Here at the high school, the Autistic Support students work behind the scenes, completing a multitude of tasks. Some of those tasks include counting the money from the Snack Shack, helping set up for the football team’s dinners before game day, helping fold towels for cooking class, and much much more. It’s the little things that matter, which should not go unnoticed. These tasks are designed with the intent to help the students to practice their independent living, communication skills, and work skills. They are also a way for the students to become involved in our community and in our school. With 290 special education students and roughly 50 Caring Hands Club members, the teachers and staff do everything they can to make the students feel included in our school community. These teachers who routinely are working behind the scenes, and often don’t take credit for their contributions, deserve a round of applause for all they do.
One such outlet is the Special Olympics, which was started by Mrs. Montell and Mrs. Trabucco back in 2015. Both teachers are now coaches for the unified bocce team along with the track and field team. The Special Olympics consists of two sides, one is just for the athletes, and the other for the athletes and their partners. Some of the events include bowling, track and field, swimming, and bocce. Bocce and track and field are both unified sports that are done with a partner from the unified sports club. This year, there will also be a flag football league that will be added to the list and will be coached by Mr. Helfirich. The sports like bocce and track and field are just like any other sport in the PIAA. There is a regular season, with after school practices, and there is also the opportunity to compete in the WPIAL playoffs and earn a letter. To get the non athletes involved, Mrs. Murray runs the Fan Section during the events, to get the students to cheer on their fellow classmates.
Recently, our school was recognized as a National Banner School. In order to qualify for the award, our school had to have two unified sports, and a club where partners and athletes work together such as Carrying Hands Club, and two whole school events, which include the Rain Rally and Fans in the Stands. Because our school met these requirements, a long application process was done to receive the award. The process included ten requirements that had to be met, and an additional ten questions that had to be answered. Once the application was approved by Doctor Palmer, it was sent into the Special Olympics. The Special Olympics then made their selection out of all the applications, and elected our school along with others, to receive the reward.
This award is a representation of the hard work and dedication that the athletes put into their respective sports and to the dedicated teachers who act as their coaches. A lot of these athletes play multiple sports, help out around the school, and work behind the scenes to make our school a better place. As Mrs Montell stated, “our school is doing all the things that we need to do to promote inclusion,” The Special Olympics is certainly the centerpiece of this promotion.
