choose one’s own dreams, regardless of background or gender. Continue the Conversation * Explore the latest Picture News resources here: https://picture-news.co.uk/free-sample * Join our latest discussion here: https://picture-news.co.uk/discuss * Explore our recent events and training here: https://picture-news.co.uk/training
