SHS students, para bring joy to special needs students
Knowing the value that it could offer students, last fall Crystal Horner, a freshman at Sterling High School, decided she wanted to bring Special Olympics back to the school. Like anything, it takes time to get things off the ground but the team has officially launched and things are going well so far.
“It makes me really happy,” Horner said about seeing her idea become a reality.
Special Olympics is something she knows well because her family has been helping the organization ever since her dad was little.
“It’s kind of helped me to see different stuff throughout life, that not everybody gets the same chance as everyone else so they need that extra person or people to help to help them and it just gives me a sense of happiness when I do help them,” Horner said last year when asked why she wanted to bring Special Olympics back to SHS.
Stepping up to help Horner, who is serving as the club’s junior president, were special education paraprofessional Chanelle (Nelly) Schleiser, who is serving as the club’s sponsor and senior president, and fellow student David Stein, who is serving as junior vice president, as well as Michael Montejano, RE-1 Valley School District’s School to Work Alliance program coordinator.
“I’m proud of what’s going on here. We’ve built it from the ground up,” said Stein, who has been instrumental in coming up with activities for the group. “It’s brought (the participants) joy; it’s brought them out of their shells.”
In recent months the team has held meet and greets, a community dance and a variety of fundraisers including bake sales at SHS basketball games, which the Bank of Colorado matched, donating $526. So far, the team has raised almost $900 for any equipment or other expenses they may have to cover. Stein said they are very grateful to all those who have supported the team.
Last month, Horner organized a dress-up day, with team members dressing in blue and yellow to show support for Down Syndrome Awareness Day.
As for athletic activities, in February, team members participated in a cornhole tournament held in Greeley and two of their teams, Angel Trussell and Samuel Stein and their partners scored in the top 16 out of 35 teams. The Family Resource Center helped provide transportation for that event.
Now the team is holding regular basketball practices at Sterling Recreation Center and working with Northeastern Junior College to get team members involved in some scrimmages.
“I really enjoy doing some of these practices because I’m trying to get involved with everything,” one of the team members said at a recent practice.
Stein pointed out that Special Olympics isn’t just about sports, it’s also about helping special needs students connect with more people, both fellow individuals who have special needs and people who don’t. So, right now, the focus is on helping the team members get to know one another.
The team will also be connecting with even more people when they help out with the Parks with a Purpose live auction fundraiser that Khrysie Dickinson is holding on Saturday, April
20, at 4 p.m. at the Knights of Columbus to raise money for an inclusive playground at Pioneer Park.
Stein has a lot of ideas for the coming months too. He is working with Kyle Arnoldy, athletic director at SHS, to host a basketball tournament on May 4, starting at 6 p.m. in the Wally Post Gym. The tournament is free and open to the public. Schleiser thanked Arnoldy for all the help he’s given the team, “he’s been amazing helping guide me where to go.”
The team is also looking at a variety of possible summer activities including softball, dodgeball, cornhole and basketball.
If you’re interested in supporting the team, they are still looking for more adult sponsors and Stein has made donation jars to put around town. Right now, there is one jar at Burger King. If any business is willing to put out a jar you can contact the team via the SHS Special Olympics Facebook page or at schleiserc@re1valleyschools.org.