Brad Burns, vice principal at Osoyoos Secondary School, climbs the wooden wall in the school’s Storm the Wall event on Thursday. The relay race includes other sports activities such as running and cycling and it is a sign that school is winding down. He had a boost from teacher John Seminoff (bottom). Principal Scott Tremblay (left) also went over the wall. (Richard McGuire photo)

When Osoyoos Secondary School holds its Storm the Wall event, as it did Thursday, it’s a sure sign that school is starting to wind down and that graduation is coming up.

The event started in 2013 as an alternative to the previous more traditional track and field event.

Students do a relay race that culminates in team members climbing up and over a 10-foot wooden wall. Prior to that, students engage in a series of other activities, including running and cycling.

The goal isn’t just to promote physical fitness, but also to encourage team building.

Some students tried taking a run at the wall to get over, but that strategy is rarely successful. The successful students get a boost from below from teammates and a helping hand up from a teammate on top of the wall.

Unlike some years when the event takes place in blazing sunshine, this year it was cool and overcast.

Some teachers and administrators also went over the wall.

(Richard McGuire photos)

A boys’ team works together to get its members over a wooden wall in Osoyoos Secondary School’s Storm the Wall event on Thursday. (Richard McGuire photo)

This student tried the running leap approach in Osoyoos Secondary School’s Storm the Wall event on Thursday. It didn’t work. He did make it over the wall moments later when teammates gave him a boost from below. (Richard McGuire photo)

Halle Foster gets a leg up from Cole Kress as she and other members of a mixed team climb a 10-foot wooden wall at Osoyoos Secondary School’s Storm the Wall event last Thursday. The event is a relay race involving other athletic activities such as cycling and running and it replaced a more traditional track and field event in 2013. The event, which aims to promote physical fitness as well as team building, signals that the school year is soon coming to an end and that graduation is coming up. (Richard McGuire photo)

Student Alex Brunner gets some help onto the wooden wall in Osoyoos Secondary School’s Storm the Wall event on Thursday. (Richard McGuire photo)

A girls’ team makes it over the wall in Osoyoos Secondary School’s Storm the Wall event on Thursday. (Richard McGuire photo)

A grils’ team gives a boost to a teammate in Osoyoos Secondary School’s Storm the Wall event on Thursday. (Richard McGuire photo)

Students participating in Osoyoos Secondary School’s Storm the Wall event had to run for the wall before climbing it. Some of the teams dressed in similar clothing. (Richard McGuire photo)

OSS drama teacher Sarah Gilchrist climbs the wall for a second time. (Richard McGuire photo)