Wearing Special Olympic Youth Athletes T-shirts, they tromped around the Stanley Elementary School gym to music just as Olympic athletes parade around a stadium at the start of events. Then nearly 190 students tested their physical skills at numerous stations manned by fifth-grade helpers and parent volunteers. Stanley is the first district school to participate in the Young Athletes program, sponsored by Special Olympics Washington.
Stanley students, ages two to seven, in Head Start, kindergarten and first and second grades, in addition to students in Stanley’s special education programs, warmed up by singing and doing the stretching movements to “Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes.”
They then rotated through the stations where they kicked balls, tossed balls through hoops, walked and jumped on stars in a circle, balanced on narrow pads and knocked balls off cones using a bat or paddle, among other activities. At the end of each of the three morning sessions, the athletes each received a gold medal on a ribbon.
John Borgognoni, sports and program director for Special Olympics Washington (SOWA), emceed the event and culminated each session with students receiving the medals and treats.
Stanley fifth graders had to write persuasive papers about why they wanted to help at the Young Athletes event and had to meet school criteria before being accepted as a helper. Dieauka Bradley said he likes to help with kids often. Kalayah Degregory likes playing with younger students and says they are really fun. Te’asja Broughton said she enjoys little kids and “they mean more to me than anything else.”
Numerous Stanley parents volunteered to assist the students through the skills courses—it was a different and exciting way to be involved with their child’s education.
SOWA provides year-round sports training and competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. By participating in sports, physical fitness and healthcare education programs, Special Olympics Washington athletes increase self-confidence and social skills, improve physical and motor skills and have better success in leading more productive and independent lives.
Mark McNeal, assistant director for Special Education, said, “The Young Athletes program is a starting point to get the district back in touch with Special Olympics and is the pre-cursor for programs for young people about age nine and older.” The district’s intent is to increase student involvement in physically enriching activities.
Such Special Olympics programs also offer the opportunity for complementary learning through the involvement of parents, community members, other students and local businesses and organizations, such as the Boys and Girls Clubs and Metro Parks.